For more than 80 years, the city of Vicksburg did not celebrate the Fourth of July.

From 1863 when Gen. John C. Pemberton surrendered the city of Vicksburg to Union troops following a 47-day siege to 1947, the Fourth of July wasn’t celebrated locally.

That changed after World War II and Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s visit to town in 1947, and now, like almost every city in the country, the Fourth is a day of celebration.

This year the holiday will celebrate the 155th anniversary of the surrender and the 242nd birthday of America with living history demonstrations, canon firings and of course fireworks.

The Vicksburg National Military Park will be hosting events starting today with the 1st Mississippi Cavalry at the Great Redoubt, Doug the Camel Returns and Conversations of Home at the Shirley House all occurring. A surrender program will be held at 4 p.m. July 3 and 4, and discuss the surrender and its legacy.

The Vicksburg Civil War Roundtable will be hosting a symposium with numerous living historians Tuesday evening at the Old Courthouse Museum. They will also host a Breakfast with the Generals Wednesday morning at the Bear House and a surrender reenactment at 11 a.m. at the museum.

Wednesday evening, the city of Vicksburg will host its annual fireworks show. Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster will play from 7-9 p.m. and then the fireworks will start at 9 p.m. The entire event will take place in front of the Old Depot Museum.

Whether you enjoy history, fireworks or both, have a fun and safe holiday.