Celebrate Independence Day

The lakes area will celebrate the Fourth of July with food, fun and fireworks over the next several days. Following is a rundown of area events:

Nisswa Freedom Days

Thursday, July 3

All events in downtown Nisswa

10 a.m.-after parade: Eats and treats.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Crafter/market space vendors, Pioneer Village.

Noon-7 p.m.: Paint your own pottery with Glaze to Amaze/Kevin Matthews; Gunner's Paint Ball; Water Wars; Action Entertainment stagecoach rides.

Noon-2 p.m.: Turtle Race registration at the official turtle track.

2 p.m.: Turtle Races.

4 p.m. (after Turtle Races): Chalk drawing contest competition, Pickle Factory parking lot. Bring your own chalk.

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Live music by AWJ Brown, tunnel sitting area.

4:30-7 p.m.: Live music by Shannon Webster, gazebo.

5:30 p.m.: Kiddie Parade, starting at chamber building, parading down Main Street to Nisswa Square and back to the chamber building.

6 p.m.: UniPro Show with Jamie Mossengren, World C champion unicyclist, featuring comedy, juggling, magic and unicycling.

7 p.m.: Freedom Day Parade, Main Street.

8:30 p.m.-midnight: Street dance, Pickle Factory.

Saturday, July 5

8 a.m.: Nisswa Firecracker 10K, 5K and Kidz Run, downtown Nisswa

Pequot Lakes Stars & Stripes Days

Thursday, July 3

5 p.m.: Bungee trampoline, dunk tank and food vendors.

5-8 p.m.: Safari North Wildlife Park petting zoo.

8-10 p.m.: Music entertainment by Reed Nelson.

Dusk: Fireworks by Zambelli Fireworks at the high school ball fields.

Friday, July 4

7-11 a.m.: Pancake breakfast at the Pequot Lakes Fire Hall.

8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Craft/flea market.

10 a.m.: Money in the Haystack.

10:30 a.m.: Kiddie Parade registration in the chamber building parking lot.

11 a.m.: Kiddie Parade in the chamber building parking lot.

Noon: Stars & Stripes Parade, east side of downtown Pequot Lakes. Free shuttle bus service will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Park at Eagle View Elementary School on County Road 11.

Celebrate America-Crosslake

Saturday, July 5

8 a.m.: Grandpa's Run for the Walleye 5K race, Kids Sunfish Dash at 8:30 a.m. and 5K race at 9 a.m., Crosslake Community Center

Dusk: Fireworks from Sand Island on south end of Cross Lake

Mission Township

Saturday, July 5

11 a.m.: Mission Township Independence Day Parade, Mission Park