Apex
• The Olde Fashioned Fourth of July celebration begins at 9 a.m. Thursday in downtown Apex. Events include kids’ activities and games; a bike, wagon and scooter parade; and a fire department “splash down,” in which people can be sprayed by a fire hose, at 12:30 p.m.
Cary
• The Applause! Cary Youth Theatre and Cary Town Band perform at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park, 801 High House Road.
• The Independence Day Olde Time Celebration begins at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Bond Park, 801 High House Road. Events include a fishing tournament, a bike, trike, stroller and wagon parade, and family contests. Fireworks at dusk.
• A retirement ceremony of unserviceable U.S. flags will be performed at noon Thursday at Cary VFW Post 7383, 522 Reedy Creek Road. Old flags may be dropped off from 1-5 p.m. any day of the week. Details at 919-467-1188 or
www.caryvfw.org.
• Celebration runs 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway. The Cary Town Band and the N.C. Symphony perform. The event features boats from the Capital Model Boat Club, family contests, children’s activities and a Ferris wheel. Bring blankets and chairs.
• “Run for Liberty,” a 5K and a 1-mile fun run, starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park, 201 Soccer Park Drive, Cary. Registration is $25 for the 5K and $10 for the fun run. Proceeds will be donated to the Amputee Coalition. For details, visit
www.delbiancopo.com. To register, visit
www.active.com.
• 21st Annual Firecracker Ride starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at Hibernian Pub, 1144 Kildaire Farm Road. More than 900 cyclists will ride a 50K or 100K through Wake, Chatham and Harnett counties.
Carrboro
• Celebration kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Thursday on the Weaver Street Market lawn, followed by a parade down Weaver Street at 10:50 a.m. to Carrboro Town Hall. In case of inclement weather, the event may be canceled. Please check the Recreation and Parks Department weather line, 919-918-7373, for changes.
Chapel Hill
• A celebration will be held at Kenan Memorial Stadium on the UNC campus. Gates open at 7 p.m. Thursday, and events include live music, fireworks and family-oriented activities.
Clayton
• Celebration runs 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday in Municipal Park on Stallings Street. The event will offer free ice cream and watermelon, a sack race, a water-balloon toss, egg-and-spoon race, a one-on-one basketball contest, music and games. The fire department will spray kids, and the day will end with fireworks.
Cleveland
• Parade begins at 10 a.m. Thursday in the heart of Cleveland by the old Cleveland High School. Games, inflatables, pony rides, food and entertainment. A street dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Fireworks display begins at 9:15 p.m.
Durham
• Festival for the Eno begins Thursday at 10 a.m. and will continue at the same time on Saturday, West Point on the Eno park. More than 50 musical acts will perform on multiple stages, joined by craft vendors and a beer garden. Tickets can be pre-purchased online at
www.enoriver.org/festival/music.html.
• Celebration at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Thursday following the 6 p.m. baseball game. Gates open after the seventh inning, and fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m.
• Children’s parade in the Durham Central Park area. Bike decorating starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, and parade begins at 10:15 a.m.
• The Watts Hospital-Hillandale celebration begins with procession of decorated bicycles, tricycles, wagons, strollers and people on foot from the corner of Oakland Avenue and Club Boulevard, down Club to Alabama, right on Alabama, right on Woodrow, and into Oval Park.
• The Duke Park, Old North Durham and Trinity Park neighborhoods celebrate with a potluck and parade from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Duke Park picnic shelter. Please bring a side dish to share.
Fuquay-Varina
• Celebration begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday at South Park, 820 S. Main St. Vendors, music, free inflatable rides and fireworks.
Garner
• Celebration has been rescheduled from Wednesday to Friday because of expected rain. Gates open at 5 p.m. at Lake Benson Park. Music, food, children’s play area and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Holly Springs
• Celebration runs 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Sugg Farm Park, 2401 Grigsby Ave., with musical entertainment, vendors, children’s activities and family games. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.
Morrisville
• Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. Bring chairs, blankets, drinks and snacks. Glass containers, coolers and alcohol are not allowed.
Raleigh
• “The Works” start at noon Thursday and continue until 11 p.m. in downtown Raleigh. Activities on Fayetteville Street include art and food vendors, live music, street performers and children’s areas. Fireworks displays at 9:15 p.m. (best seen from Fayetteville Street) and 10:15 p.m. (best seen from afar).
• July 4th at the State Capitol begins at 11 a.m. Thursday. Events include a patriotic concert and a picnic.
Selma
• Festival runs 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday downtown. Event features a DJ, vendors and a children’s area. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Smithfield
• The 440th Army Band will be in concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
• Celebration takes place Wednesday along South Third Street starting at 6 p.m. The Main Event Band will play, and the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department will offer activities and games. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. For information, visit
www.downtownsmithfield.com.
Wake Forest
• Two-day celebration starts Wednesday night at Wake Forest High School. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and events include a fireworks display. Events resume Thursday with a children’s parade. Lineup is at 10 a.m. and the parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Art and games in the park begin at 11 a.m. in Holding Park.
Zebulon
• Carolina Mudcats celebrate with three days of baseball and fireworks. Fireworks shows follow the games on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Game time each day is 7:15 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
