Fourth of July fireworks, festivities and more: See our coverage ahead of Independence Day

Fourth of July is nearly upon us, bringing with it fireworks, parades and plenty of fun in the sun — if the weather forecast cooperates.

We've already published several guides to Fourth of July festivities and news you can use when it comes to setting off your own fireworks, keeping your pets calm and more.

Here's a look at all our holiday coverage so far:

Fireworks shows and parades in the Columbus area

We've got two guides to help you there: one listing Fourth of July festivities by city , and a second that breaks out the holiday weekend schedule of events by date.

When is Red, White and Boom?

Columbus' annual summer extravaganza , now in its 42nd year, has everything you could want in a Fourth of July fiesta: lots of live music and food, a parade stretching as far as the eye can see and of course, fireworks. It takes place July 3.

What roads are closed and where to park for Red, White & Boom?

There will be many street closures in Downtown and the surrounding areas . Washington Boulevard is currently closed from West Broad Street to West Main Street, reopening July 4 at an unannounced time.

Beginning July 1 until an undetermined time on July 4, Civic Center Drive will be closed from West Broad Street to West Main Street.

Parking will be limited , so it's best to reserve a spot in advance.

Where's the best place to watch the Columbus fireworks show?

You don't have to be in the middle of the estimated crowd of 400,000 people to get the full Red, White & Boom! experience.

There are plenty of good viewing spots for the annual fireworks celebration away from the big crowds and heavy traffic that are sure to descend on Downtown come Wednesday. Check out this story for list of parks, parties and more that offer great vantage points for watching the Columbus parks.

Is there a Crew game on July 3?

Yes, the Columbus Crew play July 3, the same night as Red, White and Boom! The team moved the start time up to 6:30 p.m. to accommodate the celebrations that evening.

When is the Doo Dah Parade?

Lineup for this year's Doo Dah Parade lineup is set to begin at noon on July 4 at Park and Goodale streets. The parade itself kicks off at 1 p.m.

The annual celebration of "liberty and lunacy" has been a Short North staple for decades.

Traffic outlook for the Fourth of July

Hitting the road this holiday? You're not alone. Millions of Ohioans are expected to be on the roads.

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst with traffic analytics and insights provider INRIX, said in AAA’s release that drivers across the country should expect the worst delays on July 3 as people leave for Independence Day and on July 7 when many will return.

More: July Fourth traffic outlook: With millions hitting the road, ODOT to pause some work

What if I want to shoot off my own fireworks?

You can, but not everywhere in central Ohio. Fireworks are allowed on certain days around Independence Day, unless your community has banned use. Columbus, for example, does not allow private fireworks.

See our full list of which communities do and don't allow private fireworks and which days you can legally set them off.

How to keep my dog calm during fireworks shows

Most pet parents won't be surprised to hear that half of dogs in the U.S. get anxiety from fireworks during the Fourth of July .

How can you help your furry friend out? We've got some tips for calming your pet during fireworks and other summertime events.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fourth of July fireworks, festivities and more: See our coverage ahead of Independence Day