Seattle's biggest fireworks party is back at Gas Works and Lake Union Park. Live concerts, activities, and beer gardens abound in both locations. It's free. But if you want to skip jostling for space, reserved seating starts at $60. The fireworks should start around 10:15pm. 

No fireworks in Edmonds this year, but there will be fun runs starting bright and early at 9:30am. The big parade through old downtown Edmonds starts at noon.

Les Gove Park becomes home base for a rollicking activity lineup: live music, a car show, mini golf, inflatable rides, trampolines, crafts, and food vendors. Entry is free but you can get unlimited activity wristbands for $10. Bonus: The spray park will help keep things cool. There's even laser tag. 

Flock once again to massive Bellevue Downtown Park, where food trucks, live music (rock, dance, and a symphony), and a designated family-fun area return. Fireworks light up the sky around 10:05pm. Parking is a bear both before and after the event, so explore alternate modes of transportation.

Tacoma's annual Fourth of July party spans from Dune Peninsula to the end of Ruston Way. Look out for two stages of music both live (like the soulful Tekla Waterfield) and recorded (sets from KEXP DJ Abbie Gobeli), beer gardens, and a kids zone at Cummings Park with crafts and inflatables. Fireworks start around 10pm, launching from a barge in Commencement Bay.

It's exactly what it sounds like: a celebration of America and one of its great original art forms, blues music. Look for lots of live tunes, a kids parade, vendors, and fireworks at 10:15. 

This day-before party in Puyallup has with vendors, live music, and fireworks at the parking lots of the Washington State Fair grounds on July 3. A 5k run and a kids corner keeps things active

This year's Issaquah celebration includes a kids and pet parade, live music, and food trucks. Little ones—pups or children—can ride on nonmotorized wheels for the procession. Runs 11am to 2pm. 

First, an all-volunteer parade starts on 25th Street and Colby Avenue at 11am. Then, head on over to Legion Memorial Park for a festival with live music, food trucks, free Putt-Putt, axe-throwing, a beer garden, and fireworks around 10pm. 

Thousands turn out for this daytime affair on Winslow Way and in Waterfront Park. Family-friendly activities include a pancake breakfast, a fun run, a car show, a street fair, and a parade at 1pm. Adults will appreciate the beer and wine garden. Festivities go from 7am to 5pm.

The masses packed into Gas Works will seem like peons compared to those who wisely purchase a ticket to board an Argosy Cruises party boat. Cruises depart from Lake Union and Kirkland, respectively, and keep the good vibes going with a full-service bar and a front-row view of the fireworks. Boats sell out fast.

There's a whole weekend left after the fireworks end. Pioneer Square is hosting a two day event Saturday and Sunday with arts and music, including more than 20 bands on five stages. Tickets start at $20.

Fireworks, beer, and hot dogs are good ways to celebrate Independence Day. But for those inclined to something a little more meaningful, how about a reminder of what this country means to people around the world. Many have worked hard for the privilege to be a citizen, and the annual naturalization ceremony at Seattle Center celebrates all the reasons why; this is the 40th anniversary of this particular ceremony.