Your Fourth of July celebration can begin today and run you well into tomorrow night if you’re game.

Sponsored by the Perquimans Chamber of Commerce in Hertford, an old-fashioned family celebration is planned at Missing Mill Park and will feature food vendors, live musical entertainment, periauger rides, and plenty of fireworks.

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. with a children’s foot parade from Hertford Baptist Church parking lot to Missing Mill Park.

The periauger, a historic replica colonial workboat, will offer rides from the dock.

Live music and entertainment will keep the crowd busy from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. when the fireworks begin. Boaters watching the fireworks display from boats are encouraged to decorate their boats in patriotic displays.

In Winfall, a Unity Day celebration will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Winfall Landing Park offering free hot dogs while supplies last, drinks, inflatable children’s rides and much more.

The fireworks shot over the river in Hertford can be seen from the Winfall park.

On July 4 fire in the sky can be seen from Currituck to Chowan and points in between.

The July 4th celebration at Heritage Park in Corolla includes some live entertainment and games before the fireworks display at dusk.

Events, all free and open to the public, begin at 5 p.m. with free concerts by Pairadocs and Moceans.

A watermelon-eating contest begins at 5:30 p.m. and a cornhole tournament starts at 6:30. Participants can sign up prior to the events. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.

At 7 p.m. the North Carolina Marionette Theater is scheduled to perform a story about Blackbeard.

Food, ranging from barbecue to burgers, ice cream to funnel cakes, will be sold at vendor booths on the site.

The 15-minute fireworks display begins at dusk.

Currituck’s tourism department is hosting the event. Events coordinator Clayton Howard said he expects this year’s celebration will draw at least 5,000 people to the park on U.S. Highway 12. He expects a larger turnout this year, especially since Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk are not planning their own fireworks show this year.

Howard said ample parking should be available, but guests have the best chances of getting a first-come, first-serve parking spot by arriving at 5 p.m. when events begin.

Guests may bring chairs and blankets to the event. No alcoholic beverages are permitted.

Over in Edenton, the Edenton Tea Party Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will start its tribute to Independence Day with a 10 a.m. with a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Edenton Police Chief Jay Fortenbery on the Courthouse Green at the Joseph Hewes Monument followed by a Biographical sketch of Hewes delivered by Dr. Alex Keyhayes.

Edenton is the former home of Hewes, who is regarded a founding father of the United States of America. An original state delegate that served in Continental Congress, Hewes was a signer of the 1776 Declaration of Independence.

From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be the annual Chowan Edenton Optimist Club sponsored celebration at Edenton’s Waterfront Park. Events will include a soft air gun shooting gallery, putting competition, beanbag toss, and other kids’ games. This year will also feature pony rides.

A cool misting station might be on hand, too. Jump-jump houses will add to the fun. The main additional attraction this year will be a mechanical bull riding competition among teams comprised of emergency rescue, firefighters, and law enforcement. There will be cash prizes. The bull and pony rides are open to the public and will charge a nominal fee.

The Luther C. Parks Optimist Club Train will ride children throughout the park from 4pm until the fireworks show that begins at 9:15 p.m.

In Elizabeth City the festivities begin at 6 p.m. at Waterfront and Mariners’ Wharf Parks. This free, family event will include music by DJ Taz at Waterfront Park and the jazz band Connected at Mariners’ Wharf.

There will be an appearance by Miss North Carolina Teen USA, games, inflatable playhouses, Bocce, cornhole, sack races, face painting, watermelon eating contest, a motorcycle exhibit and of course the evening will be topped off with fireworks over the Pasquotank River.