From Ocean City to the mountains, Maryland shoots the works

Also in northern Baltimore County, the Manor Center Shopping Center at Jarrettsville Pike and Sweet Air Road is the site on Saturday for a bicycle and pet parade for kids around 10 a.m., a daylong craft fair and sidewalk sale, a Boumi Temple Chanters performance at 4 p.m., a concert by the Zimpsons at 5 p.m., and fireworks around 9 p.m.

To the northeast in Baltimore County, there are fireworks Monday at dusk in Fullerton Park, off the 7400 block of Belair Road. Call [phone].

In southeastern Baltimore County, the Dundalk Heritage Fair in Dundalk Park offers plenty to do this weekend. The fair runs today through Sunday from noon to 9:30 p.m. Besides arts, crafts and ethnic foods, there is entertainment, including Chubby Checker tonight at 8, Before Preps Saturday at 8 p.m., and Frankie Ford, Bobby Lewis and Gene Vincentt Sunday at 8 p.m. There is a $3 daily admission. Call [phone].

On the parade and fireworks front, Monday features a parade starting at 8:30 a.m. from the Logan Shopping Center in Dundalk. Monday night fireworks are after 9 p.m. at Grange Elementary School at 2000 Church Road also in Dundalk. Call [phone].

On the west side of Baltimore County, Monday's events start at 9:30 a.m. with children's games and races on the grounds of Catonsville High School. There is a musical program at the Christian Temple at Edmondson Avenue and Academy Road at 11 a.m., then the reliably big parade at 3 p.m. along Frederick Road. A special feature of this year's parade will be a salute to D-Day veterans. A concert by Tailgunner takes place at Catonsville High School at 7:30 p.m., followed by a veteran's tribute at 9 p.m. and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Call [phone].

Harford County

Events in Harford County on Monday take place at Bel Air High School and Middle School. They include a hamster race, a turtle derby, a frog-jumping contest, horseshoe pitch, watermelon-eating contest and model car racing in the morning and early afternoon. The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. from routes 1 and 24, proceeding down Route 1 into town. Back on school grounds, there's a community band concert at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Call [phone].

In Havre de Grace, events on Sunday include a parade along Union Avenue at 2 p.m., a concert in the Yacht Basin at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at dusk in Tydings Park. Call [phone].

Howard County

People are naturally drawn to the booming and bright fury of fireworks, especially when the incendiary display is mirrored in a calm body of water. Fortunately for residents of Columbia, its wise planners incorporated some considerable lakes into their development scheme. And large crowds can be relied on to turn up at the Town Center waterfront Lake Kittamaqundi for the annual fireworks blast Sunday night at 9:30. Call [phone].

Anne Arundel County

In Annapolis, the parade kicks off on Monday at 6:30 p.m. from St. John's College and heads to the Naval Academy grounds. There is a Navy Band concert around 8 p.m. at Farragut Field followed by fireworks over the Severn River at 9:15 p.m. Call [phone].

Eastern Shore

Whether you're downtown or uptown in Ocean City, you will be able to see fireworks Monday night. Uptown, in Northside Park at 125th Street, a "Jamboree in the Park" runs from noon until the fireworks commence at 9:30 p.m. Daylong events range from sack races to pie-eating contests, live music to craft displays. An entertainment program titled "USO in the Mood" evokes the music of the D-Day era in shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Performing is Bud Forest & His String of Pearls. "USO in the Mood" will also be staged on the beach by Caroline Street downtown at 7:45 p.m., which is also the staging ground for another fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Call [phone].

Western Maryland

The Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster has festivities Monday from noon until the culminating fireworks at 9:30 p.m. There are old-fashioned games like a three-legged race, volleyball marathon, crafts, live entertainment, a tea party in the flower and herb garden, and museum-related demonstrations. Admission to the museum grounds for this event is $3 for adults, $2 for youths ages 12 to 18 and seniors 60 and over, and free for youngsters under 12. Call [phone].

In Frederick, Baker Park at W. Second and North Bentz streets is the location Monday for the events running from noon until fireworks go off around 9:30 p.m. The free festivities include children's activities, a pool party, a chili- and hot pepper-eating contest, crafts, pony rides and a petting zoo. Among the performers in the evening are Angie Miller, Deanna Bogart and Nils Lofgren. Call [phone].

Out in Washington County, the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg is the site for a free outdoor concert by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Conductor Barry Tuckwell leads a program of patriotic and popular numbers, including the seasonally obligatory "1812 Overture." Cannon fire will accompany the fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Call [phone].

And in Garrett County, you can enjoy boating Monday at Broadford Lake Park, off Route 135, then watch fireworks at dusk. Admission is $3 per car, $1 for walk-ins. Call [phone].