If you love celebrating the 4th of July and you're not in Phoenix, you'll wish you were. We've got so much going on around the Valley, it might be difficult to decide which festivities to attend. We don't even wait till the Fourth to get our celebrations going! There are a handful of fun and interesting events starting as early as July 2. Peruse the list below and you'll be sure to find something to suit your fancy.

JULY 2-5

AVONDALE - Rev, White and Boom. July 3, 6-9:30 p.m. Tour Phoenix International Raceway, enjoy entertainment, and watch fireworks. Food, beverages, and activities for all ages. PIR, 7602 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale. Free admission. 623-333-2400 | Map this event

CAVE CREEK - Third of July Fireworks. July 3, 6 p.m. Live entertainment, outdoor barbecue, drink specials, and prizes. Reservations required. All ages welcome. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Harold's Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. Free. 480-488-1906 | Map this event

GOODYEAR - Independence Day Celebration. July 3, 6:30 p.m. Live music, food, and activities. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Bring a blanket. Estrella Lakeside Amphitheatre, 10300 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear. Free. 623-386-1000 | Map this event

PHOENIX - Fourth of July Swing Dance Convention. Thursday and Friday, July 2-3, 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 4-5, 6 p.m. Twelve swing-dance workshops and 15 competitions, featuring $16,000 in prize money, as well as the opportunity for social dancing. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. $219 weekend pass and hotel; $110 weekend pass; $109 hotel; $15 Gary Jobst Workshop; $10 all other workshops; free social dancing. 800-598-2538 | Map this event

PHOENIX - Light Up the Sky. July 3, 7-10 p.m. Rides, games, arts, crafts, and fireworks. Maryvale Baseball Park, 3600 N. 51st Ave., Phoenix. Free. 602-262-6575 | Map this event

PHOENIX - Desert Ridge Resort Fourth of July: Friday and Saturday, July 4-5. For guests only; $199 per night. Poolside activities for kids; spa and golf for adults. Evening poolside screening of Ratatouille on July 4 and National Treasure: Book of Secrets on July 5. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix. 480-293-5000 | Map this event

SATURDAY, JULY 4

PHOENIX - Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth. July 4, 6-9:35 p.m. Kids' rides, food court, live performances, and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. 602-534-3378 | Map this event

PHOENIX - Fourth of Zoo-ly. July 4, 6-10 p.m. Catered BBQ dinner at the Stone House Pavilion. Starry Safari activities between dinner and the fireworks show. Special animal guests and music. Adults: $40 (13 & up); children: $35 (3-12); no charge for 2 years or younger. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 602.273.1341

SCOTTSDALE - Grand Ol' Fashioned Picnic. July 4, 5-7:30 p.m. Old-fashioned games, patriotic arts and crafts, and watermelon, chili, and pie-eating contests. Bring your homemade chili to be judged. Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. Free. 480-312-2771 | Map this event

SCOTTSDALE - Freedom Parade: July 4, 8:30 a.m. Decorate your strollers, bicycles, skateboards, horses, pets, golf carts, or wagons and participate in the parade, or just go watch. Mescal Park, 11015 N. 68th St., Scottsdale. Free. 480-991-7955 or 602-570-0303 | Map this event

TEMPE - CBS5 July Fourth Tempe Town Lake Festival. July 4, 4-11 p.m. Seven hours of live music, inflatable village for all ages, and fireworks. Tempe Town Lake, Rio Salado Parkway & Mill Avenue, Tempe. $6; age 1 and younger are free. 480-350-8625 | Map this event

TEMPE - Hot Dog Theme Day. July 4, 1-3 p.m. Celebrate Independence Day with a free hot dog. Kiwanis Park Wave Pool, 6111 S. All-America Way, Tempe. $6; $3 for age 2-12. 480-350-5740 | Map this event

MESA - Fourth of July Celebration. July 4, 6 p.m. Entertainment, kiddie rides, and fireworks at 9 p.m. Food and drink for purchase. No bags, backpacks, coolers, fanny-packs, or alcoholic beverages. Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. $5 for parking and admission; $1 for admission if not parking on campus. 480-461-7000 | Map this event

CHANDLER - Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular. July 4, 4 p.m. Live music, a kids' carnival, and a bike parade. Activities include a 35-foot waterslide, 24-foot rock-climbing wall, a dunk tank, and water games. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler. Free. 480-782-2735 | Map this event

CHANDLER - Red, White and Boom. July 4, 5:30 p.m. Live music, cowboy costume contest, barbecue, decorated buggy rides, face painting, and balloon sculpturing. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler. $3-$65. 480-753-7676 | Map this event

CHANDLER - Fourth of July Celebration and Anniversary Party. July 4, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Carnival games, with prizes every 15 minutes. Live music by the Weezul Brothers from 6-10 p.m. Hotdogs and hamburgers grilled outdoors. Benefits The Choir Boys of Arizona. 4850 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler. Free. 480-305-6993. | Map this event

BUCKEYE - Fourth of July Celebration. July 4, 6 p.m. Celebrate in the park or in the pool. Enjoy the fireworks display for free from the Earl Edgar Recreational Complex, along with splash fun from Slip 'n' Slides and sprinklers to water-volleyball courts. Or lounge in the pool at the Buckeye Aquatic Center and watch the celebration. Recreational Complex, Miller and Beloat roads; Aquatic Center, 207 N. Ninth St. Recreational complex free; $2 aquatic center, seating is limited. 623-349-6354

GLENDALE - Fourth of July Celebration. July 4. Celebration includes swimming, water slides, food, music, patriotic program, F-16 flyover by a Luke Fighter Squadron, and fireworks. Free swimming at Glendale Community College pool begins at 1 p.m.; doors open for night events at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 8:40 p.m.  Glendale Community College, 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale. Free. 623-930-2299 | Map this event

PEORIA - All-American Festival. July 4, 5-10 p.m. Kids zone, concessions, two stages with live music, fireworks, and water activities. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. No alcohol or glass containers permitted. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. $5 for ages 13 and older. 623-773-7198 | Map this event

PEORIA - Road Racers 3. July 4, 6:30 a.m. 5K run and walk. Registration required. Rio Vista Community Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria. $12. 602-954-8341 | Map this event

 SURPRISE - Fourth of July Celebration. July 4, 6-8:30 p.m. Live music, water zone, and food. Surprise Recreation Campus, 15850 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. $5 for children; $10 for adults. 623-266-4500 | Map this event

LITCHFIELD PARK - Fourth of July Celebration. July 4, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Splash Bash, food, music, F-16 flyover, and fireworks. Litchfield Park, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. Small fee for the Splash Bash. 623-935-5033 | Map this event

GOODYEAR - Star-Spangled Fourth. July 4, 6:30-10 p.m. Live music from Billy's Gone and Shallow Water. Food, beer garden, kids' zone, and water rides. Fireworks at 9:35 p.m. Goodyear Community Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. $10 all-you-can-ride kids' wristbands. Event is free. 623-882-7534 | Map this event

FORT McDOWELL - July Fourth at the Fort. July 4, 2 p.m. Kids' zone, food-eating contests, limbo, and entertainment. All ages welcome; however, contest participants must be age 21 and older. Fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Fort McDowell Casino, 10424 N. Fort McDowell Road, Fort McDowell Reservation. Free. 800-THE-FORT or 480-837-1424 | Map this event

TOLLESON - Independence Day Celebration. July 4, 6 p.m. Includes hot dogs, watermelon, a waterslide and music. Fireworks start with an F-16 flyover at 7:30 p.m. Tolleson Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren Ave., Tolleson. Free. 623-936-7111 | Map this event

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