Here are some of the Fourth of July celebrations occurring this week in the Triangle. To see where these events are on a map and get links to Web sites of the events, go to newsobserver.com and click on July 4 festivities.

TODAY

GARNER: Town celebration with kids' activities, inflatable games, food vendors, performance by N.C. Symphony. Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road, 5 p.m. till fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

FUQUAY-VARINA: Town celebration with family activities, music by Legends of Beach, food, free carnival rides. South Park, 900 S. Main St., 6 p.m. till fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

FRIDAY

BENSON: Town celebration, Parks and Recreation Department. Kids' activities, entertainment including karaoke and the band Dixie Driver. Main Street, 3 to 8 p.m., leading up to a fireworks display at McLamb-Tart Road, 894-3553.

CARY: Independence Day Olde Time Celebration. Fishing tournament, Parade in the Park, doughnut eating and watermelon seed spitting contests. Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 469-4061.

CARRBORO: Town celebration, children's activities, food, music by songwriter Bill Kirchen. Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. at Weaver Street Market. A parade at 11 a.m. takes participants to Carrboro Town Commons, where activities will continue through 3 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL: Old Fashioned Fourth of July, Preservation Society of Chapel Hill, picnic on the lawn of the 1850s Horace Williams House. Patriotic music by the Village Band, free ice cream and lemonade. Horace Williams House, 610 E. Rosemary St., 1 to 3 p.m., 942-7818.

CLAYTON: Town celebration, Clayton Parks and Recreation Department. Family activities, children's games, basketball and horseshoe tournaments, free watermelon and ice cream, music by The Extraordinaires. Proceeds go to Clayton Community Recreation Foundation to improve park facilities. Municipal Park, West Stallings Street, 4 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m., 553-1550.

DURHAM: City celebration featuring music and fireworks at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets required for Kevin Costner and Modern West concert, free admission after concert about 9 p.m. for 9:30 p.m. fireworks. Call 560-4355 or 956-BULL.

DURHAM: Central Park's annual Children's Independence Day Parade. Patriotic music, balloon, fire truck, police escort, The Pavilion at Durham Central Park, 548 Foster St. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 794-8194.

RALEIGH: City celebration with games, inflatable rides, entertainment including country singer Holland Marie, 3 p.m. until fireworks at 9:15 p.m., N.C. State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, 821-7400,

RALEIGH: Haywood Hall Fourth of July Celebration, Historic Haywood Hall tours, free ice cream, children's games, fortune telling, live music by The Untravelled Road, 211 New Bern Place, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 832-8357.

RALEIGH: North Hills Old-Fashioned Celebration, contests, live music, performances and children's parade, The Commons lawn, North Hills on Six Forks Road, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 881-1146.

RALEIGH: Independence Day Celebration at State Capitol, family-oriented celebration with patriotic concert and picnic, historic demonstrations. State Capitol, 1 E. Edenton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 733-4994.

RALEIGH: Old-Fashioned July Fourth Celebration. Re-enactors will demonstrate aspects of Colonial life such as spinning, dyeing, soldiering, crafts and games for children. "Hands-on History" demonstrations of colonial tools, toys and clothing, music by the string quartet Flies in the Kitchen and by Triangle Mountain Dulcimers. Joel Lane Museum House, 728 W. Hargett St., 1 to 4 p.m., 833-3431.

PINE LEVEL: Town celebration, family-oriented fun including softball games, bands, fire truck ride. Sam Godwin Recreation Park, 214 N. Peedin Ave., 6 p.m. till fireworks at dusk.

SELMA: All American Festival, Parks and Recreation Department, arts and crafts, food, and entertainment by Boys Club and a Babe. Uptown Antique Business District, 100-200 block of Railroad Street, 5 p.m. till fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

SMITHFIELD: Smithfield Fourth of July, food, entertainment and fun for kids. Downtown, 222 E. Market St., 5 p.m.