All events take place July 4 unless otherwise indicated.

San Francisco

Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra, Melody of China Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Ave at Sloat; 252-6252, www.sterngrove.org. 2pm, free. Celebrate Independence Day with a free concert in Stern Grove; selections include "American Rhapsodies," a world-premiere recomposition of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."

'Bellyscrapers Fourth of July BBQ and Hot Rod Show' Parkside, 1600 17th St; 503-0393. Noon-6pm, $6. Jesse Dayton, the Deadutants, and Hammerlock play this party, which also features a display of hot rods and a barbecue.]

'Coit Tower Projection' Coit Tower, 1 Telegraph Hill; www.benwood.net. 9:30-11pm, free. At this unique event, artists Ben Wood and David Mark project digital images depicting 200 years of San Francisco history onto Coit Tower.

'Day on the Hay' 330 Ritch; 522-9558. 3pm, $5. Yee-haw! Johnny Dilks and His Visitacion Valley Boys, Cari Lee and the Saddle-ites, and the Hotsy Totsy Hillbilly Jazzbos, as well as DJ DX from Speedy's Wig City, get your feet stomping at this "hillbilly hoedown." For five bucks more, you can chow down on barbecue or a vegetarian dish.

'Declarations of Media Independence' University of San Francisco, McLaren Complex, 2130 Fulton; 546-6334, ext 310, www.acmecoalition.org. Thurs/1-Sun/4. $275, $155 students (one-day pass $65, $45 students). Activists, independent-media producers, educators, and others converge for this four-day summit cosponsored by Media Alliance, the University of San Francisco's Media Department, and the Action Coalition for Media Education. The event explores media literacy education, independent media, and media reform and offers panels, workshops, speakers, screenings, and more.

Fillmore Jazz Festival Fillmore between Jackson and Ellis; 1-800-731-0003, www.fillmorejazzfestival.com. Sat/3-Sun/4, 10am-6pm, free. The largest free jazz festival on the West Coast includes traditional and contemporary jazz performances, gourmet food booths, and displays by more than 300 artist.

'Fireworks Viewing and Dinner Party' Aboard the Balclutha and Eureka, San Francisco Maritime National Park, Hyde St. Pier; 561-6662, ext 33. 7pm, $50-140 (RSVP required). The maritime preservation and education programs of the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association benefit from this event, which includes dinner aboard a historic vessel and stellar views of the fireworks.

Fourth of July DIY Barbecue Cook-off Sadie's Flying Elephant, 491 Potrero; 551-7988, jessiejaneknows@yahoo.com. 2pm, free (preregistration encouraged). Amateur chefs are invited to go grill-to-grill at this meaty cook-off.

Fourth of July Waterfront Festival Pier 39, Embarcadero and Beach; 705-5500, www.pier39.com. 11am-9pm, free. This year's fest includes entertainment by Taming Ingrid, the Unauthorized Rolling Stones, and David Martin's House Party, as well as the traditional fireworks extravaganza.

'I Wanna Be a Republican' Herbst Theatre, 410 Van Ness; 392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com or www.tickets.com. Sat/3 and July 9, 8pm, $20-32. "Dragappella" beautyshop quartet the Kinsey Sicks celebrate "patriotism, pageantry, and perversity" in their new musical show.

'Kayak to Independence Day Fireworks' City Kayak, 38 Embarcadero; 357-1010, www.citykayak.com. 6-11pm, $50 (RSVP required). Hop in a kayak and paddle along San Francisco's Embarcadero for three hours, then enjoy a floating view of the fireworks.

Nestor Torres Aquatic Park, Larkin at Beach; www.kksf.com. 6 and 7pm, free. The acclaimed jazz flutist and Latin Grammy Award winner performs.

'Showdown at Crawford Gulch' Dolores Park, Dolores between 18th and 20th Sts; 285-1717, www.sfmt.org. Sat/3-Mon/5, 2pm (live music 1:30pm), free. Show continues at northern California parks through Sept 26. See 8 Days a Week.

'Star Spangled to Death' Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission; 552-1990, www.sfcinematheque.org. Sat/3, 2-5pm and 6:30-10pm, $4-7. San Francisco Cinematheque hosts Ken Jacobs's six-and-a-half-hour film (with a midway dinner break), an experimental take on "America's proud, willful, and lethal rush toward cultural and political self-delusion."

'We Are Family' picnic Yerba Buena Gardens, Rooftop Gardens, Mission at Fourth St; 543-1718, www.ybgf.org. 11am-4pm, free. Hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender couples and families pack this annual event. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, Dixieland Dykes+3, comedian Heather Gold, Jackie Jones and Her Tap Dancing Cat, and Derique the Electric Clown are among the performers.

Bay Area

'An Evening of Music and Magic' Shoreline Amphitheater, 1 Amphitheater Pkwy, Mountain View; (415) 421-TIXS. 8pm, $15.50-28.50. Radio Disney hosts an evening of music and fireworks, starring the San Francisco Symphony with guest conductor Randall Fleischer and guest vocalist Jodi Benson ("Ariel" in The Little Mermaid).

Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina Berkeley Marina (south shore at bottom of University Ave), Berk; (510) 548-5335, www.ci.berkeley.ca.us. Noon-9:30pm, free. Music, puppet shows, international food booths, square dancing, free sailboat rides, and a huge fireworks display are among the highlights of this all-ages celebration.

Fourth of July celebration Jack London Square, Embarcadero at Broadway, Oakl; 1-866-295-9853, www.jacklondonsquare.com. 1-9:30pm, free. Fireworks galore top off a day of live music, arts and crafts, kids' activities, and more.

Fourth of July parade and concert Todos Santos Plaza, Willow Pass at Grant, Concord; (925) 229-2710, www.communityconcerts.com. 10am-3pm, free. Live ragtime, Dixieland jazz, blues, and bagpipe music highlight this Fourth of July celebration; the parade starts at noon.

'Free Rock the Fourth' People's Park, Telegraph at Dwight, Berk; (510) 638-5513, www.geocities.com/july4thconcert. Noon-6pm, free. Thin Acid Angel, Sever, Monotype, Toowamp, and Platinum Head perform at a daylong metal and punk concert.

'Fuck the Fourth!' AK Press Warehouse, 674A 23rd St, Oakl; (510) 208-1700, www.akpress.org. Thurs/1, 4-10pm, free. Get a head start on the long weekend by attending this huge sale at AK Press, where everything in the warehouse is at least 25 percent off.

'Hot Rod and Kustom Car Show' Sea Bowl, 4625 Highway 1, Pacifica; (650) 738-8190, www.seabowl.com. 9:30am-4pm, free ($10 to display a vehicle). Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are welcomed to this show, which also features barbecue, vendors, a raffle, and live music by the Chop Tops, the Mutilators, Arsen Roulette, and the Ricochets.

Point Reyes Open Studios Various locations, Point Reyes; www.pointreyesart.com. Sat/3-Mon/5, 11am-5pm, free. Twenty-five Point Reyes artists open their studios for this annual art tour. Go to the Web site for locations.

'Red, White, and True Blue' USS Hornet, Alameda Point, Alameda; (510) 521-8448, www.uss-hornet.org. 10am-11pm, $6-14. This massive bash aboard the historic aircraft carrier features a full day of live country music as well as a great view of Bay Area fireworks after dark.

Snake Oil Medicine Show, Slewfoot String Band Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway, Oakl; (510) 763-1146, www.oaklandmetro.org. 6pm, $8. Enjoy bluegrass and old-time tunes before and after the fireworks in nearby Jack London Square.

'Stroll-a-Thon and Family Sunday' Dunsmuir Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakl; (510) 615-5555, ext 5, www.dunsmuir.org. 10am-3pm, $4-5 (children under 13 free; Stroll-a-Thon extra, call for information). Decorate your wagon or stroller and participate in a parade (entry fees benefit restoration of Dunsmuir's carriage house), then stick around for a watermelon-eating contest, a dunk tank, games, tours (at 1 and 2pm) of the 1899 mansion, and more.

'Sunset Symphony' Ritz-Carlton, 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay; (408) 282-2600, ext 2, or (650) 365-9600, ext 2. 7-9pm, $35. Symphony Silicon Valley performs works by Handel, Tchaikovsky, Stephen Foster, and others – including an Elvis medley featuring harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio – at this oceanfront performance to benefit the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.

'worldOne Festival' Cerrito Vista Park, Moeser at Pomona, El Cerrito; (510) 233-0611, www.worldoneradio.org. 10:30am-7pm, free. See 8 Days a Week.