HUNTINGTON -- America is celebrating its birthday, and yeah, it's still partying like a teenager blasting the night sky and enjoy the rockets' red glare 'til the dawn's early light.

Here are more then a few good places to enjoy your freedom and watch great fireworks shows.

Hot in the city

At West Virginia's only amusement park, Camden Park, the fun begins Saturday with "City Heat" in concert lighting up the Midway stage. The concert will be followed by the one of the area's biggest fireworks shows at 10 p.m.

Located along U.S. 60 five miles west of Huntington, Camden Park has more than 30 rides and attractions as well as games, arcade, restaurant, paddleboats, shops and an 18- hole themed miniature golf course.

Sunday world-class ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again is in the house for two shows.

Call 304-429-4321 or visit the Web site: www.camdenpark.com.

A dazzling Dawg by the river

At 7 p.m. Saturday, July 4, it's Dawg Dazzle, the official Huntington fireworks shot off over the Ohio River thanks to Kindred Communications and The Dawg, 93.7-FM.

Gates open at 6 p.m. for The Dawg's 5th annual concert with the Dawg's Summer Night Jamboree and the large fireworks display. Concessions available. For tickets, call 304-696-4400 or visit www.bigsandyarena.com. The event will take place at Harris Riverfront Park. The event is free with a ticket or $5 at the gate.

Celebrate in Barboursville

The celebration begins at 7 p.m. at the Barboursville Park Amphitheater. South of the River Band takes the stage at 7 p.m. It will be followed by Soundtastic Enterprises at 9 p.m. Fireworks shoot into the night sky at 10 p.m.

All entertainment is free and open to the public.

Summer in motion

Most of Summer Motion this year is firing off over in Central Park, but all eyes will be on the Ohio River at 9:30 p.m. Saturday when one of the region's biggest shows lights up the night sky over the green and blue bridges.

Before the fireworks, check out a full plate of entertainment on Saturday at Central Park, including a cooking show at 1 p.m., followed by the Highway 23 band with Jeremy Adkins, River Town, Bronson Lee, Jessica Baldridge, Stephen Salyers, Larry Whitt and The Reflections.

Go online at www.summermotion.com for a complete schedule of events or call 606-329-1007.

Party at the pool

Celebrate Independence Day at Dreamland Pool. The festivities begin at noon with a presentation by the Ceredo-Kenova American Legion. That will be followed by a concert featuring Traci Ann Stanley at 1 p.m. and Kyova at 2 p.m. Throughout the day there will be local vendors including In-Touch School of Massage Therapy and Designer-Inspired Accessories.

Cost is $5 adults and $3 youth. Veterans will be admitted free with proof of service.

Some holler for color in Hamlin

Lincoln County Independence Celebration: July 3-5, at the Lincoln County Memorial Fairgrounds in Hamlin, W.Va. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. following a concert by country artist Adam Tucker. Bring your lawn chairs. Other activities include demolition derby, carnival games, inflatables and lots of music. Call 304-824-5161 or go online at www.lcfairsandfestivals.com.

Double the fireworks in Charleston

Charleston doubles the pleasure as the West Virginia Power, battling the Lakewood Blue Claws at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, send up some post-game fireworks to celebrate.

Just down the street, Charleston's city fireworks are set to boom at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Haddad Riverfront Park. Festivities start at 8 p.m. with a free concert by the renowned West Virginia Symphony. One of the region's largest fireworks shows. Go online at www.cityofcharleston.org.

And a cruise to go

The 19th annual Point Pleasant Sternwheel Regatta is packed with entertainment Thursday through Saturday with fireworks at 10 p.m., and tons of activities downtown at Tu-Endie-Wei Park as well as on the river. Lots of live music, a parade, cornhole, line-throwing competition, 5K run, and much more.

There's also lots of great cruising on the river with the fireworks cruise, a midnight cruise on Friday and other sightseeing boat rides. Go online at www.pointpleasantregatta.org.

Red, white and Greenbo

Seven Kentucky State Parks are cranking up the freedom cannons for some fireworks.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park near Greenup, Ky., is the closest in our neck of the woods.

The July Fourth Celebration gets kicked off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4, and includes a concert featuring The Kentucky Blue Collar Band and fireworks.

You might want to just roll over and spend the day at the more than 3,300-acre park that has tons of hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, swimming pool (with water slides), lake for fishing and boating, a lodge, mini-golf and much more.

Cost is $5; $2 children 6-12; free for children under 5. Go online at www.ky.parks.gov and click onto Greenbo for more info.

Symphony sounds at city park

The Ohio Valley Symphony celebrates 20 years with a free concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4, in Gallipolis City Park.

Expect a parade of great American music, including a salute to America's armed forces, Sousa marches and classics of America's own music, jazz. Joining the OVS and music director Ray Fowler will be trumpeter Byron Stripling, who will honor the country's greatest trumpeter, Louis Armstrong. Stripling portrayed Armstrong in Broadway's "Satchmo."

The performance is also the culmination of the city's annual River Recreation Festival. Bringing the night to a conclusion will be Tchaikovsky's beloved "1812 Overture," followed by fireworks over the Ohio River. Go online at www.ohiovalleysymphony.org or call 740-446-7925.

A day early, not a rocket short

If you've got to work on Saturday, you can get your fireworks a day early thanks to Family Fun Days at Paul Porter Park in Coal Grove.

They'll blast off fireworks at 10 p.m. Friday. It's just one part of Family Fun Days that runs 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, July 1-3. Presented by the Coal Grove Betterment Club. Activities include an appraisal event by "Porky" Nichols, annual cake and pie auction, a Chinese auction and more. Live entertainment every night.

With a side dish of country

Four-time Grammy nominee Jamie O'Neal, who has racked up such No. 1 hits as "There Is No Arizona" and "When I Think About Angels," plays the Fantasy 4th Spectacular at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Wellston, Ohio. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. Tickets are $53 online at www.fantasy4th.com. More than $150,000 in prizes will be given away, and all ticket sales will benefit the Jackson County Fair Board and local 4H and FFA Projects.

For even more fireworks, check out The Herald-Dispatch's super-sized online calendar for a list of public displays of fireworks in the region. Go online at www.herald-dispatch.com.

Mark Webb/The Herald-Dispatch

Ashley and Matt Riley enjoy the Independence Day fireworks display at Pullman Square in Huntington on in this July 4, 2008, file photo.

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