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WILKES-BARRE — As the United States celebrates its 240th birthday this weekend, maybe you’ll marvel about how eloquently Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and how brave the Second Continental Congress delegates were to sign it, pledging to each other on July 4, 1776, their lives, fortunes and sacred honor.
You might get misty-eyed thinking about the sacrifices of military men and women who fought and continue to fight today to keep the nation free.
Perhaps you’ll sing along with soprano Katy Williams as she renders “The Star-Spangled Banner” at free Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. (Don’t feel bad if you can’t hit that “land of the free” high note as well as she can.)
But no matter how else you celebrate, this weekend is your chance to watch the night sky light up red, white and blue.
“A Fourth of July without fireworks is like not having a Christmas tree on Christmas morning,” said “Pizza Paul” Adamchick, of Trucksville, who achieved a bucket-list goal a few years ago when he manned the pyrotechnic display at Kirby Park.
“It’s all about the birth of our country,” Adamchick said. “You have to celebrate. People forget their problems when they come to a fireworks display.”
If you agree, here is a list of places where you can see fireworks:
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Nanticoke Football Stadium, 425 Kosciuszko St., Nanticoke, at dusk July 1, following third annual “Big Bang” activities that begin at 4 p.m.
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Beach Haven Carnival Grounds, 1319 Salem Blvd., East Berwick, fireworks display at 11:59 p.m. July 1. Carnival activities begin at 5 nightly through July 2.
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Abington Heights Middle School, 1555 Newton Ransom Blvd., Clarks Summit, at dusk July 2 with rain date of July 3. A $5 parking fee helps defray the cost.
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Memorial Park, 101 East Tenth St., Jim Thorpe, at dusk July 2, grande finale of the Stay at Home Festival, which offers games, food and rides beginning at 3 p.m.
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Tunkhannock Area High School, off business Route 6, Tunkhannock, at dusk July 3.
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Courthouse Square, Scranton, free Independence Day Concert with Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and soloist Williams begins at 7:30 p.m. July 3, followed by fireworks at dusk.
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Mohegan Sun Casino, Route 314, Plains Township, dusk July 3 at the racetrack.
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Wright Township Park, off Route 309, Mountain Top, at dusk July 3.
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Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre. “An Old-Fashioned Fourth” with food, rides and games begins at noon July 4. Philharmonic concert begins at 7:30 p.m. , with fireworks at dusk.
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PNC Field, Moosic, July 4 following Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders baseball game vs. Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Game begins at 7:05.
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Over Lake Wallenpaupack, at dusk July 4. Parking and seating at Wallenpaupack Area High School, 2552 Route 6, Hawley. Donations gladly accepted. Rain date is July 5.
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Dansbury Park, East Stroudsburg, fireworks at dusk July 4 mark the end of a three-day American Freedom Festival that includes amusement rides, games, music and food. Activities begin at 3 p.m. each day.
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Harman-Geist Stadium, 300 North Cedar St., Hazleton, July 4 at dusk.
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Crispin Field, North Mulberry St., Berwick, at dusk July 4, following a 7 p.m. concert of patriotic music on the Jackson Mansion lawn.
