Bel Air’s July 4 schedule: What to know before you go

Bel Air is holding its annual July 4 celebration Saturday with a full day of events, a parade, and fireworks. This year’s theme is “Celebrating USA’s 250!”

Nearly all events are free and open to the public. The day runs from before sunrise through late evening at several locations across town.

The Schedule:

• 6:45 a.m.: Flag-raising ceremony at Bel Air Town Hall on Hickory Avenue, featuring Disabled American Veterans Chapter 30, American Legion Post 39, Sgt. Alfred B. Hilton Memorial American Legion Post 55, bugler Robert Hudson, and soprano Siena Bauer.
• 7 to 11:30 a.m.: Pancake Breakfast at Bel Air High School. Choose from blueberry, chocolate chip, or plain pancakes with sausage links. Drinks include milk, apple juice, coffee, tea, or water. Hosted by the Bel Air High School Athletic Booster Club. Arrive no later than 11 a.m. This is the only event of the day that charges admission.
• 8:30 a.m.: Horseshoe pitching at Rockfield Park. Registration opens at 8 a.m.
• 9 a.m. to noon: Hays House tours presenting “The American Revolution Experience,” with children’s activities on the lawn.
• 9 a.m. to noon: Family contests and competitions at Shamrock Park, including a water balloon toss at 9:30 a.m., Uncle Sam Says at 10:30 a.m., and a watermelon eating contest at 11 a.m. The Bel Air Community Band performs at noon.
• 11 a.m.: Bicycle Rodeo at Bel Air Elementary School and the Lee Street area, hosted by the Bel Air Police Department. Trophies are awarded for best decorated bike for boys and girls. Age divisions: 5 and under, 6 to 8, 9 to 10, and 11 to 13.
• 4 p.m.: Parade unit staging begins at the intersection of South Main Street and East MacPhail Road, near Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School.
• 5:50 p.m.: Chris Potts reads the Declaration of Independence at the reviewing stand in front of the Harford County Courthouse on Main Street.
• 6 p.m.: The parade steps off at the intersection of Idlewild and South Main Street and ends at East Gordon Street and North Main Street at the “Welcome to Bel Air” sign. Kristy Breslin of WMAR-TV Channel 2 serves as emcee, assisted by Richard Bennett. Soprano Mary Pohlenz sings the national anthem at the start.
• 9:30 p.m. (approximate): Fireworks launch from Rockfield Park. Spectators may watch from any permitted area in or around town.

What’s Important: If the parade or fireworks are cancelled due to weather, neither will be rescheduled. Road closures and no-entry zones will be in effect around the parade route and fireworks site. Maps are available at event locations and online.