'A Century of Stories' theme of this year's Independence Day Parade in Stow

The city of Stow invites the community to join the city for “A Century of Stories: Honoring our Past, Inspiring Our Future” Fourth of July Parade on Thursday starting at 10 a.m.

The parade will travel down Kent Road, starting at the Stow Community Shopping Plaza parking lot and ending just past Holy Family Church. Additionally, we have a variety of activities planned for the week, including a Concert on the Green, the Stow Paddle Battle Pickleball Tournament, a Pancake Breakfast, and the traditional Firecracker Run.

For a full list of events, visit stowohio.org/337/Programs-Events.

The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library will celebrate its centennial by being the grand marshal in the City of Stow’s Fourth of July parade while debuting its new bookmobile. This initiative comes as part of the library’s mission to extend its reach and foster literacy and learning within the community.

“The introduction of our new bookmobile is a milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to outreach and accessibility,” said Gale Koritansky, director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. “We are committed to bringing the joy of reading and learning to a wider audience and supporting our community’s access to reading.”

The bookmobile and redesigned van are equipped with a wide selection of materials for adults and children to meet the varied interests and educational needs of the Stow-Munroe Falls community. This endeavor underscores the library’s vision of not just being a place to borrow books but a hub for community enrichment and lifelong learning.

For information about the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, visit the library’s website at www.smfpl.org, or call 330-688-3295.

Annual parade and Firecracker Run will cause temporary road closings

The city's Stow Firecracker Run and the Stow Fourth of July Parade will impact the regular flow of traffic on that morning.

The Stow Firecracker Run will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church, proceeding east on Kent Road to the Stow Community Shopping Center (Target Plaza), and then returning to the church. The Stow Fourth of July Parade will start at 10 a.m. from the Stow Community Shopping Center (Target Plaza), heading west on Kent Road to Holy Family Church.

As a result of these events, the following road closures will be necessary:

Kent Road (Route 59)

Kent Road will be closed from Marsh Road to McCormick Road in Silver Lake at the following estimated times:

• 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.
• 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Darrow Road (Route 91)

Darrow Road will be closed from Graham Road to Pinehurst Road in Munroe Falls at the following estimated times:

• 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.
• 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Emergency vehicles will be the only through traffic allowed during the restricted periods. Some businesses in the area will remain open, and employees needing to access their workplaces should use Fishcreek Road to reach Kent Road.

There will be no on-street parking permitted on Lakeview Drive and Charring Cross Drive from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Independence Day.

For details, contact the Stow Parks and Recreation office at 330-689-5100, email parks@stow.oh.us, or visit https://stowohio.org/calendar.aspx?EID=1299.