If you don't have your own Independence Day celebration planned for Wednesday, there are public events in Whatcom County.

Blaine's party runs all day, while Bellingham's starts at 4:30 p.m. Both feature fireworks after 10 p.m.

Haggen Family Fourth of July

The event at Zuanich Point Park in Bellingham is capped off with one of the biggest firework shows in the region.

Events including live music, vendor booths nad children's activities begin at 4:30 p.m. Some games for kids cost $1; others are free. Fireworks start at dark, usually sometime between 10:15 and 10:30 p.m.

Admission to the park event is free.

If you are going, consider walking or bicycling. There will be no shuttle this year, and there is no Whatcom Transportation Authority bus service on the holiday. That means parking will be difficult to find in the area.

There tends to be parking inside Squalicum Harbor until about 7:30 p.m., but after that it can fill up, said Port of Bellingham event coordinator Marie Duckworth. Once the harbor is filled, people can park on the water side of Roeder Avenue, or at the Harbor Center parking lot and the underground parking near the Bellwether Hotel.

Blaine Old Fashioned Fourth of July

Blaine hosts the largest Fourth of July parade in the county, now in its 11th year.

The day kicks off with a pancake breakfast at the Blaine Community Center from 8 to 11 a.m. Live music starts at 9:30 a.m. The parade down Peace Portal Drive begins at noon.

Other activities during the day include a car show, rides on the Plover ferry, an arts and crafts fair, food booths, Blaine library book sale and cakewalk, and a salmon barbecue ($20 adults, $10 kids 12 and under) starting at 4 p.m. at Semiahmoo Resort.

Fireworks over Semiahmoo Bay begin about 10:15 p.m.

For a full list of events, visit blainechamber.com

Acme Parade

South Fork Valley residents will turn out for the Acme Fourth of July Parade, which begins at 3 p.m. in the heart of Acme. This year's theme is Favorite Era.

Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.