JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The City of Jacksonville will host a two-day celebration of Independence Day, including a country-music concert at Metropolitan Park on Friday, ice skating and family entertainment in Veteran's Memorial Arena on Friday and Saturday and, of course, the area's largest fireworks show.

Friday's concert features John Rich with special guest Cowboy Troy, Joe Nichols and The Road Hammers. The gates open at 4 p.m., with opening ceremonies at 4:30. The music begins at 5 p.m.

Fireworks over the St. Johns River begin at 9:45 p.m. The show can be seen and heard all along the downtown riverfront on the Northbank and Southbank.

Channel 4 will broadcast them live for people who cannot get downtown to watch in person.

The arena is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, with the Red, White and Brrr ice skating show performed at noon and 3 p.m. There's public ice skating ($2 admission includes skate rental), face painting, strolling entertainment and interactive games.

Other related events include the Freedom Ride 2008, a motorcycling event to benefit the Police Athletic League that begins from Metropolitan Park at 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Kids Kampus, next to Met Park, hosts patriotic crafts, entertainment and children's activities for those 12 and under from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday..

Also downtown, there will be live entertainment at Jacksonville Landing from noon to 2 a.m. both days, and noon to until 2 a.m. on Sunday. There's also Suns baseball games all weekend, patriotic music Friday at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront and a comedy show at the Florida Theatre on Saturday night.

Except for the ice skating, all events are free. There is a $5 fee for parking at all city lots around the sports complex and downtown. Water taxis and JTA's Skyway will run extra hours to accommodate people attending the evening holiday events.

For more information, visit COJ.net.