UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Central PA 4thFest will take place on July 4 on Penn State's University Park campus. The 4thFest has been rated among the top five July 4 fireworks shows in the United States, but the festival includes far more than just fireworks. The festival also will feature the Firecracker 4K Race, the third annual Parade of Heroes, music and activities, a lumberjack show, and BMX riders and rollerbladers.

This year's schedule of events:

-- The Firecracker 4K Race will be held at 9 a.m. on the University Park campus of Penn State.

-- The third annual Parade of Heroes will take place at 2 p.m. beginning in front of the State College Municipal Building in State College. The parade route will travel through downtown State College, across Penn State’s University Park campus and end at the Katz Building.

-- Beginning at 2 p.m., there will be music at three venues and various activities for the children and teens.

-- A team of Minnesota lumberjacks will perform 30-minute “lumberjack shows” at 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. Visitors may try their hand at some log-rolling (A change of clothes is suggested).

-- Dialed Action Sports BMX riders and rollerbladers will perform at 5:30, 7 and 8 p.m. in the east side lower parking lot of the Bryce Jordan Center.

-- The main event, the 4thFest fireworks, will begin at 9:15 p.m. and continue through 10 p.m.

-- A Street Dance will be held after the fireworks.

Special VIP viewing passes are available for purchase from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center's ticket office, as well as at the 4thFest information booth and the entrance to the VIP viewing area.

For additional information about the Central PA 4thFest (including maps, directions and parking) go to http://www.4thfest.org/.