JULY FOURTH

No matter where you are in the Bay Area, there’s sure to be a carnival, pancake breakfast or fireworks show nearby this Fourth of July. If it’s not enough to host a backyard barbecue and watch the fireworks on TV, don’t worry. In the spirit of Independence Day, The Chronicle has compiled a guide to local events, including parties and festivals, fun runs and parades, and even cruise rides and car shows.

Grab a picnic blanket or lawn chair, bring your family and friends and be prepared to hear some inevitable “U.S.A! U.S.A!” chants during a festive, patriotic celebration of this national holiday. Alameda Fourth of July Parade The Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade is 3 miles of marching bands, festive floats and vehicles and horses. Hundreds participate in the annual celebration, and thousands more join to watch.

10 a.m. Free. Begins at Lincoln Avenue and Park Street, Alameda. www. alamedaparade.com Blue and Gold Fireworks Cruises

Celebrate Independence Day with a view of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks while watching fireworks on the water. There will be drinks on all cruises except the 8:15 p.m. departure. Departures from 8 to 8:40 p.m. from Piers 39 and 41; 8:30 p.m. departure from Tiburon Ferry Terminal.

810 p.m. $95. San Francisco and Tiburon ferry terminals, S.F. www.blueandgoldfleet.com

Commodore Fourth of July

Cruise Dining and dancing aboard a luxury cruise with an upclose view of the San Francisco fireworks show.

6:30 p.m.11 p.m. $55$130. Commodore Cruises, 2394 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda. www.commodoreevents.com Celebrate Concord The morning starts with a 7:30 a.m. pancake breakfast, fun run and 5k walk, followed by a parade at 10 a.m. Afternoon and evening activities include a 4 p.m. festival and performances by the 562nd Air Force Bank and the Big Jangle. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

7:30 a.m.10 p.m. Free. Mount Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St., Concord. www.concord july4th.com Central Park Concert As part of the city of San Mateo’s Central Park Concert series, David Martin’s House Party will be performing a Fourth of July concert.

Noon2 p.m. Free. Central Park & Recreation Center, 50 E. Fifth Ave., San Mateo. www.cityof sanmateo.org Corte Madera Fourth of July Parade and Festival The 10:30 a.m. parade features music from the Corte Madera Town Band and the Freedom Band. The festivities include arts and crafts, food, carnival games and more performances at the festival, taking place at Town Park starting at 9 a.m.

9 a.m.5 p.m. festival. Free. Redwood High School, 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur. www.cortemadera.org Cupertino Fourth of July The Independence Day festivities start with a 7:30 a.m. pancake breakfast at the Quinlan Community Center, with a children’s carnival from 9 to 11:30 a.m., flag raising at 9:30 a.m., a children’s parade at 10 a.m. and a concert at 10:30 a.m. Later, at 9:30 p.m., attendees will be able to watch a fireworks show from multiple venues.

7:30 a.m.10:30 p.m. Free (except for breakfast, $6$9). Memorial Park, 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino. www.cupertino.org City of El Cerrito and WorldOne Festival Bounce houses, carnival games, face painting, art sales and performances from musicians and bands like Benny Bock, Afrolicious and Moira Smiley. The festival ends at 6 p.m., but the concerts go for another half hour.

10 a.m.6:30 p.m. Free. Cerrito Vista Park, 7007 Moesner Lane, El Cerrito. www.elcerrito.org Foster City Fourth of July Family and Dog Parade If you wish to participate, registration is free and starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 10:50 a.m. Dress up your wagons, your dog and yourself in hopes of winning a

prize, or just for fun. 11:05 a.m. Free. The Vibe Teen Center, 670 Shell Blvd., Foster City. www.fostercity.org Green Music Center Fourth of July Spectacular Transcendence Theatre Company and the Santa Rosa Symphony will be led by conductor Michael Berkowitz in this Independence Day celebration. The concert itself starts at 7:30 p.m., but carnival games and food begin at 4:30 p.m.

4:3010 p.m. $25. Green Music Center, Weill Hall, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. www.gmc. sonoma.edu Half Moon Bay’s 49th Ol’ Fashioned Fourth of July Parade and Block Party

The parade starts at noon, but if you’re looking for food or drinks, there will be an 8 a.m. pancake breakfast, a barbecue at noon and a “libations tent” running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

8 a.m.3 p.m. Free. Main Street, Half Moon Bay. www. miramarevents.com Jack London Square Fourth of July Block Party

There will be live music, beer and cider, and barbecue on this Oakland waterfront. In honor of this year’s theme, “Interdependence Day,” there will be “multicultural programming across music, dance, art, and food.”

11 a.m.6 p.m. Free. Jack London Square, 472 Water St., Oakland. Marin County Fair themed ‘Over the Moon’ Marin County Fair calls itself the “happiest healthiest fair on earth.” In addition to classic carnival rides and food vendors, there will also be a film festival, an ABBA tribute concert and fireworks lighting up the sky at 9:30 p.m.

11 a.m.11 p.m. $15$20. Marin County Fair, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. www.marin fair.org Napa County Fair StarSpangled Social The festivities begin with a parade at 11 a.m., featuring dancers and floats, and set to theme of “Celebrate 100 years of tradition!” The carnival then starts at noon, with people generally filling in at 6 p.m. to grab a seat for the nighttime fireworks show.

11 a.m.11 p.m. $15$25. Napa County Fairgrounds, 1435 N. Oak St., Calistoga. www. celebratenapavalley.org Novato Fourth of July Parade The annual Novato Fourth of July parade will feature more than 100 entries, including floats, bands and vintage military vehicles. 10 a.m. Free. Grant Avenue, Novato. www.novatoparade.com Pacifica Fourth of July

The Pacifica Parks Beaches & Recreation Department will be hosting its 45th Independence Day picnic with games, crafts and face painting. There will also be live music.

11 a.m.4 p.m. Frontierland Park, 900 Yosemite Drive, Pacifica. www.business.pacificacham ber.com Palo Alto Chili Cook Off and Summer Festival

Chili tasting starts at 1:30 p.m., and $5 will get you five tastings. If you’re not interested in chili, there will also be various food trucks and booths, games for the kids, bounce houses, and arts and crafts.

Noon5 p.m. $5. Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. www.paloaltochilicookoff.com Redwood City Fourth of July Parade This busy day of Independence Day activities includes a parade and 5k run, live music by the band Blue: Coastside Cool, a car show, festival and more. Fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m.

7:30 a.m.10:30 p.m. Free. Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. www.redwoodcity.org San Francisco Pier 39 Fourth of July The soft rock band Mustache Harbor will be playing from 3 to 6 p.m. Fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m. 3 p.m. Free. Pier 39, S.F. www.pier39.com San Ramon Independence Day Celebration There will be live music from the Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Garratt Wilkin & the Parrotheads, as well as crafts and games, and food from Food Truck Mafia.

58 p.m. Free. San Ramon Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. www.ci.san ramon.ca.us Sausalito Fourth of July A parade with cars and floats starts off the Fourth of July celebration at 10 a.m., followed by a noon picnic in Dunphy Park, a 6:30 p.m. dinner and fireworks at night.

10 a.m.9:30 p.m. Gabrielson Park, Humboldt Avenue and Anchor Street, Sausalito. www.oursausalito.com

USS Hornet Independence

Day Celebration Main stage performers include Andre Thierry, The MTet, Matt Jaffe and Aki Kumar. Dance lessons with Dane DeSimone start at 6:30 p.m., and fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.

210 p.m. $15$25. USS Hornet Air and Space Museum, 707 W. Hornet Ave., Alameda. www.uss hornet.org