Need ideas to celebrate the birth of our country? Check out all the activites in and around the greater Augusta area:

AUGUSTA

The festivities begin before the parade, with an 8-to-10 a.m. pancake breakfast at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar on Western Avenue. At $5 per person, the event will benefit a local charity.

Here's the lineup for the rest of the day:

• At 11 a.m., the parade starts at the Capitol Shopping Center, travels east on Western Avenue to Memorial Circle, then along Water Street and across the river to Old Fort Western.

• 12:30 p.m. events will be held at the fort, where there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence from a copy sent to the fort in 1776, cannon salutes, patriotic toasts, songs and speeches. Also, there will be period music by Jon Hall and the Centennial Brass Band, period dancing and games for children and families, and refreshments.

• 1:30 p.m. chicken barbecue, $8 a person at the fort

• 1:45 p.m. Zacc Tyler Band at Mill Park

• 2-7 p.m. trolley and hay rides downtown

• 3-5 p.m. play Town Ball (19th-century baseball) or listen to Jon Hall and the Centennial Brass Band

• 4 p.m. primary skills art institute will be at Waterfront Park

• 4:15 p.m. Emerald Sky will perform in Mill Park

• 6:45 p.m. Corona Bros. Band will perform in Mill Park

• 7:30 p.m. Music of America with Alison Lee Freeman, Robert Webb and Dave Peloquin at Old Fort Western

• 9:20 p.m. fireworks over the river

WINTHROP

The annual fireworks display is set for around 9 p.m. Friday.

The Winthrop Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the fireworks, which will be underwritten in part by Kennebec Savings Bank. The fireworks display is set against the backdrop of Maranacook Lake and Norcross Point.

SIDNEY

A New England Music Camp student recital is planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Alumni Hall at the camp on Route 23.

The free recital is open to the public.

BELGRADE

A day full of events is planned in Belgrade.

• At 8 a.m., the flea market opens.

• From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a book sale in Belgrade Village.

• 11 a.m. bounce house, face painting at the Village Peddler; lead rides and demonstrations at Rome Farms north of the village; antique boat and motor display along the stream.

• 12 p.m. boat parade from the mouth of the stream on Great Pond to the Belgrade Lakes Village; chicken barbeque at Belgrade Fire Department; strawberry shortcake and hot dogs at the Union Church.

• 3 p.m. parade line up at Rome Farm

• 4 p.m. parade

• 5 p.m. frog jumping contest

• After the parade: Free ice cream at the Belgrade Lakes Center for All Seasons

• 7-9:30 p.m. music by The Returnables in the Village Inn parking lot

• 9:15 p.m. fireworks on Long Pond

• After fireworks: karaoke at The Sunset Grill

WINSLOW

A day of events begins at 10 a.m. in Winslow, where the town boasts the "largest 4th of July parade in the state."

After the two hour parade, there will be a gathering at Fort Halifax Park from 12:30 to 10 p.m. Events include games, a petting zoo, climbing wall, dunk tank and bounce house.