The city of Mentor will celebrate the Fourth of July with a pair of local traditions -- the afternoon parade through the Headlands neighborhood and the fireworks show at night.

The parade will begin at noon at the intersection of Forest and Garden roads before heading east on Garden, then north on Corduroy and ending at Lake Overlook and Corduroy Road.

This year's parade will have the theme "celebrating 60 years of an American tradition."

• Check out snapshots from last year's parade - A Salute to the Armed Forces

Then the fireworks show begins at dusk on the property of Mentor High School.

Here are a few spots in the city that make for prime firework watching:

• Branding Iron Cook House: The restaurant has a direct line of vision from Market Street. Moreover, you can get some good grub while you wait.
• Laketran parking lot on Market Street: The view is similar to the one from the Branding Iron. It doesn't tend to fill up as quickly as other more popular locations.
• Civic Center Park: This entire complex offers a pretty good view of the action as long as you don't get stuck behind a tree or a tall guy in a top hat. If you don't want to fight for a spot of lawn, you could always retreat to the Mentor Senior Center parking.
• Mentor High School: Admittedly, this suggestion is a bit obvious. However, we have it on good authority that the baseball fields offer an especially good view.
• Orchard Hollow Elementary: This location boasts two benefits. One, you'll be able to see the show clearly. Two, you'll have a lot easier time trying to get home than if you parked at the Civic Center complex.
• Check out these photographs from last year's firework show.

Finally, James A. Garfield National Historic Site has its own Fourth of July tradition.

Each year the Mentor home of President Garfield hosts a naturalization ceremony in which people from all across the globe become U.S. citizens.

This year's ceremony will be July 6. It is free and open to the public.