Celebrating Independence Day with fireworks has been a long-standing tradition in Marietta. Firework displays in the borough can be traced to the 1950s, according to organizers of this year's festivities. Marietta Fireworks became a nonprofit organization a few years ago, and a team of volunteers has ensured the annual tradition continues. This year's display will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, in War Memorial Park, 344 E. Walnut St.

The event will feature the patriotic sounds of the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast, which will perform in concert before the fireworks and during the display. "We are so excited to be able to have live music during the fireworks," said Gary Schatz, who has been directing the fireworks shows since 2018. "We're always looking for ways to bring more enjoyment to the community, and this is something we've often talked about."

The band will perform at Community Bible Church, 331 Anderson Ferry Road, Marietta, beginning at 7 p.m. The Air National Guard Band of the Northeast is the premier military band from within the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. The band has played throughout the United States and overseas. The concert will feature a variety of classical music, jazz tunes, popular music, marches, patriotic selections and showtunes arranged for the concert band and small ensembles. In 2010 and again in 2020, 10 members of the band deployed to locations throughout the Middle East, the first deployment of this type for the band. Band members performed more than 20 concerts in 75 days for troops and civilians, to raise spirits and inspire patriotism.

Community Bible Church, which provides a good viewing spot for the fireworks, will also host a variety of family-friendly activities, entertainment and food trucks beginning at 5 p.m. Sarge the Constable K-9 will perform service demonstrations at 5:30 p.m. and juggler Chris Ivey will entertain at 6 p.m.

All of the activities, including the concert, are free. Donations will be accepted, with all proceeds benefiting Marietta Fireworks.

"The amount of work that goes into each show every year is exhausting and wouldn't be possible without the countless volunteer hours, donations and encouraging words of support," Schatz stated, "but hearing the joy of the crowd during the show makes it all worth it and gives our community something to be very proud of."

For more information on Marietta Fireworks, to donate or to watch a livestream of the event, search for "Marietta Fireworks" on Facebook. For more information on the band, search for "Air National Guard Band of the Northeast" on Facebook.