A McNeill Volunteer Fire Dept. spokesperson said that the department’s 4th of July festivities and fire works display will be held on Saturday, since the 4th falls on a Sunday this year.

Cpt. Thomas Calhoun said festivities get underway at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the volunteer fire department at 106 Liberty St. in McNeill. However, he said those attending the festivities can come earlier if they want to.

The band “Shallow Creek”, a popular local band, will kick off its performance at 4 p.m. Other bands also will perform, and the Cuevas Fish House trailer will open up at 4 p.m.

The fireworks display will occur as soon as it gets dark, said Calhoun.

There is no cover charge to attend the festivities. Huey Stockstill Inc. Ready Mix of Picayune is paying for the fireworks display, said Calhoun.

Picayune residents got ready to celebrate the 4th on Saturday and Monday since the 4th of July falls on the Lord’s Day or Sunday this year.

Picayune offices will close Monday and reopen on Tuesday. The county offices will be closed on Monday also and will reopen on Tuesday.

Poplarville city offices will be closed Monday.

Poplarville and Picayune libraries will be closed on Monday.

The regular board of supervisors meeting, which falls on the first Monday of the month, will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

A Wal-Mart Supercenter spokesperson said that Wal-Mart will be open its regular hours on the 4th.

A spokesperson for Walgreens, both north and south locations, said the store will be open for regular hours on the 4th of July, too.

A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service said there will be no mail delivery on Monday.

The Picayune Animal Shelter will be open on Monday.

Garbage pickup won’t change, a spokesperson at city hall said.

Offices at Stennis will close on Monday.

Other festivities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast include:

 The third annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Bike Fest will be Wednesday-Monday, July 5 along U.S. 90 from the Louisiana to the Alabama state line. This motorcycle festival is open to all bike enthusiasts. The headquarters will be from The Dock Bar and Grill, 13247 Seaway Road, Gulfport. Funds raised during the poker runs will go to Make a Wish Foundation. Contact Sam Tootle at 228-297-0256 for details.

 Wesson Memorial Run is Saturday. The 30th annual Wesson Memorial Run will be Saturday from the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA, 1810 Government St., Ocean Springs. Registration will open at 7 a.m. with the race starting at 8 a.m. for the 2-mile health run/walk and one-fourth mile children’s run. There will be awards and refreshments. Hosted by the YMCA and Gulf Coast Running Club, call 228-875-6855 or 228-875-5050 for details.

The Mississippi Coast Watchers group will show its pride for the United States and its military with a convoy of classic and current vehicles starting at 10 a.m. Saturday from the Long Beach Harbor on U.S. 90. The group is named for the original military and civilian volunteers who watched the shores for enemy ships and airplanes during World War II. Call 228-832-9299 for details.

The annual fireworks display from Deer Island and lighting up the Mississippi Sound will start at 9 p.m. July 4. The best location to see the fireworks will be along west beach off U.S. 90 in Biloxi. Also, another good seat for the show will be aboard a Biloxi schooner. The schooner will be boarded at 7 p.m. from the Schooner Pier Complex, 367 Beach Blvd., Biloxi. Call 228-435-6320 to purchase tickets and make reservations. Biloxi’s display is the second-largest fireworks show in the Southeast. $2,000 worth of fireworks per minute will be in the air and the display will last for 22 minutes.

 Beau Rivage’s $1 million lighting system will transform the Biloxi skyline during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Residents and guests of the Mississippi Gulf Coast may enjoy a magnificent fireworks display presented by the resort over the Mississippi Sound on July 5 beginning at 9:30 pm.

The summer-long Casino Row weekly fireworks displays, which attracted thousands of visitors and locals to Point Cadet and the waterfront last year, kick off this weekend with a few revisionsr.They’ll be every Sunday night at 9 through Labor Day weekend, and they’ll have a different theme each week, according to executives of the Isle of Capri, Casino Magic and Grand Casino, the three sponsors of the event.