Indiana

Akron

Akron Fourth of July Celebration, car show, art, tractor pull and more 5-10 p.m. Thursday; and Fireman’s Breakfast 6-10 a.m., parade 11 a.m., fireworks at dusk and concluding with a concert, all on Friday; downtown Akron; (574) 895-4123 or (574) 598-2875.

Bremen

Bremen’s Firemen’s Festival, takes place Wednesday through Saturday (parade 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; fireworks 10:30 p.m. Friday) at Sunnyside Park; (574) 546-3660.

Goshen

First Friday Fourth of July Celebration, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and featuring music on the courthouse lawn (Southside Denny, 5:30 p.m.; Los Bandits, 7 p.m.)

FreedomFest, featuring entertainment throughout Saturday and concluding with fireworks; 17229 County Road 42, Goshen; www.freedomfestgoshen.com ;$ (veterans and age 4 and younger, free).

Lakeville

Freedom Fest (sponsored by the Lakeville Lions Club), begins with a pancake breakfast 7-11 a.m. Friday; parade (featuring Marshall County 4-H Drill Team) begins at 9 a.m. at Mangus Drive; Cook & Belle in concert 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Newton Park; concludes with fireworks by Saint Evans Fireworks at dusk (rain date: Saturday); (574) 784-3152 or www.newtonpark.org.

LaPorte

LaPorte Jaycee’s Fourth of July, parade: 10 a.m. CDT Friday; begins at Tipton Street and ends at Andrew Avenue; fireworks: gates open at 6 p.m. (food and entertainment); LaPorte County Fairgrounds; (219) 324-5828 or www.laportejaycees.org ;admission to the grounds is $5 per vehicle or $1 per person.

Michigan City

Patriotic Program, featuring color guards, 21-gun salute, medal presentation and more; Millennium Plaza; (219) 874-3630 or www.michigancityfestivalsinc.com.

South Bend

Meet Me on the Island, featuring Clifford & Michaels Blues Band performing, metalwork by sculptor Tom McDonald and fireworks at dusk; 5-10:30 p.m. Thursday; South Bend Regional Museum of Art, 120 S. St. Joseph St.; (574) 235-9102; museum members and age 12 and younger admitted free, others pay $7.

Chain-O-Lakes Conservation Club Annual July Picnic, featuring food, refreshments, games, and music by Undercover Blues, begins 1 p.m. Saturday at Chain-O-Lakes Conservation Club, 26230 Southport Drive. Fireworks will take place at 10 p.m. Admission for adults is $1 at the gate. Children will be admitted free.

South Bend Silver Hawks, with fireworks following games, Tuesday through Saturday; game time is 7:30 p.m. (gates open 6 p.m.). Tickets are $5-$7 (age 5 and younger, free); (574) 235-9988 or www.silverhawks.com.

Studebaker National Museum and Northern Indiana Center for History, offer two-for-one admittance on Friday, $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for ages 6-17 and free for children 5 and younger; 808 W. Washington St.; (574) 235-9664 or (574) 235-9714.

Walkerton

Walkerton Fourth of July Festival, begins with a parade at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and continues through July 6; fireworks at dusk Friday at John Glenn High School; (574) 586-3638 or www.walkerton.org

Michigan

Baroda

Fireworks, at dusk Thursday (rain date: Friday) behind American Legion Post 345, at the south end of First Street. The legion also will have a beer & brat tent with music performed by Al, Louie and Glenn beginning at 6 p.m.

BBQ Festival, 1-7 p.m. Saturday (featuring Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio) and 1-7 p.m. July 6 (featuring Underwater People); Round Barn Winery; (800) 716-9463 or www.roundbarnwinery.com; adults, $10 for one day or $15 for both days; ages 13-20, $5 per day; age 12 and under, free (bring a lawn chair, but not a cooler).

Berrien Springs

Fireworks at dusk Friday at School Complex, Sylvester Street; (269) 473-6921.

Benton Harbor

July 4th Independence Day Parade on Friday, 12-4 p.m. Friday in Downtown Benton Harbor; (269) 757-1570

Colon

Fireworks, at dusk Friday over Palmer Lake, downtown; (269) 432-3235.

Kalamazoo

Fireworks, at dusk Friday at Mayors' Riverfront Park. Admission is free.

Fireworks, after the race Friday at the Kalamazoo Speedway, 7656 Ravine Rd. For admission fees call (269) 692-2423

New Buffalo

Fireworks, at dusk Friday on the beach.

Independence Day Concert, featuring Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra; 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Lion’s Park Pavilion; (269) 982-4030 or www.smso.org.

Niles

Fireworks, at dusk Thursday (rain date: Friday) at Tyler Memorial Airport.

St. Joseph

Youth Parade, begins 10 a.m. Friday on Lake Boulevard at Park Street; www.sjtoday.org.

Independence Day Concert, featuring Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra; about 9 p.m. Friday (and including fireworks during the concert); Shadowland Pavilion; adults $20 in advance/$25 at the gate and students $5/$10; (269) 982-4030 or www.smso.org.

Win tickets to see Travis Tritt from the Cat Country 99.9 Morning Show with Amy Watson!  Travis will appear at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend as part of the College Football Hall of Fame's Enshrinement Festival on July 18th! 

OR....Click on Travis and buy them at morriscenter.org

Check out Amy's morning blog here!