Check out this list of events celebrating Independence Day in Charlotte and the surrounding area — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

Friday, July 1

• CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY SUMMER POPS "CELEBRATE AMERICA" CONCERT Albert-George Schram conducts. For more information, visit www.charlottesymphony.org. Free. 8:15 p.m. Belle Johnston Park, 358 Lake Drive, Pineville.

• RED, WHITE AND BBQ AT WILD WING CAFE Celebrate 4th of July weekend at the wing. All-American specials include $2.50 Miller Lite bottles and pints and $3.50 Blue Moon pints. Live music: Crossing Yellow Lines at EpiCentre location; The Remingtones at University location; DJ dance party at Ayrsley location. EpiCenre location: 210 E. Trade St. 704-716-9464; University location: 711 W. Mallard Creek Church Road. 704-708-9453; Ayrsley location: 2132 Ayrsley Town Blvd. 980-297-7000; For more information, visit www.wildwingcafe.com.

Saturday, July 2

• CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY SUMMER POPS "CELEBRATE AMERICA" CONCERT Albert-George Schram conducts. For more information, visit www.charlottesymphony.org. Free. 8:15 p.m. Village Park, 700 West C St., Kannapolis.

• RED, WHITE AND BBQ AT WILD WING CAFE Celebrate 4th of July weekend at the wing. All-American specials include $2.50 Miller Lite bottles and pints and $3.50 Blue Moon pints. Live music: Hard to Handle (Black Crowes tribute band) at EpiCentre location; John Linker at University location; Brent Cates Duo at Ayrsley location. EpiCenre location: 210 E. Trade St. 704-716-9464; University location: 711 W. Mallard Creek Church Road. 704-708-9453; Ayrsley location: 2132 Ayrsley Town Blvd. 980-297-7000; For more information, visit www.wildwingcafe.com.

• COCA-COLA 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL A three-day 4th of July celebration featuring live music and fireworks. Today's performance lineup includes Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Riley Etheridge Jr. and Do It To Julia. Free admission. $5 parking fee applies. 4 p.m. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte. 704-391-3900. www.usnwc.org.

• FOUNDING FATHERS BASH: BURGERS FOR A BUCK 4th of July celebration with $1 hamburgers, live music, games, prizes and more. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Earth Fare (Ballantyne location), 12235 North Community House Road, Charlotte. 704-926-1201. www.earthfare.com.

• THE SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL An outdoor concert with soul food. Performers include Cameo, Barkays, After 7, Dazz Band, SWV and Confunkshun. For more information, visit www.ilovesoulfood.com. $22-$52. 7 p.m. Rural Hill Farm, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. 704-875-3113. www.ruralhill.net.

Sunday, July 3

• RED, WHITE AND BLUE 7TH ST BLOCK PARTY AND CARNIVAL Jackalope Jacks, Kennedy's, The Philosophers Stone, Sub Station II will feature live music. In addition, there will be a dunking tank, adult water slides, a kids bouncy house, $5 fish bowls, $2 beer specials, and a corn hole tournament and hot dog eating contest. Free. Starts at 1 p.m.

• 11TH ANNUAL PLAZA-MIDWOOD PIG PICKIN' Gordon Street block party, featuring food, drinks, music (Belmont Playboys, Temperance League, Sea of Cortez, Aqualads and Modern Primitives), a rockabilly car show, a Cafe Racer motorcycle show and a pin-up girl fashion show. After-party at Snug Harbor with Alternative Champs and The Poontanglers. Held from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. in parking lot on Gordon Street (between Snug Harbor and The Diamond).

• CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY SUMMER POPS "CELEBRATE AMERICA" CONCERT Albert-George Schram conducts. For more information, visit www.charlottesymphony.org. $10 for adults; free for children 18 years old and under. 8:15 p.m. Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte.

• 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION Festivities include games, inflatables, a patriotic concert by the Lake Norman Orchestra and community choirs, arts and crafts vendors, a fireworks display and more. Free. 4 p.m.-10 p.m. YMCA (Lowe's branch), 170 Joe V. Knox Ave., Mooresville. 704-716-4000. www.ymcacharlotte.org/lowes.

• COCA-COLA 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL 4th of July celebration featuring live music and fireworks. Today's performance lineup includes Langhorne Slim, Overmountain Men and Holy Ghost Tent Revival. Free admission. $5 parking fee applies. 4 p.m. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte. 704-391-3900. www.usnwc.org.

• RED, WHITE & BREW BASH Featuring drink specials (including $2 Miller Lites, $3 Long Islands, $10 24 oz. Patriot Bones). 7 p.m. Howl At The Moon, 210 E. Trade St., Charlotte. 704-936-4695. www.howlatthemoon.com.

• 4TH ANNUAL GOOD OLE ALL AMERICAN WET T-SHIRT CONTEST $300 cash prize. 18 years old and up. Sun., July 3. Free for 21 years old and up until midnight; $5 for those under 21 years old until midnight. Bar Charlotte, 300 N. College St., Charlotte. 704-342-2545. www.barcharlotte.com.

Monday, July 4

• PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL JULY 4TH SPECTACULAR Family-fun activities from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. There will also be food vendors, live music and more. Fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Bring blankets, as there will be no stadium seating. For more information, click here. Free. Memorial Stadium, 310 North Kings Drive, Charlotte.

• COCA-COLA 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL 4th of July celebration featuring live music and fireworks. Today's performance lineup includes Anders Osborne, The New Familiars and Sol Driven Train. Free admission. $5 parking fee applies. 4 p.m. U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte. 704-391-3900. www.usnwc.org.

• INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT THE CHARLOTTE MUSEUM OF HISTORY Featuring family-friendly colonial games and activities. Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte. 704-568-1774. www.charlottemuseum.org.

• SUMMER SHOOTOUT SERIES & FIREWORKS In addition to a full slate of Legend Car and Bandolero racing, the night will feature a huge fireworks show. The first 1,000 kids to enter the gate will receive a pair of glow glasses and families can register for a chance to win a vacation to Myrtle Beach. $7 for adults; $3 for children 6-12 years old; free for children 5 years old and under. 5 p.m. Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord. www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

• 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION Featuring music by Acoustic Soulutions, activities for children, Coca-Cola's Discovery Vehicle (with Wii games and product samplings), food vendors, and a film screening of The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Music and activities begin at 6:30 p.m.; film at 8:30 p.m. Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius. 704-892-6031. www.cornelius.org.