By Garrett Stack

The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON — The night sky over Madison County will light up this weekend as towns celebrate Independence Day.

There are multiple firework shows, parades, and concerts that promise fun for everyone in the family.

No matter where you live, there is probably a show within a few miles of home, and almost all of the events are free of charge so you can have fun this weekend without breaking the bank.

Below is a list of events occurring over the weekend:

Friday

u The Anderson midnight patriotic parade will start at 8th and Jackson streets at midnight Friday. The annual parade is the earliest Independence Day celebration in America. There will be a midnight parade pre-party at the Anderson Town Center from 9 to 11 p.m. There will be live entertainment and great music as everyone gets ready for the parade.

u Alexandria will host a Friday night fireworks show that is scheduled to go off at dusk. The Alexandria Community Band will be performing before the fireworks show at 8 p.m. in the Alexandria Intermediate School parking lot.

u Yorktown and the Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the annual Fireworks Festival at Morrows Meadow Park. The hours are 4-11 p.m. for both days and each day will feature two musical performances beginning at 5 and 8 p.m. There will be games and food for the whole family, a rock climbing wall and inflatable rides for the kids, and a beer tent for the adults. The Chamber Duck Race in Buck Creek will start at 8 p.m. and prizes will be awarded to the winners. The fireworks will go off at dark on Saturday.

Saturday

u Hoosier Park will host a concert followed by fireworks on the 4th. John Anderson, the country music star, will perform at 8:30 p.m., and Casey Jamerson, a Pendleton native and rising country music star, will open for Anderson at 7 p.m. The fireworks will follow the concert and will begin at 10 p.m.

u Anderson Speedway will host the self-proclaimed “Anderson’s best fireworks show” at the race track on the fourth. There will be racing of all varieties, including figure-8 racing, starting at 7 p.m. The fireworks are set to go off after the races are over, most likely around 9:30 or 10 p.m. The Anderson Lions Family Festival will continue through the night of the fourth in the parking lot of the speedway. It features rides, games and food.