4 things to do on your summer break in Canton.

Splash Kingdom – It goes without saying that the best way to beat the heat in Canton is to visit Splash Kingdom Paradise Island. Thrill or chill? If you are looking for a thrill, try the White Lightning or the Blue Thunder. If you are looking to chill, the obvious choice is the Lazy River. Every Friday night they are hosting Friday Night Live with live music performed by different bands throughout the season. www.splashkingdomwaterpark.com

July 4th festivities – July 4th is a big deal in Canton. The Chamber and the City of Canton pull out all of the stops. In Downtown Canton starting at 5:00 pm, there will be a bike decorating contest. The annual watermelon eating contest will start at 5:30 pm followed closely by the ever-popular Hot Dog Eating Competition sponsored by Sonic. The actual parade will start at 7:30 pm. The route will begin at the First Baptist Church and go north out to Hwy. 64 and then travel east towards the courthouse. It will then turn south onto Buffalo St. and eventually end at the Canton ISD Admin building. Don’t forget to head over to the west side of the First Monday grounds for the Firework Show hosted by the City of Canton. The firework show always starts at dark. Visit the chamber website for more info.

Tailwind Regional Balloon Festival – This festival will be on July 8th & 9th on the west side of the First Monday Grounds. $10 per car will get you and your family into the festival where you will find live entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, a 5k glow run, and OF COURSE all of the hot air balloon events. Hot air balloon events include tethered balloon rides and a hot air balloon glow on both nights. Gates open at 4 pm. This year, make sure you make plans to watch the balloon competitions that take place in the mornings. Come out to the festival grounds on the morning of Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to watch the balloonists compete by dropping bean bags on a target. It is an amazing sight to see the balloons first thing in the morning. www.balloonfestcanton.com

Splash Day hosted by the Canton Main Street Program – July 16th come downtown Canton to cool off at the all-new event. The Canton Main Street Program is planning an event downtown that will include water games, slides, and the fire department soaking everyone down. This family-friendly event is sure to make sure you beat the heat this summer. Check back for more information on the Canton Main Street Facebook page.