Another year, another opportunity to raise the roof in honor of our hard-earned independence while lighting up the nighttime sky with a kaleidoscope of explosions. Yes, folks, it's the Fourth of July, and a plethora of local communities are hosting public parties that culminate with fireworks displays. The following is a guide to the best that the Bay area has to offer.

Channelside is the setting for Tampa's biggest, most well-attended Fourth of July party. Families enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs and fountain drinks with every paid admission to the Florida Aquarium. Channelside revelers can drink and get down to live, Clear Channel-sponsored music in the courtyard plaza beginning at 4 p.m. The fireworks are launched at 9 p.m. For those who want to avoid the masses, the show can also be viewed from Bayshore Boulevard or from the water. Beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres are served aboard the Florida Aquarium's Bay Spirit, a 64-foot catamaran that departs from the aquarium at 7 p.m. for a sunset cruise and returns to the channel for the fireworks display ($79.95 per person/$150 per couple, 813-273-4568). The SS American Victory hosts the more affordable option, with self-guided tours, burgers and hot dogs to precede the fireworks ($10 all day/$5 after 5 p.m., 813-228-8766).

Gulfport's Fourth of July Family Celebration is held along Shore and Beach boulevards. The festivities kick off at 8 a.m. with a fishing derby for pint-sized anglers at the Gulfport Recreation Center Seawall. A sandcastle contest occurs from 10 a.m. to noon on Gulfport Beach and is followed by a children's pageant in the Gulfport Casino Ballroom. From 4 to 10 p.m., food vendors, artists and crafters line the streets of the downtown waterfront district and live music is presented on the casino's outdoor stage. A holiday parade floods Beach Boulevard with marching bands and vibrant floats at 6 p.m.; the fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

Finally, there's the always popular City of St. Petersburg July Fourth Celebration. Families enjoy various activities at Straub Park, BayWalk Plaza and The Pier, which features face-painting, the Fritzy Brothers One Man Circus Entertainers, and live music by the Cool Daddies and Rhythm Method. Up the street at the new Progress Energy Center for the Arts, a free Fourth of July Community Band Concert of patriotic music — "The Star Spangled Banner," "Bugler's Holiday," and "America the Beautiful," among others — is performed by the FloriMezzo Summer Wind Ensemble beginning at 5 p.m. All events culminate with St. Petersburg's typically spectacular fireworks extravaganza at 9 p.m.

For information on any other Independence Day celebrations, check out Creative Loafing's Arts and Entertainment Calendar.

This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2007.