SALEM — Salem will be celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial Friday with a full slate of patriotic programming.

The celebrations kick off at 10 a.m. with a dedication ceremony for the city’s new 50-year time capsule at the Liberty Center, located at the corner of North Ellsworth Avenue and East State Street. Salem City Councilwoman and Salem U.S. 250 Liaison Sara Baer said that event would feature a ribbon cutting, live music, speeches and more.

The ceremony will be followed by the Grand Independence Day Parade. Lineup for the parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Second Street, and the parade will step off at noon. Baer said that the parade will proceed from Ellsworth down State to Lincoln Plaza and has more than 50 groups registered to participate this year.

“We invite folks to come into the downtown early and set up their chairs, or to enjoy the parade from the comfort of their favorite local businesses,” said Baer.

The municipal parking lot on Second Street is set to be closed off at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the section of Second Street between Ellsworth and Lincoln will be closed at 7 a.m. Friday in preparation for the parade. Baer said that the city’s other municipal parking lots will remain open.

Following the parade, the festivities will continue with an evening of family fun at the America 250 Ohio Homecoming & Picnic at Waterworth Memorial Park from 4 to 7 p.m. sponsored by the Salem Parks Department in partnership with MAC Trailer, First Christian Church, Shepherd of the Valley, and the Rotary Club of Salem. The picnic will feature a live performance by the Embers of Floyd Band with stage courtesy of MAC Trailer, bounce houses and inflatable by provided by the Parks Department and First Christian Church, games by Shepherd of the Valley and other local businesses, and hot dogs provided by Salem Rotary. The event is also set to feature several food trucks on site for concessions.

Friday’s celebrations will conclude with the city’s annual fireworks display at dusk.

Those looking to get a jumpstart on the patriotic celebrations can enjoy a patriotic concert by the Dave Banks Band from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight in the Salem High School Auditorium. The two-hour concert will feature patriotic favorites spanning seven decades, including a military salute. The concert is sponsored by the Salem Alumni Association and is completely free and open to all. Attendees are asked to park and enter the auditorium from the rear of the high school. For any questions about the concert tonight call 330-330-1427.