Big bangs

Brainerd isn't the only lakes area city that will host a Fourth of July bash. From parades to music to fireworks, many other area communities are ready to celebrate the country's freedom.

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Following is a rundown of activities in other area communities.

Aitkin

Tuesday

6:30 p.m. -- The Aitkin City Park will be the site of the Fleming Methodist Pie and Ice Cream Social, Water Wars, neon necklaces and food concessions.

8:30 p.m. -- Aitkin Jaycees rubber duck race at the Aitkin City Park.

9 p.m. -- Community Band performance at the Aitkin City Park.

Dusk -- Fireworks at the Aitkin City Park.

Crosby-Ironton

Monday

11 a.m. -- Fashion Show and luncheon at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge in Deerwood. Cost: $15.95 per person. Call for reservations at 678-2885.

5-8 p.m. -- Cuyuna Range Lions Steak Fry and Dance at Spaulding House in Crosby.

Dusk -- Fireworks over Bay Lake from Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge.

Tuesday

7-11 a.m. -- Ironton Fire Department Auxiliary pancake breakfast at the Ironton Legion.

11 a.m. -- Parade, starting in Ironton.

All day -- Activities in Crosby Memorial Park on Serpent Lake, including Chamber's Celebrity Dunk Tank, kids games, music, beer garden, Cuyuna Range food court.

Dusk -- Fireworks over Serpent Lake.

Crosslake

Celebrate America

Friday

9 p.m.-1 a.m. -- Street Dance. Gates open at 8 p.m. music from the party band Lip Service at the Crosslake Emergency Services Center on Route 66, will be held rain or shine.

Saturday

8 a.m. -- Grampa's Run for the Walleye registration. Race begins at 9 a.m. The 5K Family Fun Run and Walk begins at the Crosslake Community Center just off Route 66 on Daggett Pine Road.

Dusk -- Fireworks on Sand Island on Cross Lake.

Sunday

11 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Horsedrawn carriage rides. Cost: $4 per person, located at The Bird Feeder on Route 66.

Monday

10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Horsedrawn carriage rides. Cost: $4 per person, located at The Bird Feeder on Route 66.

Wednesday, July 5

9:30 a.m. -- Nature walk with John Ehlert at the Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area, 3 miles west of Moonlight Bay on Highway 16.

11 a.m. -- Kids Water Related Relays at the Crosslake Community Center, rain or shine.

4 p.m. -- Family Fun Softball Mixer at the Crosslake Community Center.

Thursday, July 6

1 p.m. -- Youth golf tournament at the Crosswoods Golf Course.

Longville

Tuesday

10 a.m. -- Salem Lutheran Church bake sale on Main Street.

10 a.m. -- Water Wars at the City Docks.

10 a.m. -- Parade stages.

10:30 a.m. -- Brats, hot dogs and food stands on Main Street.

10:30 a.m. -- Water Golf at the City Docks.

10:30 a.m. -- Casting for dollars at the City Docks.

11 a.m. -- Parade on Main Street.

11 a.m. -- Pig roast at the elementary school.

11:30 a.m. -- Taco stand in front of Lori's Luvs.

Noon -- Kid's Carnival at the elementary school field.

Noon -- Kid's races at the elementary school field.

Noon -- Hay rides at the elementary school lot.

1 p.m. -- Pony rides on Main Street.

1:30 p.m. -- Turtle race registration on Main Street.

1:30 p.m. -- Turtle race games on Main Street.

2:30 p.m. -- Turtle races on Main Street.

3:30 p.m. -- Egg toss on Main Street.

3:30 p.m. -- Volleyball registration at the tennis courts.

4 p.m. -- Volleyball tournament at the elementary school field.

Dusk -- Fireworks.

Mission Township

Saturday

Noon -- Parade.

After parade -- Mission Fire Fair, including music, entertainment and food at Mission Park.

Tuesday

Noon -- Boat Parade.

Nisswa

Freedom Day Celebration

Friday, July 7

2 p.m. -- Trout Lake Riding Stable petting zoo on the east side of the chamber building.

3 p.m. -- Water Wars on the south chamber lawn.

4 p.m. -- Train rides (mini) on the east side of the chamber.

6 p.m. -- Kiddie Parade behind the chamber. Line up at 5:30 p.m.

7 p.m. -- Freedom Day parade. Line up at 6:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.-midnight -- Battle of the Bands and Nisswa Volunteer Fire Department street dance featuring Silent Partner and The Retractions.

Outing

Outing in Outing Celebration

Saturday

Afternoon -- Kids games, raffles, beer garden and activities in Luscher Park.

7 p.m. -- Street dance with The Retractions, a popular lake country band featuring brassy rock, rhythm, blues and dance music.

Dusk -- Fireworks over Lawrence Lake.

Pequot Lakes

Friday

5:30 p.m. -- Roast beef dinner at Pequot American Legion.

8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Karaoke at American Legion.

Saturday

9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Dance with the Skatyrs at the American Legion.

Sunday

8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Karaoke at the American Legion.

Monday

Noon-9 p.m. -- Beer garden, Piano Bar at American Legion.

8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Dance to Deuce's Wild at the American Legion.

Dusk (about 10 p.m.) -- Fireworks behind Pequot Lakes School.

Tuesday

7 a.m.-noon -- Pequot Lakes Fire Department pancake breakfast at city hall.

10 a.m. -- Kiddie Parade featuring Glenda's Clowns, in the Senior Citizens parking lot.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- Beer Garden at the American Legion. Food available.

All day -- Auxiliary Bake Sale at the American Legion. Quilts, T-shirts and sweatshirts also will be for sale.

10:30 a.m. -- Diaper Derby in the Senior Citizens parking lot.

11 a.m. -- Parade. Line up at Pequot Lakes School from 9 to 11 a.m.

11 a.m.-all day -- Pequot Lions selling brats, hot dogs and pop across from Thurlow's.

11 a.m.-all day Senior Citizens selling sloppy joes and homemade pies.

11 a.m. -- Kinship partners selling pop.

12:30 p.m. -- Bed Races in the Senior Citizens parking lot.

1 p.m. -- Greased pole and hay stack in the Senior Citizens parking lot.

1:30 p.m. -- Liar's contest in the Senior Citizens parking lot.

2:30 p.m. -- Foot races behind Pequot Lakes School.

4-9 p.m. -- Mexican night and Margarita's at the American Legion.

9 p.m. -- Piano Bar featuring Bob Stafford at the American Legion.

Pine River

Summerfest

Friday

Kids' Day at Dam -- Face painting, games, pony rides.

1 p.m. -- Duck Races.

All day -- Arts and crafts, sidewalk sales in the downtown area.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Library book sale with milk and cookies.

4:30-8 p.m. -- Pine River Legion Steak Fry.

7 p.m. -- Prairie Fire Children's Theater Production of "Jack & The Beanstalk," Pine River-Backus High School performance gym.

Saturday

All day -- Arts and crafts/sidewalk sales in the downtown area.

All day -- Softball tournament.

10:30 a.m., noon and 3 p.m -- Sheer's Lumberjack Free Show at Dam .

10 a.m. -- Prairie Fire Children's Theater Production of "Jack and the Beanstalk" at Pine River-Backus High School performance gym.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Food Fair in the park.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Steve Anderson performing uptown.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Skal Musik Band in park.

1 p.m. -- Summerfest Parade, line up at Pine River-Backus bus parking lot beginning at 11:30 a.m.

10 a.m.-noon -- Fire engine rides.

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Real stagecoach rides, downtown.

1:30 p.m.--Horseshoe Tourney in the park.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- Library book sale with milk and cookies.

7 p.m. -- Gospel Concert featuring the band Testament, bring a chair.

8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Pine River Firemen's Street Dance with band Durango.

Sunday

7:30 a.m.-noon -- Pine River Lions Fly-In, Drive-In Pancake Breakfast, rain or shine.

8 a.m. -- Ecumenical church service beside the river.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Library book sale.

Staples

All School Reunion

Saturday

8 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Breakfast by the Masons, High School cafeteria.

9 a.m-4:30 p.m. -- Registration and reunions.

5-7 p.m. -- Meal by Music Boosters in the High School cafeteria.

7:30 p.m. -- The Lamplighter Community Theatre presents "Oliver" at Centennial Auditorium.

8 p.m. -- Dance at Motley to High Noon.

9 p.m.-midnight -- All school dance at the Community Center parking lot or high school auditorium.

Dusk -- Fireworks at Motley.

Sunday

8 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Breakfast at Sacred Heart Church.

Morning -- Registration packets will include a list of churches and service times.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Sacred Heart School open house.

1:30 p.m. -- Bill Butler concert at the Centennial Auditorium lobby.

2-4 p.m. -- Authors and Artists Reception at the Centennial Auditorium lobby.

4 p.m. -- Alumni Choir concert at the high school auditorium (old gym).

5-7 p.m. -- Pie and Ice Cream Social in front of Centennial Auditorium.

7:30 p.m. -- "Oliver" at the Centennial Auditorium.

Monday

9 a.m. -- Golf Scramble, sign up at registration.

Afternoon -- Family Fun at Dower Lake.

Walker

Tuesday

1:30 p.m. -- Kiddie Parade. Ribbons given to kids, trophies given for most patriotic, humorous, tourism and antique tractor. Special award for Judges Choice. Line-up begins at 12:30 p.m. on Highway 34.

2 p.m. -- Parade on Minnesota Avenue. Line-up begins at 12:30 p.m. on Highway 34.

3 p.m.-Dusk -- Fun in the Park, including running races, horseshoe tournament, sumo-suit wrestling, water games, volleyball tournament, tug-o-war, electric calf roping and kids games with a prize for every kid.

3-8 p.m. -- Traditional Rotary Fish Fry and Beer Garden with brats and hot dogs at the city park.

3:30-6 :30 p.m. -- Music by The Memories with Dave Canfield at the park.

7-11:30 p.m. -- Music by The Retractions at the park.

Dusk -- Fireworks at the park, view from land or by boat.