What goes into presenting a Fourth of July spectacular, and where to see the results

Harborplace. Free activities through Sunday at the amphitheatre. Today: Noon to 2 p.m. Harborplace 18th Birthday Celebration with cupcake giveaways; street performer Mardene presents physical feats from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tomorrow: 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Once Rush rock band; 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Alborado, New Age folk music from the Andes. Saturday: noon to 6 p.m. Oscar Mayer Talent Search at Rash Field; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Antique and Classic Vehicle Rally at the Inner Harbor's west shore park. 1 p.m.-2: 30 p.m. U.S. Air Force Band Silver Wings; 8 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m. U.S. Navy Concert Band and Sea Chanters; 9: 30 p.m. musically choreographed fireworks, tune radio to MIX 106.5 for simulcast. Sunday: 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Maryland Community Band. Rain date July 5.

Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway. Bring picnic supper and enjoy fireworks at waterfront pavilion. Free hot dogs and soda with admission. Free parking. $20, $10 ages 6-18; museum members and volunteers, $15, $10 ages 6-18. Call 410-727-4808.

American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway. 10 a.m. 6 p.m. view museum exhibitions; 10 a.m. to noon, Visionary Pet Parade; noon-2 p.m., Black Cherry Puppet Theater performance, art cars on display, balloon animals, bubble-making machine; 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Didjiridu Workshop and concert with Big Blow and The Bushwackers; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Zydeco Music by Gumbo Junyard; 9: 30 p.m., watch fireworks from the museum. Some events free, admission to others. Call 410-244-1900.

Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & 1812 Museum, 844 E. Pratt St. "Celebrate the Fourth on the Fifth." Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Sip cool lemonade and listen to patriotic tales. Francis Scott Key reads the Declaration of Independence. $4, $3 seniors, $2 children. Call 410-837-1793.

Federal Hill Stars and Stripes Parade. Saturday at 10: 30 a.m., from 800 block of William Street to Montgomery Street to Battery Avenue around Federal Hill Park and back to William Street for refreshments. Free. Call 410-625-2255.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Star-Spangled Spectacular, Oregon Ridge. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, patriotic favorites followed by fireworks. Park opens at 5 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday, rain date Sunday. Free shuttle bus from Hunt Valley Mall; permit parking at park $5 in advance. Concert tickets $13 advance, $14 at the gate, $7 children. Call 410-783-8000.

Catonsville. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Frederick Road and Catonsville High School. Children's games and races at 9 a.m. at high school; parade at 3 p.m. on Frederick Road; concert followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. at high school. Call 410-744-7042.

Heritage Fair, Dundalk Village. Noon-9: 30 p.m. Friday-Sunday at Heritage Park. Continuous entertainment from three stages, arts and crafts, kiddie rides, petting zoo, ethnic food. Parade, featuring 150 units, starting at 8: 30 a.m. Saturday from Logan Village through Old Dundalk to Heritage Park. Fireworks at 9: 15 p.m. at North Point Government Center. Call 410-284-4022.

Kingsville Parade. Pre-parade music and celebration at 10 a.m. at Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company, Bellvue Avenue. Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Fire Company and proceeds on Bradshaw Road to Jerusalem Road, ending at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Call 410-592-7385.

Parade, family picnic, fireworks, Towson. Parade begins at 10: 30 a.m. on Towsontown Boulevard, continuing through Towson. At 5 p.m., family picnic on Sherwood House lawn at Cromwell Valley park, Cromwell Bridge Road. Games, hayrides followed by fireworks. $5 per car. Call 410-665-4322 or 410-661-8249.

Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster. Noon to 11 p.m. Bring a picnic or purchase food, entertainment, arts and crafts, museum tours; fireworks at 9: 30 p.m. $3, $2 ages 7-18 and seniors, 6 and under free. Call 410-848-7775 or 800-654-4645.

Field of Dreams Concert, Sykesville. Live concert featuring local singers and songwriters, carnival rides, arts and crafts, games, Civil War re-enactment, outdoor laser show. Noon to 11 p.m. at Freedom Firehall, Freedom Avenue and Route 32 N. $10. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Call 410-481-SEAT.

Bel Air. All-day activities start with flag-raising ceremony at 6: 45 a.m. at Bel Air Middle School, followed by pancake breakfast until 10: 30 a.m.; horseshoe pitching at 9 a.m. at Bel Air High School; hamster racing 9 a.m.; turtle derby 9: 30 a.m.; frog jumping 11 a.m.; patriotic costume contest at 9 a.m. at Hays House, Kenmore Avenue; "Uncle Sam Says" at 11 a.m. at the middle school, bicycle rodeo at noon; watermelon-eating contest 1 p.m.; electronic model car championship at 1: 30 p.m. Parade starts at 6 p.m. at Baltimore Pike and Atwood Road and proceeds to Kenmore Avenue, South Main Street, ending at Idlewild Street; patriotic concert after parade at Bel Air High School complex. Fireworks at 9: 30 p.m. Call 410-893-4444.