Have a fun and safe 4th!

At the end of the week – perhaps before – the night sky will light up with red, white and blue. It’s all part of our nation’s annual Fourth of July fun.

Yet, in recent years, along with the fireworks frenzy have come fires numbering in the tens of thousands and property damage totaling millions of dollars, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), not to mention injuries ranging from minor burns to blindness.

It may be enough to make you forgo your own fireworks and enjoy a free public show in your community instead. That’s exactly what the NFPA advises. If not, celebrate with common sense and these fireworks safety tips:

• Remember that even supervised children are prone to injury.
  Don’t let kids handle or light any type of fireworks – sparklers may seem benign but they burn at more than 1,000 degrees, says the NFPA.
   
• Don’t direct fireworks at people, animals, homes, trees or vehicles.
  Survey the area to ensure you have enough open space for what you’re about to light. Before you begin, put on eye and ear protection and read the safety instructions on the packaging. Did your fireworks come in a brown paper bag with no packaging? They could be old, homemade or illegal – don’t light them.
   
• Dispose of fireworks properly.
  Allow fireworks to cool before picking them up, and keep a hose or bucket of water on hand to douse all fireworks, whether used or unused, prior to disposal. If a firework doesn’t go off, don’t relight it – it could have a dangerous defect.
   
• Secure pets in a comfortable area.
  They may try to flee your home or yard if given the chance. An ID tag or microchip is essential to their safe return in that case. If your pets are especially anxious on July Fourth, ask your veterinarian to recommend a safe calming method.
   
• Keep an eye out for fires.
  Clear your yard and gutters of flammable material in advance of the holiday. If you notice someone putting you and your home at risk, be sure to call the authorities. Won’t be home? Ask a neighbor to watch over your property for you.

With a little precaution, you’ll remember this July Fourth for all the right, rather than the wrong, reasons. Happy Independence Day!

And for our folks that stay or have property out at the coast, please be careful with hurricane Arthur moving in!

Here's some local places/times listed for firework events!

The Triangle is bursting with firework displays and Independence Day celebrations.

WEDNESDAY

DURHAM 
Baseball and fireworks? What could be better? On Wednesday and Thursday at 7:05 p.m., the Durham Bulls face the Gwinnett Braves at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, with fireworks following both games. Tickets available at durhambulls.com.

SMITHFIELD
 Find the early birds in Smithfield on South Third Street near Johnston Street. The Coco Loco Party Band will play at 6:30 p.m., and fireworks will go off at 9:30. In between, enjoy games and other activities.

THURSDAY

CARY
 The Applause! Cary Youth Theatre will perform at 6:30 p.m. and the Cary Town Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave. 919-469-4069 or go to www.carytownband.org.

DURHAM
Durham Bulls versus Gwinnett Braves at Durham Bulls Athletic Park at 7:05 p.m., followed by fireworks. Tickets available at durhambulls.com.

GARNER 
Independence Day Celebration at Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road. The event will include concessions, a kids’ adventure zone and a performance by the N.C. Symphony before fireworks at dusk. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the Carolina Soul Band will accompany a townwide Garner All-American City Shuffle. 919-773-4442.

FUQUAY-VARINA 
Vendors, music, inflatable rides and fireworks from 6 to 9 p.m. at South Park, 820 S. Main St.

MORRISVILLE 
Fireworks show will begin at dark, about 9:30 p.m., at Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway.

WAKE FOREST 
A two-day celebration begins Thursday with a night of picnics and fireworks at Wake Forest High School, 420 W. Stadium Drive. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and The Band of Oz starts playing at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5, children 6 and under are free.

ZEBULON 
The first of three nights of Fireworks Extravaganzas at Five County Stadium at 7 p.m., following the Mudcats game versus the Lynchburg Hillcats. Tickets are available at milb.com.

FRIDAY

APEX 
Downtown Apex will celebrate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The flag will be raised at 9 a.m., Uncle Sam’s Parade of Wheels will begin at noon, and the Fire Department Splash Down will spray away at 12:30 p.m.

BENSON 
Celebration will get underway at 3 p.m. in the Singing Grove at 406 E. Main St. The afternoon will offer live music, dancing and activities for children. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.

CARY 
From 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., games and family-friendly contests will occur at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road.

CARY 
Gates open at 3 p.m. for a celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway. The Kids Zone will be open from 3-7 p.m. The Cary Town Band will perform at 6 p.m., and the N.C. Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks will follow the concert. Lawn seating is free.

CHAPEL HILL 
Independence Day would not be complete without a Watermelon Eating Contest emceed by The Dirty South Improv Comedy Troop. Kenan Stadium gates open at 7 p.m. with a juggling Uncle Sam, face painting and inflatable sports challenges. The winner from each of three heats will compete on the Kenan Stadium stage, followed by the Bull City Syndicate Band and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Donations of $1 per person or $5 per family are encouraged.

CLAYTON 
Festivities and fireworks will occur at Municipal Park on West Stallings Street. Starting at 4 p.m., families can participate in relay races, basketball competitions, cornhole and bingo. Fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

DURHAM 
Catch some all-American sports with the Collegiate National Team’s two-game lineup against Chinese Taipei at 6:05 p.m., followed by the City of Durham’s official July 4th Fireworks celebration. Tickets available at durhambulls.com.

DURHAM 
The Eno River Asssociation will be hosting a full day of music – beer garden included – at the 35th Annual Festival for the Eno at West Point on the Eno in Durham from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets and the lineup are available at enoriver.org/festival.

DURHAM 
65th Annual Watts Hospital-Hillandale Fourth of July parade will begin at 10 a.m. in Oval Drive Park, 210 W. Club Blvd.

FRANKLIN COUNTY 
Louisburg High School gates will open at 5:30 p.m. On tap are games, inflatables, music, food and fireworks. Rain date July 5.

HILLSBOROUGH 
Celebrate in a more historic fashion at the annual Picnic in the Park. The West Tryon Street parade will begin at 9 a.m. The day will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence with Mayor Tom Stevens, free performances at the Farmers Market Pavilion, pony rides at River Park a pie bake-off. 919-732-7741.

KENLY 
A fireworks show is scheduled from 8 to 9 p.m. at Kenly 95 Petro on Johnston Parkway in Kenly.

KNIGHTDALE 
The July Fourth Celebration at Knightdale Station will begin at 5 p.m. at Knightdale Station Park, featuring music from The Embers, food trucks, vendors and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. The event will begin at 5 p.m. A shuttle will run from Knightdale Community Park.

RALEIGH 
The State Capitol celebration will include music, historical and military displays, carriage rides and face painting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the steps of the Capitol at noon, 30 new citizens will be naturalized followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

RALEIGH 
Gates open for “The ’Works” in downtown Raleigh at noon, with 20 bands on three stages, an art sale, food vendors, a beer garden and children’s activities. Contests for hot-dog chowing, watermelon-seed spitting and ice-cream eating round out the listings. Bands start playing around noon on two Fayetteville Street stages. The gates at Red Hat Ampitheater open at 5 p.m. If you’re attending just to catch the fireworks, officials recommend you arrive by 8 p.m. for the 9:30 p.m. show. From noon to midnight, people may park their vehicles along streets in and around downtown and Glenwood South and catch the free R-LINE at one of its designated stops.www.raleighnc.gov/transit.

RALEIGH 
For a more historic celebration, visit the Joel Lane House, 160 S. St. Mary’s St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to ask costumed docents questions about colonial life.

RALEIGH 
If downtown’s crowds are too daunting, Brier Creek has a fireworks display planned for Friday night at dark. The show will be visible from the parking lots of both Brier Creek Commons and Brierdale Shopping Center on Brier Creek Parkway.

SELMA 
For the 11th year, Selma’s All-American Festival will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. in the heart of downtown. The festival will feature live entertainment, a children’s area, vendors and fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

WENDELL 
The Wendell parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Main Street near Mortex and proceed to the J. Ashley Wall Town Square. Food and music by the Seaside Band from noon to 2 p.m.

ZEBULON 
At 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, the Five County Stadium Fireworks Extravaganza will follow the Mudcats game with the Salem Red Sox. Tickets at milb.com.

SATURDAY

ARCHER LODGE 
Archer Lodge Community Center at 14009 Buffalo Road is hosting a Family Fun Day. Starting with a 7 a.m. 5K and fun run, the day includes a 2 p.m. parade, bingo and cakewalk. The Army Ground Forces Band will play at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks will blast off at 9:15 p.m.

DURHAM 
Collegiate National Team against Chinese Taipei at 7:05 p.m., followed by fireworks. Tickets available at durhambulls.com.

DURHAM 
The Eno River Association will host another full day of music at the 35th Annual Festival for the Eno at the West Point on the Eno from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enoriver.org/festival.

HOLLY SPRINGS 
Keep up the red, white and blue feelings from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at Sugg Farm Park, Grigsby Avenue. Festivities – including music, food, inflatables, games, potato sack races and crafts – will begin at 5 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Admission is free.

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