Fourth of July celebrations on tap in Clarksburg and Shinnston next weekend

— A bicycle parade at 5:45 p.m. Registration will begin at 4:30 at the Caperton Center on West Main Street, with participants encouraged to decorate their bikes. A new bike will be awarded, organizers have said.

• — Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library will provide a self-guided StoryWalk® as well as a Friends of the Library Mini Book Sale.

— Live music, featuring the popular local group Top Shelf from 5-7 p.m., will be at the courthouse plaza.

— First Fridays Art Gallery will be open July 1st 4:30-8 p.m. at the Clarksburg Community Action Building, 331 West Main Street.

— A hot dog eating contest featuring first responders will be held at 7 p.m. in the Clarksburg Baptist Church parking lot across from Ritzy Lunch, which is sponsoring the event.

“We’re excited to have another First Fridays event and to celebrate the Fourth of July with special activities,” Clarksburg Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tina Yoke said. “There will be plenty of activities, great music, food and fun. We encourage everyone to come out and celebrate with us.”

Also on Friday, the Shinnston Community Band returns with its annual show, set for 8 p.m. at Ferguson Park. The event will include fireworks.

On Saturday, the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County will celebrate America on July 2 with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro John Devlin, at the Clarksburg Amphitheater.

The concert is part of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra’s Celebrate America 2022 Tour, which makes stops in cities in West Virginia, including Clarksburg, Canaan Valley, Weirton, and Wheeling.

The WSO’s annual salute to America begins at 8 p.m. and will feature some of West Virginia’s own great musical talents — Eli Lambie and the Mojo Kings and Isaiah Keez.

The orchestra will set a celebratory tone with all of the best-loved patriotic tunes, including the “1812 Overture,” the “Armed Forces Salute” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” and will join forces with special guests on original compositions and chart-topping hits including “Don’t Stop Believing,” “September,” “Rolling in the Deep,” “Locked out of Heaven” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”

As the music concludes, the crowd will be treated to a fireworks display sponsored by The Antero Foundation set to all the best-loved patriotic tunes.

“We’re looking forward to another great event at The Amp, celebrating the Fourth of July,” Clarksburg Parks Director John Cooper said.

Also on Saturday, the City of Salem will be holding an Independence Day Celebration from 3-10 p.m. featuring food, festivities and music.

Hank Williams IV will be performing at the Salem Depot Park along with some local talent before the evening will conclude with a fireworks display.