Independence Day was one of the few local events not completely canceled by last year’s pandemic and this year’s festivities promise to be bigger and better than ever.

Celebrated this year on Saturday, July 3, “Red, White & Boom-Fest,” kicks off with the traditional downtown parade on Main Street at 10 a.m.

Anyone interested in registering an entry in the parade can still do so by calling the Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce Office.

Online registrations also are accepted at www.kingfisher.org/ event/independence-celebration-2/.

Free swimming is available from 2-4 p.m. at the Vernie Snow Aquatic Center before family fun kicks off at Kingfisher Park at 5 p.m.

Face painting, watermelon slices, turtle races, balloon toss, a coin dig plus snow cones and food will be available.

Vendors include Iron Wheel BBQ, Papa Bear Shaved Ice, funnel cakes and a $5 hot dog deal from the American Legion.

Local vocal artist Emily Faith Sanders will present a live concert inside the Homier baseball stadium from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

At dusk, the professional fireworks display sponsored by the city of Kingfisher will round out the evening.

A recent change in Kingfisher city ordinances allows fireworks to be sold and possessed within the city limits, but Kingfisher Police Chief David Catron reminds residents that igniting fireworks inside city limits is still prohibited.

“It’s a safety issue and fire hazard and our officers will respond to calls of illegal displays within city limits and we’ll issue citations and confiscate fireworks if necessary,” he said.

Fire Chief Tony Stewart said that despite Monday’s cooler temperatures and rainfall, the returning heat wave predicted through early July means conditions will be ripe for grass and structure fires over the holiday weekend.

“No matter how careful you are, it just takes one spark to start an uncontrollable fire when conditions are dry and windy,” Stewart said.

“Our preference is that you take your family to public displays put on by professionals, but if you ignite your own fireworks, please exercise all precautions to keep yourself, your family and your neighbors safe.”

Those precautions include:

•Never allow young children to handle fireworks and older children must have adult supervision. •Never use fireworks

•Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

•Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear

•Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.

•Never light them indoors.

•Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material.

•Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

•Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.

•Never ignite devices in a container.

•Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

•Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.

•Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire.