Fireworks are set off from a barge during an early Fourth of July celebration at the First United Methodist Church, 9318 Main St. in Whitmore Lake on Friday, July 2, 2021.Alyte Katilius | Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR, MI – Washtenaw County will have a variety of events for not only the Fourth of July, but for the days leading up to the holiday. While some events have continued over the years, some are coming back for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.

The Ann Arbor Jaycees Parade is 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, July 4. Due to construction on downtown streets, the parade will be shorter compared to previous years and follow a new temporary route from Washington Street at Thayer Street, and participants will head towardsMain Street ending at the intersection of Main and William streets.

Immediately after the parade, the Ann Arbor Fire Department will host a firefighter spray park for children for one hour on Maynard street between Liberty and William streets.

The Ann Arbor Sports Commission is hosting its Firecracker 5K & Twinkie Run before the Jaycees 4th of July Parade. Participants have three events to choose from including the Firecracker 5K, One Mile Fun Run or the Kids’ 200-Meter Dash.

The Firecracker 5k race will start at 8 a.m. at 200 E Liberty St. The event will also have different divisions that participants can join including a Twinkie eating division, hot dog eating division or a flag carrying division. For more information or to register, visit the event’s website.

The American Legion is bringing Ypsilanti’s 4th of July Parade back this year for the first time since COVID-19. The parade will start at 11 a.m. Monday, July 4, at Oakwood and Cross streets and end in Historic Depot Town at Rice Street.

An Independence Day event from Saline Area Historical Society is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at the Saline Depot Museum, 402 N. Ann Arbor St.

Participants can ride the velocipede on the tracks or tour the location’s depot, livery barn or caboose.

The Manchester Men’s Club is hosting its 40th Annual Fireworks alongside a beer tent featuring Star69 on Sunday, July 3, at Carr Park, 600 W Main St. The tent will open at 7 p.m. with seating available to view the fireworks.

Whitmore Lake will host its 62nd year of fireworks on at dusk on Sunday, July 2. The Kiwanis dunk tank is set for 6:30 p.m. to dusk.

On Monday, July 4, the Kiwanis Annual 4th of July Parade will start at 10 a.m. It includes a bike decorating contest for all ages with judging taking place at 75 Barker Road Parking Lot. Participants should arrive by 9:15 a.m. for the contest.

Other events on July 4 include a banana split eating contest at 2 p.m. at Dee’s Place, 9876 Main St. Participants can register from 1:30 to 1:45 p.m. at Dee’s Place for $2.

There will also be a boat parade of lights that starts at 10 p.m. The event is free and participants that decorate their boats with lights can line up in front of Mac’s Marina at 9:30 p.m. for judging at 9:50 p.m.

For more information, visit Whitmore Lake Fireworks’ website.

Did we miss any events? Email reporter Makayla Coffee at mcoffee@mlive.com.

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