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A guide to Fourth of July fun

By Amy Jacobus

July 4th is right around the corner and the Corridor offers a lot more than just fireworks this weekend. Embrace your independence by choosing how you want to celebrate. Check out this list and get red, white, blue and busy!

Parade your Patriotism
What’s a holiday without a bunch of happy people walking down the street? There are plenty of Corridor parades to watch or take part in this weekend. The annual Coralville parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, a kids parade starts at the Third Avenue bridge in Cedar Rapids at the same time and Tipton hosts “Movies on Parade” at 2 p.m.

Get Your Run On
Quench your thirst for summer fitness with Cedar Rapids’ 2009 Alliant Energy Fifth Season Race. The race hosts events for runners and walkers, including an 8k, 5k Run/Walk, Youth Mile Run and Kids’ Fun Run starting Saturday at 7:30 a.m. For registration details click here.

Celebrate Freedom of Speech
This country was born from protests after all. Take advantage of your right to assemble with the Cedar Rapids Tea Party at the Five Seasons Tree Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. A family picnic will follow the peaceful rally. The Iowa City Tea Party will meet after Coralville’s 10 a.m. parade.

Jam Out
There are plenty of options for music this 4th of July. Iowa City will be teeming with talent all weekend — the Toyota-Scion of Iowa City Jazz Festival — set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday — boasts sets by the David Sanchez Quartet, the Bill Frisell Quartet, the Dave Holland Quintet, the Diplomats of Solid Sound, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Orquesta Alto Maiz, Lionel Loueke Trio, Slip Silo, Local Clamour, The Tornadoes and Johnny Kilowatt. Don’t want it to end? Head over to the Mill at 9:30 p.m. Friday or Saturday for the Official Jazz Fest After-Party Jam Session. (It’s free!)

Nearby, Coralville’s 4thFEST presents Dennis DeYoung of Styx at 8 p.m. Friday and a community band at 8:30 p.m. on the 4th. Concerts held in S.T. Morrison Park.

Cedar Rapids’ Freedom Festival also has several bands lined up from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Groups slated to perform include Carlis Faurot and Glenn Lonsdale, Funk Stop and Terry McCauley. The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band rounds out the festival with a pre-fireworks performance at 8 p.m.

Eyes to the Skies
There are plenty of chances to catch fireworks this year. Come dusk, all you need to do is choose a town. Coralville and Tipton both offer fireworks displays at dark. At 9:45 p.m., Cedar Rapids puts on a show at Kirkwood Community College and Iowa City sets some to soar over the Old Capitol Building.

Good Eats, Antiques and Other Miscellaneous Fun
Pancakes. Breakfasts at Northwest Junior High in Coralville at 7 a.m. Saturday and at the west end of the Second Avenue Bridge in Cedar Rapids at 8 a.m.

Fresh fruits and veggies. Farmers’ Markets at the Second Avenue Bridge in Cedar Rapids and Chauncey Swan Ramp on Washington Avenue in Iowa City at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Really old things. Antique Shows at Festhalle Barn in the Amanas at 10 a.m. and in Mount Vernon from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

On stage entertainment. Theatre Cedar Rapids presents “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at TCR Lindale.

Baseball. The Cedar Rapids Kernels play the Quad Cities Saturday at 5:05 p.m.

And more. Cedar Rapids’ Freedom Festival events also include an Action Zone at Kirkwood Community College (3 p.m. Saturday), a Hawkeye Pedal Pull in front of City Hall (10 a.m.) and a Water Ski Show in the Cedar River at Ellis Park (7 p.m.)

Tipton’s celebration includes food vendors, a petting zoo, softball tournament and jumpy castle.

There’s a carnival at Coralville’s 4thFEST beginning at noon Saturday, a Panchero’s burrito eating contest at 4 p.m. and various food stands in S.T. Morrison Park.