Wake Fourth of July celebrations

Wake County will be abuzz with celebrations for the Fourth of July -- some even get started early. Here's a sampling of the fun to be had in Wake County on July 3-4:

July 3

CARY: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park. Information: 469-4061.

FUQUAY-VARINA: 6 p.m., South Park. Fireworks, live music, food and carnival rides.

GARNER: 5 p.m., Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road. N.C. Symphony performs at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Information: 662-5703.

WAKE FOREST: 5:30 p.m., Wake Forest-Rolesville High School's Trentini Stadium. Fireworks, games and live entertainment. Admission: $5 for ages 7 and up. Information: 554-6196.

July 4

APEX: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., downtown Salem Street. Parade at noon with more than 500 youths on their decorated bikes, wagons and other non-motorized transportation. Carnival games, bike stunt show, juggling and karaoke. Information: 249-3402.

CARY: 8 a.m-3 p.m., Bond Park waterfront.Parent-child fishing tournament, and doughnut-eating and watermelon seed-spitting contests. Information: 469-4061.

DOWNTOWN RALEIGH: 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., N.C. Museum of History, Capitol grounds and Bicentennial Plaza. Memorial service, reading of the Declaration of Independence, concerts, children's crafts, dance performance, a watermelon-eating contest and sack races. Food vendors will be on the Capitol grounds. Information: 733-4994.

MORRISVILLE: 8 a.m., Morrisville Community Park. Pancake breakfast, entertainment, children's arts and crafts. Tickets: $5 for adults, $3 children on the day of the event.

RALEIGH: 3 p.m.-10:30 p.m., N.C. State Fairgrounds. Carnival games, rides, inflatables, activities, food vendors and displays. Evening ends with fireworks. Information: 831-6854.

RALEIGH: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Independence Day open house, Joel Lane Museum House, 728 W. Hargett St. Short presentations on Colonial Currency, re-enactments of Colonial life, children's crafts and games. Information: www.joellane.org, 833-3431 or e-mail joellane@bellsouth.net.

WAKE FOREST: 10:30 a.m., children's parade, North Main Street. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of North Main and Juniper streets. Holding Park will be the site of Art-in-the-Park and Games-in-the-Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: 554-6196.

ZEBULON: 7:15 p.m., Five County Stadium. Carolina Mudcats play Jacksonville Suns at 7:15 p.m. with fireworks immediately following the game. Ticket information: 269-2287 or www.gomudcats.com.

July 7

RALEIGH: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Historic Oak View County Park, 4028 Carya Drive, Raleigh. Live music, war re-enactors, crafts, old-time games, pie-eating contest. Information: www.wakegov.com or call 919-250-1013.