Happy birthday, America. Douglas Countians are ready to celebrate.

Grills will be fired, Frisbees will be tossed and, throughout the day and night, parks and backyards will be popular gathering spots for families and friends.

And there will be fireworks – where they’re allowed.

Fireworks are banned in the city, but that won’t stop the Lawrence Jaycees from putting on their annual fireworks display tonight on the Kansas River levee. The best place to see the show is at Burcham Park, near Second and Indiana streets.

But plans have fallen through for buses to take people from downtown to the park. Gary Saathoff, who leads the organization of the event, said he never received a proposal for bus service after initially talking with BS Transportation several days ago.

“I’ve left several messages, and they haven’t returned my calls,” Saathoff said.

In recent years, the Lawrence Bus Co. picked up people in downtown parking lots and transported them to Burcham Park and back – at no charge. Last year, the Journal-World paid the cost of the buses and was prepared to do that again this year. Lawrence Bus Co. stopped operations at the end of June.

Public parking will not be allowed at the park.

The park opens at 6 p.m. Live music will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the park, where food vendors will be operating. Fireworks will begin about 9:45 p.m.

On Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Topeka predicted a 40 percent chance of rain in Lawrence by tonight. There is no backup day for the fireworks display if it is rained out, Saathoff said.

“If it’s just a drizzle, we’ll go ahead with the fireworks,” Saathoff said.

As long as there isn’t lightning and it’s not a downpour, he said, the show will go on.

Before the Burcham Park event, there will be an hour of patriotic music played by the Lawrence City Band at South Park. The band starts the music at 8 p.m.

Not all celebrations today will center on fireworks.

At least one Lawrence neighborhood will have its own parade. The parade has become a tradition in Old West Lawrence.

“We think this is our 11th year, but we’ve kind of lost track,” said Jennifer Glenn, one of the organizers of the parade.

Parade participants, consisting mostly of neighborhood children – some in costumes and riding decorated bikes and wagons – will start at 10 a.m. at Seventh and Ohio streets. The parade will make one trip around the block and conclude at Watson Park.

Public fireworks displays also are planned in several area towns:

¢ Eudora Middle School parking lot, 2635 Church St., at dusk. Those planning to attend should bring a lawn chair. Concessions will be sold by a vendor starting at 7 p.m. Music played by a disc jockey will start at 7:30 p.m.

¢ De Soto school district’s west campus stadium. The display will start 30 to 45 minutes after sundown. Live music will start at 7:30 p.m.

¢ Lansing Business Center, a half-mile east of the McIntyre Mann Carpet Store on East Gilman Road and Kansas Highway 7. Onlookers should bring a lawn chair. The first fireworks go off at 9:30 p.m.

¢ Baldwin City is still planning on having a fireworks display at the ball fields north of Baldwin High School, but fundraising was ongoing.

¢ Stan Braksick Sports Complex, McLouth. The display starts about 9:50 p.m.