Weekend Plans July 4 Edition: Fireworks, parades, Eno festival

It’s July 4 weekend! If you’re looking for fireworks celebrations, WRAL.com’s Out & About section has a full list of them. Of course, we have lots of fireworks, but many local towns and communities also have daytime Independence Day celebrations.

Here are some family fun highlights for the weekend. If you're looking for even more ideas, check our summer fun #100thingsWRAL list.

Downtown Raleigh’s The ‘Works starts at noon, Monday, with a kids zone; BMX stunt shows; live music; watermelon seed spitting, ice cream eating and hot dog eating contests; and more. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. and can be viewed from areas around Fayetteville Street and the Red Hat Amphitheatre.

Cary’s Independence Day Olde Time Celebration starts at 8 a.m., Monday, with a fishing tournament at Bond Park. It continues with preparations for a parade through the park at 10:30 a.m., followed by family contests from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festivities continue at Booth Amphitheatre. Gates open at 3 p.m., Monday, for a venue-wide scavenger hunt, Ferris wheel rides, magicians, a concert by the N.C. Symphony, followed by fireworks. It’s free, except for some of the amusement rides.

Festivities in Knightdale begin at 5 p.m., Monday, with food trucks and activities.

In Wake Forest, fireworks are on Sunday evening, but there’s more fun scheduled for Monday. Line-up for a children’s parade begins at 10 a.m., Monday, at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue. Arts & Games in the Park is 11 a.m., Monday, at the town’s Holding Park.

Garner marks the holiday on Sunday with its annual celebration that features the N.C. Symphony, inflatables, crafts and fireworks. It’s 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, at Lake Benson Park.

Apex’s Olde Fashioned Fourth of July is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, in downtown Apex. It starts at 9 a.m. with a flag raising and continues with a variety of activities, including a water slide, face painting, carnival games and more. Uncle Sam’s Parade of Wheels is at noon and is followed by the popular fire department splash down at 12:30 p.m.

Carrboro’s celebration starts at 9:30 a.m., Monday.

The 37th annual Festival for the Eno is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Monday, at West Point on the Eno, a Durham city park. You’ll find live music, crafts, vendors, demonstrations and activities. Tickets are $23 for a single day pass; $11 for kids ages 13 to 17; and free for kids 12 and under. There will be lots of activities for kids, including opportunities to get in the river and search for tadpoles and other critters.

The Joel Lane Museum House’s annual Independence Day Open House is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, at the downtown Raleigh site. Admission is free, but donations are requested. Costumed docents and living historians will be on hand to discuss colonial life. Visitors can write with a quill pen or make a rag doll. There also will be old-fashioned crafts and games for kids, along with free lemonade.

A reminder: Admission is $4 at Hill Ridge Farm on Monday, July 4.

Fuzzy Faces Rescue in Clayton will host a Sunday Fun Day at the Farm from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $5 and free for kids 12 and under. There will be games, farm animals, catch and release fishing and much more.

And the North Carolina Reptile & Exotic Animal Show will present Repticon at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $12; $5 for ages 5 to 12; and free for ages 4 and under.