INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – The Independence holiday is underway with a host of events and fireworks displays.

In a tribute to veterans, a ‘Concert for Heroes’ at the Riverside National Cemetery Thursday featured the Riverside County Philmarmonic.

Most government offices and many businesses will be closed Friday to give employees an extended holiday weekend.

Public fireworks displays are planned Saturday in many inland communities.

In Riverside, aerial fireworks will be fired off at 9pm from Mt. Rubidoux and La Sierra Park.

In Moreno Valley, a parade and an afternoon Family FunFest will precede a 9pm fireworks show.

Ontario’s Saturday morning parade marches down Euclid Avenue just ahead of the traditional All-States Picnic and a fireworks show at Westwind Park.

A patriotic evening is planned at the Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter.

Beaumont’s celebration begins at 4pm at Stewart Park.

A new traffic handling plan will be implemented for the annual fireworks show over Big Bear Lake Saturday evening. Lake Arrowhead and Lake Gregory are planning public fireworks displays. Visitors and local residents are welcomed but advised that mountain highways will be ‘saturated’ with traffic. Fireworks in the hands of private individuals is strictly prohibited in the mountains.

Story Date: July 5, 2015