This year’s Fourth of July events promise to be the best ever. There are plenty of ways to celebrate, including festivals, parades and, of course, fireworks.

Bremen’s Firemen’s Festival continues through Saturday and will once again feature its extensive aerial display at dusk on Friday.

For some Bremen residents, the show can be viewed right outside their back door. The fireworks are set off from the soccer field just east of Sunnyside Park, Bremen Fire Department Chief Jerry Lanning says. If you’re not attending the carnival, he says, you’ll want to grab a seat on the bleachers at the softball field or any open area west of Woodies Lane.

Lakeville’s Freedom Fest parade boasts more than 50 entries this year, including the Marshall County 4-H Drill Team (just back from the Indianapolis 500 parade).

The parade begins at 9 a.m. Friday at Mangus Drive and continues for about a mile, ending up at Newtown Park. Folks can hang out at the park, where the country/gospel duo Cook & Belle will perform from 7:30 to 9:30. An extravagant fireworks display by Saint Evans Fireworks will culminate the day’s events at dusk, according to festival organizers.

Maybe you’d rather quietly toast the nation’s independence. If so, the fourth annual BBQ Festival at Round Barn Winery in Baroda is the place to be.

This year, the event will take place over two days, from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday and July 6. Those attending the festival can enjoy music by Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio on Saturday and pop/reggae/blues by Underwater People on July 6 while sipping a variety of wines and beers.

The annual Reds, Whites and BBQ competition will once again take place on Saturday. New this year will be a Best Firehouse BBQ contest to be held on Sunday.

Adults pay $10 for a one-day admission or $15 for both, while ages 13-20 pay $5 per day. Children age 12 and younger will be admitted free.

To learn more about these and other events, check out the listings below.

Be sure to note weather conditions and possible rain dates for events featuring fireworks.

Indiana

Akron

Akron Fourth of July Celebration, car show, art, tractor pull and more 5-10 p.m. Thursday; and Fireman’s Breakfast 6-10 a.m., parade 11 a.m., fireworks at dusk and concluding with a concert, all on Friday; downtown Akron; (574) 895-4123 or (574) 598-2875.

Bremen

Bremen’s Firemen’s Festival, takes place Tuesday through Saturday (parade 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; fireworks 10:30 p.m. Friday) at Sunnyside Park; (574) 546-3660.

Goshen

First Friday Fourth of July Celebration, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and featuring music on the courthouse lawn (Southside Denny, 5:30 p.m.; Los Bandits, 7 p.m.)

FreedomFest, featuring entertainment throughout Saturday and concluding with fireworks; 17229 County Road 42, Goshen; www.freedomfestgoshen.com ;$ (veterans and age 4 and younger, free).

Lakeville

Freedom Fest (sponsored by the Lakeville Lions Club), begins with a pancake breakfast 7-11 a.m. Friday; parade (featuring Marshall County 4-H Drill Team) begins at 9 a.m. at Mangus Drive; Cook & Belle in concert 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Newton Park; concludes with fireworks by Saint Evans Fireworks at dusk (rain date: Saturday); (574) 784-3152 or www.newtonpark.org.

LaPorte

LaPorte Jaycee’s Fourth of July, parade: 10 a.m. CDT Friday; begins at Tipton Street and ends at Andrew Avenue; fireworks: gates open at 6 p.m. (food and entertainment); LaPorte County Fairgrounds; (219) 324-5828 or www.laportejaycees.org ;admission to the grounds is $5 per vehicle or $1 per person.

Michigan City

Patriotic Program, featuring color guards, 21-gun salute, medal presentation and more; Millennium Plaza; (219) 874-3630 or www.michigancityfestivalsinc.com.

South Bend

Meet Me on the Island, featuring Clifford & Michaels Blues Band performing, metalwork by sculptor Tom McDonald and fireworks at dusk; 5-10:30 p.m. Thursday; South Bend Regional Museum of Art, 120 S. St. Joseph St.; (574) 235-9102; museum members and age 12 and younger admitted free, others pay $7.

Chain-O-Lakes Conservation Club Annual July Picnic, featuring food, refreshments, games, and music by Undercover Blues, begins 1 p.m. Saturday at Chain-O-Lakes Conservation Club, 26230 Southport Drive. Fireworks will take place at 10 p.m. Admission for adults is $1 at the gate. Children will be admitted free.

South Bend Silver Hawks, with fireworks following games, Tuesday through Saturday; game time is 7:30 p.m. (gates open 6 p.m.). Tickets are $5-$7 (age 5 and younger, free); (574) 235-9988 or www.silverhawks.com.

Studebaker National Museum and Northern Indiana Center for History, offer two-for-one admittance on Friday, $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for ages 6-17 and free for children 5 and younger; 808 W. Washington St.; (574) 235-9664 or (574) 235-9714.

Walkerton

Walkerton Fourth of July Festival, begins with a parade at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and continues through July 6; fireworks at dusk Friday at John Glenn High School; (574) 586-3638 or www.walkerton.org

Michigan

Baroda

Fireworks, at dusk Thursday (rain date: Friday) behind American Legion Post 345, at the south end of First Street. The legion also will have a beer & brat tent with music performed by Al, Louie and Glenn beginning at 6 p.m.

BBQ Festival, 1-7 p.m. Saturday (featuring Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio) and 1-7 p.m. July 6 (featuring Underwater People); Round Barn Winery; (800) 716-9463 or www.roundbarnwinery.com; adults, $10 for one day or $15 for both days; ages 13-20, $5 per day; age 12 and under, free (bring a lawn chair, but not a cooler).

Berrien Springs

Fireworks at dusk Friday at School Complex, Sylvester Street; (269) 473-6921.

Benton Harbor

July 4th Independence Day Parade on Friday, 12-4 p.m. Friday in Downtown Benton Harbor; (269) 757-1570

Colon

Fireworks, at dusk Friday over Palmer Lake, downtown; (269) 432-3235.

Kalamazoo

Fireworks, at dusk Friday at Mayors' Riverfront Park. Admission is free.

Fireworks, after the race Friday at the Kalamazoo Speedway, 7656 Ravine Rd. For admission fees call (269) 692-2423

New Buffalo

Fireworks, at dusk Friday on the beach.

Independence Day Concert, featuring Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra; 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Lion’s Park Pavilion; (269) 982-4030 or www.smso.org.

Niles

Fireworks, at dusk Thursday (rain date: Friday) at Tyler Memorial Airport.

St. Joseph

Youth Parade, begins 10 a.m. Friday on Lake Boulevard at Park Street; www.sjtoday.org.

Independence Day Concert, featuring Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra; about 9 p.m. Friday (and including fireworks during the concert); Shadowland Pavilion; adults $20 in advance/$25 at the gate and students $5/$10; (269) 982-4030 or www.smso.org.

(WSBT-TV contributed to this report)