Whether it’s honoring our veterans or enjoying wonderful fireworks, the River Region is the place to be next week for celebrations related to the Fourth of July.

The ninth annual St. John the Baptist Parish Veterans Luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. July 3 at the Louisiana Army National Guard Readiness Center on West Airline Highway in Reserve.

A video tribute paying homage to St. John’s veterans and service members will be featured this year during the luncheon. The video will also be played later that day during the televised broadcast of the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration.

Food, fun and fireworks will also be the order of the evening on both sides of the Mississippi River in St. John Parish from 6 to 9:30 p.m. July 3.

The celebration on the east bank will take place at St. Peter Catholic Church, located at 1550 River Road in Reserve. The west bank celebration will take place at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, located at 2361 River Road in Edgard.

St. Charles Parish will hold its 24th annual Independence Day Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. July 3 at the West Bank Bridge Park, 13825 River Road in Luling.

Category 6 will perform the music, and just some of the fun includes two patriotic balloon-twisting clowns, mini golf for the kids and great food.

A 20-minute fireworks extravaganza starts at 9 p.m.

A flag-raising celebration followed by the national anthem and recitation of the parish’s Independence Day proclamation will get things started in the right patriotic mood.

Local parish governments have done their part to put on an amazing Independence Day celebration. All we have to do is show up.