Gather family and friends for great patriotic entertainment.

City of Alabaster Fireworks Show

Have an evening of family fun at Alabaster’s Fireworks Show. There will be music, entertainment, children’s activities and a variety of food trucks on site. The show is Friday, July 2 at 9 p.m. at Thompson High School. Due to fireworks protocol and safety issues, the Warrior Parkway entrance and exit from Thompson Road will be closed from 8 p.m. until 30 minutes after the final fireworks display. Attendees arriving at 8 p.m. or later should enter from Kent Dairy Road. Email Morgan Lawley or call 205-664-6800 for more details.

Wetumpka Independence Day Fireworks

Bring your lawn chairs and coolers for a night of live music in Wetumpka Saturday, July 3. Slim and the Soulful Saints will perform from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. Food vendors include SnoBiz Wetumpka, Kids Toys by Irma, Sweet Cheeks and Treats, Drive-by Tacos and Smoke Shack BBQ. The venue is Gold Star Park.

American Village

The summer season at American Village begins with patriotic fun for all ages Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, July 30 at its Red, White and Blue Days. Enjoy puppet shows, Colonial music, the Continental Army encampment, outdoor games and encounters with patriots of the past. Bring your own tricycle, bicycle, wagon or other nonmotorized ride and take part in a children’s patriotic parade every Friday at 11 a.m. Admission is $5 per person. Veterans, active military and children ages 4 and younger are admitted free. The gift shop will have ice cream and soft drinks. The schedule is subject to change.

Prattville Independence Day

The celebration will begin Saturday, July 3 with a parade in downtown Prattville at 9 a.m. The theme for the parade is Hometown Heroes and the grand marshals will be linemen of Alabama Power and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, honored for their hard work, dedication and selflessness after the recent destructive storms. The parade will end at Pratt Park, where the Lions Club will have barbecue, arts and crafts, and live music by the Alex Walker Band until 2 p.m. The Pratt Pool and Splash Pad will be open for family fun. On Saturday evening, bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a concert under the stars featuring a performance by Souled Out Groove from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Pratt Park Amphitheater. Food vendors will be available. The grand finale of the weekend will be a fireworks display on Sunday, July 4. The fireworks will be launched at dark from an area near the clock tower off U.S. Highway 82 at Legends Circle. There will be ample parking in the surrounding parking lots of the Prattville Town Center (Target), The Cotton Exchange (Hobby Lobby) and High Point (Belk/J.C. Penney) shopping areas. Find your space and enjoy the fireworks as they light up the night sky. This fireworks extravaganza is free. For more information, call 334-595-0850.

Celebrate safely while entertaining during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.(Getty Images)

The Wharf

Five-thousand beach balls will fall from the sky at the annual Beach Ball Drop at The Wharf in Orange Beach Thursday, July 1 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will have dozens of family friendly activities onsite, including a surf simulator, bouncy house, bubble zone, face painting and camel rides. DJ Silky will be spinning feel-good tunes throughout the evening. During the drop, there will be a designated area for children ages 5 and younger to safely grab beach balls. Be sure to check the balls you collect for a letter and stop by The Wharf tent, because you might win some prizes. Fireworks will blast off at 8:45 p.m.; then stick around to see the Spectra Laser Light Experience to follow. Watch the beach balls fall at 6:40 p.m. live on WKRG News 5.

Vulcan Park and Museum

The state’s largest Fourth of July celebration will ignite the sky atop Red Mountain with an array of fireworks in honor of Birmingham’s sesquicentennial and the nation’s birthday. On July 4, the city of Birmingham welcomes all to visit and watch a live show in honor of those who have fought for our country’s independence. Those in the Birmingham viewing area can tune into WBRC Fox 6 for a livestream. Spectators can listen to the soundtrack on iHeartMedia radio stations 102.5 The Bull, 103.1 The Vulcan, 103.7 The Q, 104.1 The Beat, Birmingham’s ALT 99.1, B106.5, 105 Hallelujah FM, Magic 96.5, News Radio 960 WERC, News Radio 105.5 WERC and La Jefa 98.3. At approximately 9 p.m., the first of more than 2,500 shells and effects will brighten Vulcan and the sky above him. A score featuring artists such as James Brown, Imagine Dragons and Neil Diamond will be timed and choreographed to the colorful firework display, making it the biggest show Vulcan has put on to date. There will be a selection of songs as a tribute to the city. Vulcan Park and Museum will close at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 4 to prepare for the show. For more information and tips on viewing, go to visitvulcan.com.

Fire on the Water at Oak Mountain

The city of Pelham will host its annual Fire on the Water celebration in partnership with Oak Mountain State Park Saturday, July 3. Families are welcome to spend the day exploring the park. Gates open at 7 a.m. The event begins at 5 p.m. with activities, music, food trucks and more. The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. Gates will close promptly at 7 p.m. to allow ample time for everyone to make their way to the beach before the show. A limited number of tickets will be sold for $15 each. Pelham residents may purchase them at a discounted rate of $10 per ticket. Each ticket is valid for one vehicle carrying up to four people. A state-issued ID or utility bill is required for proof of residency. Event tickets will not be sold on Saturday, July 3, and regular entrance fees will apply. Cash only at the gate. Fire on the Water event tickets may be purchased at the Oak Mountain State Park Ranger Station or at the main office. Entrance fees will not be charged for those coming to the park to purchase these tickets.

OWA

Head to OWA in Foley July 2-4 for a jam-packed patriotic lineup featuring three days and nights of live entertainment and family-friendly activities. Friday’s fun includes two classes from Paint Art Live and two performances of Wonder at the Downtown OWA Splash Pad. End the night with a free showing of “National Treasure” on OWA Island at 8:30 p.m. The fun continues Saturday, July 3 with three complimentary kids crafts plus an all-day scavenger hunt. Bring your camera for a photo op with special guests Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter in the amusement park. Live music kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with Dumb Moneys, followed by Southern Approach on OWA Island at 7 p.m. Wander over to one of Wonder’s two free showings at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday’s activities include more special guests and kids’ activities plus the return of DJ Patrick. Live music from the Bruce Smelley Band starts at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Troy Laz Band from New Orleans. Ending the weekend with a bang, the fireworks will go off at 8:45 p.m. sharp for what OWA promises will be its biggest and longest firework celebration yet, followed by more Troy Laz Band on OWA Island. New for 2021, OWA will host the inaugural Fourth of July Street Parade led by Southwinds, a 70-piece brass band from Mobile featuring horns, drums and color guard. Join in the parade in your patriotic best outfit to celebrate Independence Day and get a chance to win cash prizes. A $10 donation to Operation Reconnect registers you for the parade and enters you in the costume contest. You can preregister online or in person beginning on OWA Island at 1 p.m. July 4. The parade begins at 2 p.m. Visit owa.com/independence.