Fourth of July celebration underway in Kirby Park

The City of Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July is planned for noon to 10 p.m. Thursday in Kirby Park, but the festivities got started one day earlier.

Carnival games, amusement rides, and food and craft vendors filled the parking lot on Wednesday and were open to the public.

An opening ceremony will begin at noon Thursday with a welcome from Mayor George Brown.

Live entertainment includes:

• Fuzzy Park — noon to 1:30 p.m.

• Eddie Day & TNT — 2 to 4 p.m.

• Suze — 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic — 7:30 p.m.

Fireworks will begin between 9 and 9:30 p.m. and are presented by Skyshooter Displays.

The City reminds residents and visitors that alcoholic beverages, glass containers, smoking and personal fireworks (including sparklers) are prohibited in Kirby Park.

Additionally, dogs are not permitted in the park during the Fourth of July, per City Ordinance Sec. 5-13(c): “No dog shall be allowed in or on any public park or property within the confines of the City of Wilkes-Barre that is being used as a location for a city-sanctioned event.”

Kirby Park will close at the conclusion of the fireworks.

Market Street Bridge will be closed to vehicle travel between 8 and 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

A WBFD Ambulance will be placed in service from 2 p.m. to midnight next to the Martz Pavilion inside Kirby Park and a WBFD Engine will be placed in service from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. near the command post for the fireworks vendor.