In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Mars will hold a two-day, community wide Independence Day celebration Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4.

The celebration begins Friday with several family-friendly activities scattered across Mars. At 5 p.m., the action moves to Marburger Field, where Mars will pay tribute to Mars Area High School football player and Tuskeegee Airman Carl Wood and former postmaster and baseball coach Chester Marburger.

A community softball game and a youth punt, pass and kick contest will follow the tributes.

At 8 p.m., the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center will hold a cultural dance presentation to honor the Lenape and Seneca tribes who settled the area well over 250 years ago. The night concludes with a big screen showing of The Sandlot.

The celebrations continue July 4 at 11 a.m. with a ceremony at the USS Mars bell, where a new flagpole will be dedicated.

After the ceremony, Mars’ traditional Independence Day celebrations begin and include a vendor market from 2 until 6 p.m., the annual Fourth of July parade at 5:30 p.m., and a neighborhood cookout at Marburger Field at 6:30 p.m.

The Independence Day celebrations will conclude with fireworks at dusk.