By Cheryl Eddy

THIS JULY 4 , turn up "America" (Neil Diamond version) and raise a frosty toast to our nation's 236th birthday. Even if current events (and/or the current president) turn you off to all things patriotic, remember this: it's hard not to get excited over a really kick-ass fireworks display. Pyrotechnics aside, in our guide you'll find plenty of options for families, barbecue fans, art lovers, swing dancers, Buddhists, and well, just about everyone. All events are Thurs/4 unless otherwise noted.

San Francisco

'4*July*Art Auction*Bake Sale*Barbecue' Back Room Gallery at Adobe Books, 3166 16th St; 282-2267. Noon, free. The Back Room Gallery at Adobe Books hosts an auction of works by emerging Bay Area artists, with a barbecue, a bake sale, and live music thrown in for good measure. Proceeds benefit the gallery's plans to continue its inventive programming during the next year.

'Fourth of July Dinner Cruise' 788-9100, www.sighg.com for info. Sail the bay and feast on a gourmet dinner until it's fireworks time, at this event hosted by Signature Yacht Events.

'Fourth of July Interdependence Day BBQ and Open House' For time, location, and price call 585-9161. Vegetarian chow and the calm folks at the Sahara Buddhist Center await visitors on July 4.

'Fourth of July Waterfront Festival' Pier 39, near Embarcadero and Beach; 777-7120. Noon (fireworks 9:30pm), free. This is it, y'all. A whole day of music, food, and entertainment leading up to the most lavish pyrotechnics to grace the airspace above the city. God bless 'em.

Ghirardelli Square West Plaza Stage, 900 North Point; 775-5500. 1:30pm, free. Head down to the waterfront for fun activities for kids and grown-ups. Ghirardelli Square will be filled with music, puppets, comedy, face painting, and even a performing dog. While you're enjoying the day, stake out a spot for good fireworks viewing after dark.

'Indie-Pendance Day 2002' 1015 Folsom, 1015 Folsom; www.fromdespair.net. 10pm-3am, $10. Fan Club presents its annual Fourth of July get-down with the Soledad Brothers, the Evening, Tami Hart, Junior Panthers, and other DJs.

'Ol' Fashioned Fourth of July Alternative Family Picnic' Yerba Buena Gardens, Esplanade Gardens, 899 Howard; 543-1718. 11am-4pm, free. "Family" applies to everybody at this annual event, which welcomes all comers gay and straight. Bring the kids for live music, speeches, and games.

Red and White Fleet Bay cruise Pier 43 1/2, Fisherman's Wharf; 1-800-229-2784. 7:30 and 8:15pm, $45 adults, $35 children (child is age 1-11). Get a shark's-eye view of the fireworks on this bay cruise.

'San Francisco Maritime Park's Annual Pyrotechnic Fundraiser' Aboard the Balclutha and Eureka, Hyde St Pier; (415) 561-6662, ext 18. 7pm, $50-125. Help raise money for the San Francisco Maritime Park's maritime preservation and education programs at this event, which includes a full-course dinner. Then, stay aboard the historic ships for front-row fireworks viewing.

'Tropicalia: Street Angels of Brazil Benefit' El Rio, 3158 Mission; futurejuju@yahoo.com. 3-8pm, $10-100. Raise cash for the anti-child labor, pro-education and health care group Street Angels by dancing the day away to Brazilian bands and DJs at this benefit.

Bay Area

'Barbecue Feast Funk Fest' Kimball's East, 6005 Shellmound, Emeryville; (510) 658-2555. Fri/5-Sat/6, 8 and 10pm, $25. Kimball's East hosts a Fourth-of-July-weekend party with funk music and barbecue.

'Bats, Balls, and Beers Festival' Network Associates Coliseum, East Side Club, 7000 Coliseum Wy, Oakl; (510) 638-4900, ext 4040. 4pm, free with game ticket ($7-32). The Oakland A's host their sixth annual festival of suds. Get your favorite player's autograph, enjoy blues music, and sample the wares of more than 15 breweries. Post-booze, at 6:35 p.m., watch the A's take on the Kansas City Royals.

'Celebrating the Spirit of America' Chronicle Pavilion, 2000 Kirker Pass, Concord; (925) 685-TIXS. Wed/3, 8pm, free; Thurs/4, 6pm, $14-29. Wed/3, the festivities include a performance by the Moving Arts Dance Company with a fireworks finale. On the Fourth, Grammy winner Toni Tennille (sadly, sans the Captain) joins the California Symphony for a concert of patriotic and classic songs, plus a salute to the armed forces. For kids, there will be activities such as face painting and games, plus the orchestra will play tunes from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the Disney canon. The finale? A whole lotta fireworks, of course.

'Concord Fourth of July Parade and Festival' Todos Santos Plaza, Willow Pass Rd, Concord; (925) 671-3464. 10am, free. The festivities at this event include a parade, live music, and carnival games.

'Family, Flags, and Fun!' Wed/3, along First St in Downtown Benicia, Benicia. 6:30-11pm, free; Thurs/4, Benicia City Park, First St and Military, Benicia; (707) 745-9791. Noon, free. Wednesday, the city of Benicia welcomes all to its Torchlight Parade and street dance party in celebration of Fourth of July. Thursday, the Fourth of July picnic features family activities, an open-air market, food booths, live entertainment, and a fireworks display.

Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina Berkeley Marina, Berk; (510) 548-5335. 11am, free. Berkeley goes all out this year with a full slate of blues, zydeco, and other danceable musical acts, starting at 2 p.m. There will also be belly dancers, puppets, arts and crafts booths, a rock-climbing wall, free sailboat rides, a bicycle parade, a full menu of delicious chow, and to cap it all off, a monstrous fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

'Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise' departs Tiburon at the Angel Island Ferry docks; (415) 431-2131, www.angelislandferry.com. 7:30pm, $20-30. Ride from Tiburon to San Francisco while the fireworks burst in the air above you and the San Francisco skyline unfurls before you.

'Independence Day Celebration' Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont; (510) 796-0663. 10am-4pm, $3.50-5. This event features a whole slew of activities, games, and performances for the whole family, including hay-wagon and carriage rides and live music.

'Independence Day Downtown Festival and Parade' Downtown Redwood City, Redwood City; (650) 569-6939, www.parade.org. 10:30am, free. Redwood City's 63rd annual Independence Day celebration features marching bands, floats, clowns, arts and crafts booths, live music, and a ground fireworks display.

'Independence Day on the Green' Sonoma State University, 1801 Cotati, Rohnert Park; (707) 546-8742. 4pm, $7-52. Enjoy an all-American big-band concert, featuring the San Francisco Starlight Orchestra, followed by a program of patriotic music performed by the Santa Rosa Symphony. Also on tap are games, music for kids, food, and more.

July 4 celebration aboard the USS Hornet Alameda Point, Alameda; (510) 521-8448, ext 0. 4-11pm, $5-15. Hop aboard the aircraft carrier – a great vantage point to watch local fireworks displays – for kid's activities, food, and tunes by Tainted Love, Eddie and the Boppers, and the Swing Session.

'Milpitas ... A Great American City on Parade' Main from Carlo to Curtis, Milpitas; (408) 586-3210. 11am. The city of Milpitas celebrates Independence Day with a pool party, parade, and fireworks display.

'Movie Magic' Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View; (415) 421-TIXS. 8pm, $18.50-31. The San Francisco Symphony and conductor George Daugherty bust out a musical tribute to Hollywood – fans of Bugs Bunny, Star Wars, and E.T., take note – followed by fireworks set to patriotic tunes. Family entertainment starts at 5 p.m., so arrive before the show if you've got wee classical musical fans in tow.

'Mr. Smith Goes to Obscuristan' Dolores Park, Dolores between 18th and 20th; www.sfmt.org. 1:30pm, free. The San Francisco Mime Troupe unveils its annual summer show, which it'll perform in Bay Area parks through Labor Day. This year's play was written by Josh Kornbluth and is an original, political musical satire inspired by the aftermath of Sept. 11.

'Vibe' Hotel Ibiza, 10 Hegenberger, Oakl; (510) 869-3851, www.eastbaypride.org. 9pm, $10-15. This "Womyn's Independence Day Celebration" is a benefit for East Bay Pride, coming up at the end of August. The Hotel Ibiza provides three dance floors and a 30-person jacuzzi, and the club promoters provide hip-hop, house, salsa, and other DJs – all female – plus massages and the Eye Candy Dancers.