From Aurora to Williamsburg and Belle Plaine to West Union, this Fourth of July is sure to be poppin’. There’s fireworks every where you turn. Plus plenty of good old fashioned Fourth of July fun in the form of parades, food-eating contests, races and more. Not to mention a few tractor pulls, water ski shows, street dances and plenty of fun and games. So whether you stay home, head back to your childhood home or venture off to someone else’s hometown, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

Find your Fourth here. All events are July 4 unless otherwise noted.

Aurora - “There’s No Place Like Home” Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration: Opening ceremony and tractor pull, 11 a.m.; parade, 1 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 476-5690
Belle Plaine - Traditional July 4 activities (plus games, food and rides), Williams Park; parade, 10 a.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 444-2200
Bellevue - Parade, 10 a.m.; Traditional July 4 activities, afternoon, Cole Park; Water Ski Show, 6 p.m., Mississippi River; live music and fireworks, dusk, municipal parking lot. www.bellevueia.com
Cedar Falls - 5K for Independence Day walk/run, 8:30 a.m., George Wyth State Park; Jaycees Star Spangled Sky Fireworks Festival, 5-10:30 p.m., UNI Dome. (319) 273-8600
Cedar Rapids - Freedom Festival: Alliant Energy Walk/Run (8K and 5K), 7:30 a.m., May’s Island; Patriot’s Bazaar and Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m., Second Avenue Bridge; Grand Ol’ Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m., Second Avenue Bridge & First Street W; KCRG-TV9 Show You Care Kids’ Parade, 10 a.m. Third Avenue Bridge; Hawkeye Pedal Pull, 10 a.m., Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum/City Hall; City Pools Fourth of July Swim, 1 p.m., Bever and Jones pools and Cherry Hill and Noelridge Aquatic Centers; Music-for-the-Community and Action Zone, 3 p.m., Kirkwood Community College; Water Ski Show 2009, 7 p.m., Cedar River at Ellis Park; Fanfare to the Fireworks with Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, 8 p.m., Kirkwood Community College; Celebration of Freedom Fireworks, 9:45 p.m., Kirkwood Community College. www.freedomfestival.com
Central City - 7-11 a.m. Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Falcon Civic Center; Parade, 10 a.m.; Street dance and hog roast, all day; fireworks, dusk. (319) 438-1713
Coralville - 4th FEST: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 7-10:30 a.m., Northwest Junior High; Rockin’ the Paradise Parade, 10 a.m.; Carnival, noon, Coralville Community Aquatic Center Parking Lot; American Legion Bingo, noon-9 p.m., S.T. Morrison Park; Panchero’s Burrito Eating Contest, 4 p.m., Showcase Stage; Community Band Concert, 8 p.m., Showcase Stage; fireworks, dusk. www.coralville.org
Dubuque - Fireworks Spectacular, July 3, dusk, over Mississippi River at Lock and Dam No. 11. www.dubuquechamber.com
Dyersville - July 3: Rides and Games, 5 p.m.; Music and Celebrity Dunk Tank, 6-10 p.m.; Square Dancing Lawnmowers, 7:30 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (563) 875-2311
Dysart - Firecracker 5K run, 8 a.m.; Grand Parade, 10:30 a.m.; Traditional July 4 activities (plus cakewalk, kiddie tractor pull and talent show), noon-9 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 476-5690
Earlville - Traditional July 4 activities, Ball Diamond; fireworks, dusk. (563) 923-3365
Ely - Fireman’s Breakfast 7 a.m.-12:30, Ely Fire Department; Parade, 6 p.m., starts at Fire Department. (319) 848-4103
Hills - Co-ed volleyball tournament, 9 a.m., Hills Ball Park; Horseshoe tournament, 1 p.m.; “Fun in the Sun” Parade, 5 p.m.; fireworks, dusk. (319) 679-3197
Independence - 149th Fourth of July Parade, 9 a.m., First Street E and Second Avenue NE; Traditional July 4 activities (plus volleyball tournament, duck race and Guitar Hero tournament), 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Riverwalk Parks; Fireworks, 10 p.m., Riverwalk Parks. www.celebrateindee.com
Iowa City - Fireworks, Hubbard Park, dusk. (319) 356-5000
Maquoketa – Stock Car Races and Fireworks, 6 p.m., Jackson County Fairgrounds. (563) 652-4602
Marengo - Sesquicentennial Celebration, July 3: Parade, 6:30 p.m.; fireworks, dusk; July 4: Kiwanis Breakfast, 7-10 a.m.; Car Show, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Children’s Parade, 10 a.m.; Marengo Olympics, 10 a.m.; Ioway Indian Presentation, 10 a.m.; Horseshoe Tournament, 10 a.m.; Pioneer Heritage Museum, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tiny Circus, noon-9 p.m.; inflatables and games, noon-9 p.m.; beer garden, noon-2 a.m.; Castle Ridge Band, 1-2 p.m.; Dixieland Band, 2 p.m.; Brian Troester Band, 3-4:30 p.m.; Library Tours, 4-6 p.m.; IV School Foundation Open House, 4-6 p.m.; Womanless Wedding, 4:30 p.m.; All School Reunion Dinner, 4:30-8 p.m.; Twins/Multiples Event and Cutest Baby Contest, 5-6 p.m.; Atomic Hoss Band, 6-7:30 p.m.; Cemetery Tour, 7-8:30 p.m.; Alumni Band and Choir, 7:30-8:30 p.m.; Quilt Raffle, 7:30 p.m.; Twist and Shout, 8:30-10 p.m.; All School Reunion Dance, 9 p.m.-midnight; KC All Stars Band, 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; Street Dance. www.marengo150.com
Marquette - American Legion Pancake Breakfast, July 3-5, 7-10 a.m., Marquette City Park; Flea Market, July 3-5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., under the bridge; Independence Day Parade, July 4, 11 a.m., downtown; fireworks, July 4, dusk, riverfront. www.mcgreg-marq.org
Marshalltown - Traditional July 4 activities, 3 p.m., Central Iowa Fairgrounds; fireworks, dusk, Central Iowa Fairgrounds. (641) 753-6645
McGregor - Cannon shoot and ceremony, 10 a.m., Riverfront Park; Traditional July 4 activities (plus live music and bean bag tournament), 11 a.m.-4 p.m., riverfront. www.mcgreg-marq.org
Monticello - Firemen’s Breakfast, 6:30-10:30 a.m.; “Proud to Be an America” Parade, 11 a.m., traditional July 4 activities, noon-8 p.m., Monticello Eagles Club; Fireworks, dusk, fairgrounds. (319) 465-6435
Monona - Back Home Fourth of July Celebration (plus music by Juiceman Sound and the Back Home Boys), 5 p.m., Birdnow Chevrolet; fireworks, dusk. www.mononaiowa.com
Mount Vernon - Heritage Days, July 9-11; Fireworks, July 9 @ dusk, Hillcrest Country Club. (319) 895-8742
Oelwein - Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown; Celebration Oelwein (plus entertainment, food, games, boating and Miss Oelwein contest), afternoon, City Park; fireworks, dusk. www.oelwein.com/attraction.php
Solon - Fireworks, dusk, Lake Macbride beach area. (319) 624-2200
Tipton – Traditional July 4 activities (plus bouncy rides, food games and a petting zoo), all day, City Park; “Movies on Parade”, 2 p.m., Meridian Street and North Avenue; Free Swim, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Aquatic Center; fireworks, dusk. www.tiptoniowa.org
Toledo - Fireworks, dusk, Toledo Heights Park. (641) 484-2160
Waterloo – Jaycees Fireworks Festival, 6 p.m.-midnight, West Fourth Street and Commercial Street. (319) 291-4301
Wayland - Lions Club Breakfast, 6:30-9:30 a.m., Wayland Community Center; 5K walk/run, 7 a.m.; Parade, 10:30 a.m., Main Street; Firefighter Water Fights, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Main Street; Tractor Show, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., North Street; Family Fun Games and Food, 12:30-4 p.m.; Main Street Museum Porch Tour, 1-2 p.m., Main Street Museum; Parkview Benefit Supper, 4:30-7 p.m., Parkview home; fireworks, dusk, football field. www.waylandiowa.com
Wellman - Traditional July 4 activities (parade and entertainment), North Park; Fireworks, dusk. www.cityofwellman.com
West Branch - “An Old Fashioned Independence Day” celebration, music by the Marengo Civil War Band and dramatic performance by Lance Mack as President Abraham Lincoln, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum. http://hoover.archives.gov
West Union - Fireworks, dusk, West Union Recreation Center. (563) 422-3070
Williamsburg - Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 7 a.m., Fire Department; Williamsburg Recreational Department Fun Run and Tot Trot, 9 a.m.; Children and Adult Relay Races and Park Vendors, 1-3 p.m., east side of the square; Parade, 4 p.m.; Fireworks, dusk. (319) 668-1133

Check out Cedar Rapids’ annual Fire & Ice 2008 Holiday Festival TODAY.

ALL DAY Grounds for Art-Re-Launch
Grounds for Art will be back and on display throughout downtown! Re-visit these amazing outdoor sculptures representing both local and national artists!

Starting at 2 p.m. Ice Sculpture- Bankers Trust Plaza
Watch in amazement as local artists sculpt a holiday masterpiece for all to enjoy!

Starting at 2 p.m. Deck the Office! Back to Business Holiday Expo
Visit those hard working businesses that have returned downtown post-flood. Participating businesses will greet visitors with holiday décor and fun activities for all ages! Schedule of participating businesses will
be available at Chili Challenge and downtown coffee shops.

2 to 5:30 p.m. Children’s Holiday Train Rides – Guaranty Bank Parking Lot Free

2 to dusk Horse-drawn Carriage Rides through downtown: Bankers Trust Plaza FREE

3PM-7:30 pm. Chili Challenge-Armstrong Centre Food Court (222 3rd Avenue SE)
Enjoy some friendly competition and local flavor as contestants offer their favorite chili dish! To participate in this year’s challenge Contact the Freedom Festival at www.freedomfestival.com or call
365-8313.

5:30 p.m. Lighting of City Tree-May’s Island
The annual lighting of the city tree will set the tone for the lighted holiday evening!

6:00PM Holiday DeLight Parade-Beginning at 3rd Avenue SW into Greene Square Park
“IgNight the Spirit of our City” is the theme for our annual lighted parade! Cheer on local businesses, organizations, and Individuals as they display their best lighted holiday décor!
This year will introduce a new parade route-starting along 3rd Avenue SW with a lateral flow onto the 3rd Avenue SE side, ending by Greene Square Park.

For parade registration information visit the Downtown District website or call Jill Wilkins (398-0449). Parade registration forms are available for download at www.rebuilddowntowncr.org. Registration is due November 14.

POST-PARADE Santa and Friends Meet and Greet at Smulekoffs (97 3rd Avenue SE)
The head honcho himself, along with Mrs. Claus, elves, and live reindeer will be on site to gather those holiday wish lists!

7:30 p.m. Fireworks off of Mays Island
Watch in awe as we light up the sky in conjunction with the classic Holiday tunes!

8 p.m Ugly Holiday Sweater Party-hosted by Access Iowa at Bricks

Time to bust out your holiday best! Join Access Iowa post parade and warm up with some holiday cheer.