If you’re looking for something to do in between family picnics on the Fourth of July, or before the fireworks, why not check out some fun events taking place right in or around the Upper Perkiomen Valley?

                Activities for Freedom Fest, a Fourth of July celebration organized by the local area churches, begin at 10 a.m. on July 4 at New Goshenhoppen Park, located on Third Street in East Greenville.

                There is no charge for admission or parking fees. Any donations received beyond the cost for Freedom Fest will go to Open Line and participating fire companies. The Fire Company competition begins at 10 a.m. Come out and cheer for your favorite fire company in the water battle!

                Cars—race cars, street cars, display dragsters, sprint cars and roadsters—will also be on display beginning at 10 a.m.

                Rides, music and food will be taking place all day. Booths ranging from homemade baked goods to meatball sandwiches to face painting are also featured all day.

                The next scheduled event, the Baby Parade, is at 1 p.m. Children up to 18 months old are welcome to participate in the parade.

                The Faith Baptist Worship band will perform in the band shell at 1:30 p.m., followed by a family puppet show at 3 p.m. The Rocky Mountain Band will take the stage at 4 p.m., followed by the Red Hill Band at 7 p.m.

                Make sure you grab a good seat for the fireworks that are scheduled to go off at 9:30 p.m.!

                There is also a series of activities happening for Quakertown Borough’s “2009 Community Day” at Memorial Park on Mill Street.

You can start your morning off with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. held at the pavilions in the park.

                Quakertown borough also boasts an antique car show, as well as displaying police and fire equipment at 8 a.m. The KIDS parade around the park starts at 9 a.m., as well as games and activities for children.

                At 11 a.m., the food stands open; and the Al Grout, juggling, comedy and magic shows begin.

                Afternoon activities include rides for children, including a moonbounce, dance performances by Miss Cindy’s, and Digikids, police identification kits.

                Fire company water battles are taking place at 1 p.m. on Mill Street, while a Senior Legion baseball game between Quakertown and Pennridge also begins at 1 p.m. Other late afternoon activities include bingo in one of the pavilions, Brothers and Others, and the Mountain Heritage.

                Evening activities begin around 6 p.m. with a baseball game between the Blazers and Kutztown. The Quakertown Band is scheduled to play at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks are set to shoot off at 9:30 p.m.

                If you will be around Potts-town for the holiday, check out their Memorial Park, located on Manatawny Creek before it meets the Schuylkill River, for the “largest Fourth of July celebration in three counties.”

The park is hosting events including a craft show along the creek, a two-hour parade, a Pottstown Little League All-Star game, a Star Wars performance and a rubber duck race in the creek, among many other activities.

                A fully detailed schedule of events for Pottstown’s Fourth of July bash can be found on their web site, www.pottstownjuly4th.org.

                Pottstown fireworks are also scheduled for 9:30, so reserve your favorite firework-watching spot early!