The area is planning to celebrate the Fourth of July with lots of weekend wow.

The Freedom Friday All-Star Praise Party kicks off the weekend on Friday at 10 p.m. at New Enoree Baptist Church on Dove Drive.

The event is being coordinated by former American Idol contestant Jeffery Lampkin and will feature Jeffrey Lampkin and Company, recording artist Regina Sheeters and the Newberry High School Mission Reunion Choir.

This event will be the first time in two years that the reunion choir has preformed.

Also, nationally renowned pastor Johnny Brown will speak to the group.

Lampkin says the event is being held to speak to the current events with the murder of Gregory Hill in a positive way and to give local youth something positive to do.

“Actions speak louder than words,” said Lampkin.

He also wants to give young people a safe avenue for the weekend instead of going to parties where shots are fired like a recent party in Helena where six people were shot.

Finally, he says he wants to show the community what a beautiful country we live in and the freedom that God allows people to have.

This will be one of Lampkin’s last public performances before he has gastric bypass surgery on July 7.

Saturday will see Harper Street’s Fourth of July Bicycle Parade. The parade will start lining up at 9:15 a.m. and scoot down the street at 9:30 a.m.

Bring bikes, scooters, a wagon or ride down the street.

At the end of the parade, the Newberry Fire Department will be on hand to hose down the crowd from their fire truck.

On Sunday, rides, music, skydiving and fireworks will once again be on tap at the annual Fourth of July celebration put on by local law enforcement agencies.

The event is free and starts at 6 p.m. at Newberry High School.

As kids enjoy rides, participants will listen to music. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase.

At 8 p.m. Trent Purcell and friends will skydive into the stadium.

Around 9 p.m. or as soon as it is dark enough, the evening will end with one of the southeast’s largest fireworks displays.

Sunday’s event will take place at Newberry High School at 3113 Main St. Newberry.

Newberry Fire Chief Keith Minick adds that with the recent dry and breezy conditions, it is best for residents to see a public fireworks show instead of doing their own.

He also cautions of fire dangers with fireworks in the dry conditions.