At NARA Park, the July Fourth festivities begin Wednesday at 3 p.m. with Family Fun Time, featuring games, water slides, moon bounces, and music. All-day wrist bands can be purchased for $5 each or 3 for $10. NARA Park Beach will remain open for regular business hours; fees of $5 per Acton resident or $7 per nonresident for ages 2 and up. Food vendors will be on site with summertime fare including burgers, sausages, ice cream, and cotton candy. A free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. featuring the Blushing Brides, a Rolling Stones tribute band. Fireworks begin over the park at approximately 9:30 p.m. Free bus shuttles will be available for offsite overflow parking located at various sites along Nagog Park Drive, or walk the 10-minute route along the lighted Town Forest Trail located at the end of Nagog Park Drive. NARA Park is at 25 Ledge Rock Way in north Acton. Details at 978-929-6641 or www.acton-ma.gov (click on the “Recreation” tab).
The band Souled Out will perform a July Fourth concert at the high school football field, 60 Blackstone St., starting at 7 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30.
The Old Time Fourth of July Party begins with a parade at 9:30 a.m., going from Florence Sawyer School, 100 Mechanic St., to Memorial Field, 20 Wattaquadock Hill Road, where games, crafts, and refreshments will be offered until noon. For more information, e-mail BoltonParade2012@yahoo.com.
The town’s weekend-long Old Home Day celebration has special significance this year, the 100th anniversary of the first such festival. Events begin early Saturday morning with 1-mile and 5-mile footraces. A flag-raising ceremony takes place at 9:15 a.m. on the Town Green, followed by the parade at 10, which kicks off a full day of activities in the Town Center including a country fair, dunking booth, frog-jumping contest, pet show, children’s games, soapbox derby, pie-baking contest, and softball. At 4 p.m., head to the fire station for the chicken barbecue and then go next door to Town Hall for the cakewalk. On Sunday, come to Spalding Field for an ice cream social and live music beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more details on all events, go online to www.carlisleohd.org.
From 10 a.m. to noon on July 4, guide and historian Joel Andrews will lead a walking tour titled “Revolution, Renaissance, and Renewal” highlighting the town’s many Revolutionary era sites, as well as its unique Colonial, literary, and natural heritage. Walkers should meet at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Colonial Inn at 48 Monument Square in Concord Center. Tickets are $19 for adults, $15 for seniors and college students; $12 youths 11-18; $7 for ages 6-10; free for children 5 and under; maximum $45 per family (parents and children). Reservations are encouraged; call 978-287-0897 or e-mail Joel.Andrews28@ gmail.com; visit www.concordguides.com. Concord celebrates Independence Day with “Picnic in the Park” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Emerson Field, Stow Street. Events include tethered balloon rides, a decorated bicycle parade, live music, field games, hula hoop demonstration, and henna tattoos. Visit www.concordchamberofcommerce.org/community_events.htm.
The community’s celebration takes place July 6 at the Town Field, behind the Groton Public Library. Festivities start at 6 p.m. with hamburgers and hot dogs, ice cream, music, and entertainment. Fireworks start at dusk. Rain date is July 7.
Fireworks will take place starting at dusk on Tuesday at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, and the Independence Day parade starts Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the center of town.
At 7 p.m. on July Fourth in the downtown Lexington Depot, actors depict the Reverend Jonas Clarke proclaiming America’s Declaration of Independence, General Thomas Gage presenting the British response, and militia member Levi Mead announcing Lexington’s Declaration of Independence. Colonial Singers will provide musical entertainment. Free. For more information, call 781-862-1703 or go to www.lexingtonhistory.org.
The Fourth of July town picnic begins at 11:30 a.m at Fay Park on Foster Street. Opening ceremonies take place at noon, followed by children’s games and then a concert. In the event of rain, the picnic will be canceled and the concert will take place at First Church Unitarian, 19 Foster St.
The town has fireworks scheduled for dusk on Tuesday, with a rain date of Thursday. Recommended viewing spot is from Plains Park on Route 85.
The Needham Exchange Club hosts a special Fourth of July celebration with the theme of “Go forth and celebrate! The land of the free — because of the brave.” The party begins in Memorial Park at 5 p.m. Tuesday with food, pony rides, face painting and other family entertainment, followed by fireworks at dusk. On Wednesday, the morning begins with road races, a children’s parade, and the Grand Parade; then a flea market, old-fashioned baseball game and more. For information, go to www.needhamexchangeclub.org.
Newton begins its Fourth of July celebration at 10 a.m. at the Newton Centre Playground with children’s ’ parades, footraces, games, and more. An all-day crafts show and rides follow at the Russell J. Halloran Field & Sports Complex; in the evening the Bo and Bill Winiker Band plays from 6 p.m. until dark, when fireworks begin. Details at www.newtoncommunitypride.org.
Pepperell celebrates Independence Day on July 7, with its annual best-in-the-region parade beginning at 12:30 p.m. from Town Hall on Main Street through Railroad Square and onto Tarbell Street to the VFW. The parade will be followed by a celebration on the field behind Varnum Brook Middle School. Fireworks are planned for dusk. For details, call 978-433-2668 or send an e-mail to pepperell4thofjulycommittee@yahoo.com.
Hosted by Sherborn Fire and Rescue, field events will be held on July 4 at Laurel Field starting at 9 a.m. (registration at 8:30). A family muster will be held behind Station One at Jameson Field starting at 2 p.m. (registration at 1:30). Firetruck rides will be held at the station starting at 5:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a family event at Prospect Hill Park, 314 Totten Pond Road, features children’s activities, pony rides, animal shows, music, food, and drinks. That evening at Leary Field, Profile will perform at 5:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. For additional information, call 781-314-3100.
The annual Block Party takes place Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. on West Main St. from the rotary to Church St. Children’s favorites include the moon bounce, dunk tank, sand art, photo booth, face painting, air brush tattoos, and pony rides. The party also features tethered hot air balloon rides, entertainment by the Reminisants and the Westborough Community Band, and a magic show. Details at www.town.westborough.ma.us under the Recreation Department tab.