Amy Bleier Long

Major festivals take a back seat this weekend to Fourth of July celebrations, but there’s a lot to do leading up to the holiday. National recording acts The Church, Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots, Skilla Baby and Buckcherry will be in town, and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy regional artists covering classical, patriotic, Latin jazz and rock music.

Summer nights in CNY Fireworks at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse. Major festivals take a back seat this weekend to Fourth of July celebrations, but there’s a lot to do leading up to the holiday. National recording acts The Church, Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots, Skilla Baby and Buckcherry will be in town, and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy regional artists covering classical, patriotic, Latin jazz and rock music.

There’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America in Central New York. Independence Day celebrations with fireworks shows and family-friendly activities are planned across the region. Many will be held on Saturday, July 4, but others are held earlier or later. The shows began in Phoenix on June 26. You can find additional community- and history-centered official America250 events taking place around New York state.