Fireworks Guide: Light up the Fourth

Join the celebration of our nation's 235th birthday with parties and pyrotechnics. Community celebrations offer a generous helping of music, food, fireworks and fun. However you choose to honor Independence Day, wave Old Glory high and be safe out there. Here's a list of some of the region's festivities. All phone numbers are 757 area code unless otherwise noted.

INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS MAP

INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS DETAILS

CHESAPEAKE
U.S. Army TRADOC Band & Fireworks, featuring music by Virginia Coast Chorus at 7 p.m. and the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Band at 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Chesapeake City Park, 900 Greenbrier Pkwy. 382-6411.

HAMPTON
Fourth at the Fort, music, children's activities, food and more. Music by Bradley Gaskin (6:30 p.m.), Grant Austin Taylor (7 p.m.) and .38 Special (8 p.m.). Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Walker Airfield, Fort Monroe. 5-11 p.m. Monday, July 4. 788-3151.

NORFOLK
Norfolk Tides baseball post-game fireworks, Tides vs. Scranton/WB Yankees (game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, July 1) and Tides vs. Charlotte Knights (game times 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 2, and 6:15 p.m. Sunday, July 3). Harbor Park, 150 Park Ave., Norfolk. 622-2222.

The Shore Thing Concert and Independence Day Celebration, music (The Janitors), fireworks (9:30 p.m.) and more. 6 p.m. Friday, July 1. Ocean View Beach Park, 111 W. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. 441-2345, www.festevents.org.

Fourth of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks, music from the U.S. Army Tradoc Band(8 p.m.), fireworks (9:30 p.m.), games, food and more. 5-10 p.m. Monday, July 4. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 441-2345, www.festevents.org.

American Rover Fireworks Cruise, 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 4. Waterside Festival Marketplace, 333 Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 627-7245.

Victory Rover Fireworks Cruise, 8 p.m. Monday, July 4. Nauticus, 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 627-7406.

SUFFOLK
Stars and Stripes Spectacular, music (Island Boy), food, children's activities and fireworks (9 p.m.). Constant's Wharf Park and Marina, 100 E. Constance Road, Suffolk. 6 p.m. Monday, July 4. 514-7267.

July Fourth Celebration, opening ceremonies at 11 a.m., bicycle and float parade at 11:30 a.m., games and activities from noon to 3 p.m., raft race at 3 p.m., music (the Elder Sparks Band) and fireworks at 9 p.m. Monday, July 4. Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1589 Steeple Drive, Suffolk. 238-2359.

VIRGINIA BEACH
July 4th Celebration, music by Four Star Edition, children's activities, festival foods, fireworks (9:30 p.m.) and more. 4-10 p.m. Monday, July 4. Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach. 385-2990.

Stars & Stripes Explosion, fireworks (9:30 p.m.), music and more at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Fireworks launched from a barge off 20th Street. Music: Charlie Band (8 p.m., 17th Street stage), Symphonicity (8 p.m., 20th Street on the Beach), Tumbao Salsero (7:30 p.m., 24th Street park), Plena Libre (9:30 p.m., 24th Street park) and Who's Bad - Michael Jackson Tribute (8 p.m., 31st Street park). Monday, July 4. 491-7866, www.beachstreetusa.com.

WILLIAMSBURG
Patriotic pyrotechnics, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2, to Monday, July 4. Busch Gardens, 1 Busch Gardens Blvd., Williamsburg. (800) 343-7946.

Independence Day, "Salute to the States" featuring the Williamsburg Militia and Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums with musket and cannon salutes (10 a.m.), "Reading of the Declaration of Independence" (noon), fireworks (9:15 p.m.) and more, Colonial Williamsburg. Monday, July 4. (800) 447-8679, www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.

OTHER INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENTS

CHESAPEAKE
Freedom Fest Celebration, pancake breakfast, children's parade. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 412 Scarborough Drive, Chesapeake. 482-9612.

4th of July Celebration, parade, music, food, children's activities and more. Music by the Bartones. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, July 4. Lakeside Park, 1441 Bainbridge Blvd., Chesapeake. 382-6411.

HAMPTON
Salute to the Union, featuring a 50-gun salute at Continental Park, Fort Monroe. 11:55 a.m. Monday, July 4. 788-3205.

NEWPORT NEWS
July Free Weekend, patriotic-themed art activities and gallery games Saturday; tour exhibitions and self-guided art activities Sunday. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 2, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Peninsula Fine Arts Center, 101 Museum Drive, Newport News. 596-8175.

4th of July Laser Displays, in Abbitt Planetarium. 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Monday, July 4. Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News. 595-1900.

PORTSMOUTH
Patriot's Day, music, craft demonstrations, games, food and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 2. Naval Shipyard Museum, 2 High St., Portsmouth. 393-8591.

Cradock's Patriotic Salute & Children's Bike Parade, children's bike parade at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 4, at Afton Parkway and George Washington Highway in Historic Cradock, Portsmouth. Followed by a flag ceremony, music and more at the gazebo in Afton Square. 558-1481, www.historiccradock.org.

VIRGINIA BEACH
Independence Day 5K Run/ Walk, Mile Run, Pump n Run and Tot Trot, 7:30 a.m. Monday, July 4. Mount Trashmore Family YMCA, 4441 South Blvd., Virginia Beach. 456-9622.

WILLIAMSBURG
Summer Breeze Concert Series, U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, patriotic tunes. 7 p.m. Saturday, July 2. Merchants Square, Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg. 565-8889.

YORKTOWN
Liberty Celebration, featuring re-enactors, re-created Continental Army encampment, artillery demonstrations, games and more. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, July 2, to Monday, July 4. Yorktown Victory Center, Water Street and Colonial Parkway. 253-4838.