Red, white and blue will soon be plastered across downtown Covington as Newton County residents are gearing up for the nation’s birthday. The annual Independence in the Park Music Fest will kick off at noon on July 4, with music, food, activities and booths from local businesses offered to residents and visitors. Andrea Smith, a Main Street board member, said the goal was to step the event up a notch from previous years by doing more fireworks, having more vendors and getting more sponsors than ever before.