The Roanoke Times Music for Americans
Roanoke’s annual free, family-friendly celebration with live music and fireworks. Features a children’s and family play area with a water slide, balloon bounce, miniature golf, potato-sack races and more beginning at 5 p.m. This year’s theme is “America’s Eagles,” and the entertainment is a blend of patriotic symphonic and rock music saluting the country and a tribute to the Eagles featuring the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and special guests. Fireworks follow from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Please no pets, personal fireworks, grills or alcoholic beverages. Refreshment concessions available, but picnics and lawn chairs are permitted. There are no permanent seats or on-site parking; shuttle buses will operate to and from River’s Edge Sports Complex.

There will be two routes that will operate throughout the evening. One bus will pick up/drop off at the Williamson Road downtown parking garage located at the corner of Williamson and Franklin roads. The entire first floor of the garage will be reserved for handicapped patrons. The second bus will pick up/drop off at the Virginia Western Community College parking lot located at Colonial Avenue and McNeil Drive. All buses are handicapped accessible and riders may bring chairs and coolers on board. Show begins at 8 p.m., park opens at 5 p.m. Friday. Free. 345-4030, roanoke.com.

ROANOKE VALLEY

Vinton Fourth of July Celebration
Musical entertainment by the Kings, a patriotic program and children’s activities including puppet shows, inflatables and mazes culminating with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. The Kings will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the Vinton/Roanoke County Veterans Monument ground-breaking and patriotic program at 7:15. Following the program, the Kings will continue with beach music and oldies until the fireworks display. Festival foods will be for sale. Please do not bring pets, alcoholic beverages, firecrackers or similar items. Please do bring blankets or chairs for seating on the lawn or parking lot. Free. 983-0613, vintonva.gov.

Freedom Blast ’08
Sponsored by the Freedom Center (a nondenominational church), WSLS (Channel 10) and others, Freedom Blast presents an evening of family-friendly entertainment starting at 4 p.m. with inflatable games and featuring face painting (5:15 to 7:15 p.m.); a caricaturist (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.); Cash Hollistah, a hip-hop musician (5:15 p.m.); FAB with beach and variety music (6:50 p.m.); rock with After Ezra (8:50); and more. The national anthem and a fireworks show will close the evening (9:30 p.m.). No coolers or outside food, pets or alcohol. Green Hill Park, Roanoke County. Admission is free; food available for purchase from vendors. 375-0099, freedomcentersalem.com.

NEW RIVER VALLEY

Stars and Stripes Fourth of July Celebration
An evening of fun with the Star of the Blue Ridge Contest, Carilion’s Life-Guard 10, a patriotic tribute, Stephanie Hurt as Hannah Montana, a tribute to “Good Stuff” and Forrest Fire Dance Party followed by fireworks (9:20 p.m.) on Friday at the New River Valley Fairgrounds . Also happening Friday is a flag ceremony (9:30 a.m., Dublin Town Hall), a parade (11 a.m., Dublin), beach music with the Part-Time Party Band (12:30 to 3 p.m., Calfee Park ) and the Pulaski Mariners take on the Princeton Devil Rays for a free 4 p.m. game (Calfee Park). Friday and Saturday bring Independence Drags presented by the American Drag Racing League at the Motor Mile Dragway with fireworks at 10:30 p.m. (that’s two doses of fireworks Friday!) and the ESPN Car Show from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Motor Mile Speedway. Finally, Claytor Lake hosts a boat parade 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Get more information at motormiledragway.com.

Radford July 4 Celebration
An all-day event with a 5K (8 a.m.); family bike rodeo (10 a.m.); “Kids Time” (10:30 a.m. to noon) with pony rides, airbrush tattoos and inflatables; a dog show (noon); and inflatables, music, food, crafts, a mechanical bull and more (noon to 7 p.m.). Musical entertainment includes karaoke and Jimmy Fortune, formerly of the Statler Brothers. Fortune will appear on the Gazebo stage, following an afternoon of local and regional entertainers. Fireworks (9:30 p.m.) follow karaoke finals that will award $250 to the winner. Free. Bisset Park, Radford. 731-3633.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE

Fourth of July Music Festival
Musical headliners are the Embers playing beach music and Fescue with bluegrass. Local nonprofits will provide food and beverages. Attendees should bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on. 3 to 8 p.m. Friday. Bernard’s Landing, Smith Mountain Lake. $15. 721-0017.

Smith Mountain Lake Fireworks Display
Music by the Worx, antique and custom car show, military vehicles and hardware, Stacy Compton’s Dodge Ram Craftsman Truck Series and race cars. Plus rides for the kids including the Parkway Marina 1954 Carousel and the Glennwood Express mini train. Followed by a fireworks display. No pets, coolers or picnic baskets; bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on. 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Parkway Marina, Moneta, Smith Mountain Lake. Free admission, $10 parking fee per car. 297-4412, smlfireworks.org.

LEXINGTON

Fourth of July Balloon Rally
The 12th annual rally will have games, pony rides and inflatables for children from 5 to 9 tonight and 2 to 9 p.m. Friday. Plus barbecue dinners and live musical entertainment both evenings. The signature event is the hot-air balloon rally over the Shenandoah Valley with four viewing times. Launches are set for 6 tonight and Friday and 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday. (Weather may cause launch times to vary.) There will also be tethered balloon rides available after 6 tonight and Friday. Friday afternoon features children’s activities, face painting, an antique car display and many food and craft vendors. Visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy the balloons at dusk or the 20-minute fireworks display Friday at 9:30 p.m. VMI parade ground. Free admission, proceeds from vendors benefit more than a dozen local charities. 463-5375, sunriserotarylexva.org.

Children’s Bike Parade
Decoration starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday and the parade rolls off at 11 at the Rockbridge Regional Library in Lexington. The event finishes at the end of Washington and Lee Parking Corral, where hot dogs, watermelon and beverages will be served. 463-5375.

Chalk Up for Hoofbeats
The second annual event for professionals and amateurs alike to create pastel chalk drawings on the pavement in downtown Lexington. Featured performance by Charlottesville artist Mary Gordon Hall from 11 a.m. to noon. Proceeds benefit Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center. Main Street between Nelson and Washington streets. Begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. Free. 461-0622, e-mail tochalkup@yahoo.com.

BEDFORD

LibertyFest
Features the music of GT Swing , food and children’s activities from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday. Fireworks will be launched from the National D-Day Memorial (view from the Bedford Farmers Market). Gate fee is $5; free for ages 12 and younger. Bring chairs or blankets. 586-2148, centertownbedford.com.

Fourth of July at Peaks of Otter
Meet National Park Service rangers and volunteers at 7 p.m. at the nature center to walk the three-mile bus road to the peak of Sharp Top Mountain to get a bird’s-eye view of the fireworks displays in the towns and cities below. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and a flash light . The trip is six miles round trip and moderately strenuous. Keep celebrating Saturday at the Peaks of Otter amphitheater located behind the visitor’s center with a concert by Breakin’ Nu Ground , an old-time string band (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.), followed by a ranger-led night hike. Both events are free. 586-4496.

Independence Day at Poplar Forest
A musical performance by the Itinerant Band followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence from the porch of Thomas Jefferson’s retreat. The band will continue playing after the reading, performing traditional selections from Jefferson’s lifetime. Also on the grounds will be a reproduction of a Jefferson-era bateau. Free; admission charge for house tours. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday. (434) 525-1806, www.poplarforest.org.

MARTINSVILLE

Celebration 2008
Mostly a concert, but a celebration of Independence Day, too. The celebration starts at 5 tonight with children’s carnival rides that will stay open until 11:30 p.m. Domino , a horn band from Roanoke, takes the stage at 7 p.m. and headliner Tracy Lawrence follows at 8:30. Fireworks will begin at about 10 tonight. Martinsville Speedway. Free. (276) 956-3151, martinsvillespeedway.com.

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS

Marion All-American Celebration
Starting at 7 p.m. Friday with Thunder Road in concert followed by a fireworks display at dark coordinated to patriotic music. Marion Senior High School. (276) 783-4190, (276) 783-4042.