Bel Air 4th Of July Fireworks, Parade, Contests: 2018 Guide

BEL AIR, MD — The Fourth of July festivities in Bel Air range from watermelon eating to a parade down Main Street. The events will run from a 6:30 a.m. flag ceremony at Bel Air High School to the 9:30 p.m. fireworks show over Rockfield Park.

The Bel Air Independence Day Committee, which organizes the event, has announced the 2018 theme: "A Salute to American Heroes."

The Bel Air Independence Day festivities are as follows on Wednesday, July 4:

• 6:45 a.m. Flag raising in front of Bel Air High School, featuring Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 30; American Legion Post #39.
• 7–11 a.m. Blueberry pancake and sausage breakfast at Bel Air High School run by the Bel Air High School Boosters; $8 for adults, $5 for kids under 10. Use the side entrance facing Baltimore Pike.
• 7:45 a.m. Flag raising at Rockfield Park
• 8:30 a.m. Horseshoe pitching at Rockfield Park (registration at 8 a.m.)
• 8:45 a.m. Flag raising at Shamrock Park
• 9 a.m. Water balloon toss at Shamrock Park
• 9 a.m. to noon Tours and patriotic children's games at Hays House, plus period music and country dance tunes from Catherine Street Consort with recorders, guitar and percussion.
• 10 a.m. Costume contest at Shamrock Park
• 11 a.m. Uncle Sam Says at Shamrock Park
• 11 a.m. Flag raising at Bel Air Elementary School
• 11 a.m. Bicycle registration and rodeo at Bel Air Elementary School on Lee Street lot. Trophies will be given for best decorated bike (boys and girls) with awards by age group: 5 and under; 6-8; 9-10; and 11-13.
• 11:30 a.m. Watermelon eating contest at Shamrock Park
• 4:30–6 p.m. Parade staging on South Main Street at Macphail Road, by the entrance to Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School
• 6 p.m. Parade down Main Street, starting at Idlewild and South Main Street and proceeding to the intersection of East Gordon Street at North Main Street
• 9:30 p.m. Fireworks at Rockfield Park; they can be viewed from various points around the town of Bel Air.

If the parade is canceled due to weather, it will not be rescheduled. The Bel Air Independence Day Committee will post information about the status on its Facebook page and share it with WXCY 103.7 and WAMD 970.

Check the Bel Air forecast from the National Weather Service.

Should the fireworks be canceled due to weather, they will be rescheduled for 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 5; that information would be announced through a countywide phone alert and on the Bel Air Independence Day Committee's Facebook page.

Fore more information, call the Bel Air Independence Day Committee at 410-893-4444.

Want to relive last year's festivities? Watch the Bel Air Fourth Of July 2017 Parade from Bel Air Patch.

The Bel Air Fourth of July festivities are put together through the nonprofit Bel Air Independence Day Committee. Anyone can donate online to the Bel Air Independence Day celebration using PayPal or a credit card.

Want more local news? Get the Bel Air Patch newsletter.

Patch file photo.