Independence Day activities are planned throughout the South Coast. The following are events scheduled for the Fourth of July holiday.

n Bandon: The Bandon Lions will hold its annual Fourth of July “Family Day in the Park,” starting with the parade through Old Town at 10 a.m. Registration for the parade begins at 8 a.m. in front of Ocean Crest Elementary School. Parade grand marshals are longtime Bandon residents Joe and Karen Sinko.

Following the parade, the Lions will be grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings, served with a drink, for $4 or $5, at Bandon City Park. This year, the Lions also will be serving root beer floats and waffle ice cream cones at $1 per scoop. Those who buy the Lions 2007 Fourth of July badge and have it on at the park will receive a $1 off any hamburger or hot dog purchase. Adults with badges can also receive the discount for children in their immediate family.

The Coastal Corvettes Unlimited will host an annual “show 'n' shine” after the parade until 3 p.m. at the City Park. Entertainment and exhibits will include clowns, face painting, photos, fortune tellers, Jump 4 Fun Inflatables, games, vendors and live music performed by Bandon High School students. The events in the park will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Quality Crafters' Guild will present its annual July 4 Treasures Craft Sale, a unique sale of handcrafted gifts and collectibles, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the East-West rooms of The Barn, 1200 11th St. S.W.

The Bandon Chamber of Commerce's annual fireworks display will begin at dusk over the Coquille River. All proceeds from the event benefit sight and hearing programs in Bandon.

€ Brookings: The city will host an all-day event on Wednesday. A chili cookoff will get things started from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event costs $3 per person for tasting and the proceeds will go to the Oasis Shelter.

At the Port of Brookings, a variety of vendors and a farmers market will offer a bounty of shopping opportunities. The celebration will end with a fireworks display over the port, starting at about 9:30 p.m.

€ Charleston: The Charleston Volunteer Firefighters Association's 14th-annual pancake feed benefit will be held from 7 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at Charleston Fire Station No. 1, 92342 Cape Arago Highway.

The breakfast will cost $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and children 6-10 and free for kids under 5.

€ Coos Bay: Point Man Ministries will raise the American flag and the POW/MIA flag on its new, 60-foot-tall flagpole in a ceremony to be held at noon on Wednesday at the Coos Bay Boardwalk.

Also on the Fourth, a full day of family fun is scheduled at Mingus Park. The festivities begin at 10 a.m., when the South Coast Running Club orchestrates the Mayor's Firecracker Run, available for both children and adults.

The Little Ole Opry will conduct a children's theater production at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Rainbow Rock puppet show and story time with “Grandma” Debbie.

At noon, the Mingus Pool will be open to the public for free swimming until 4 p.m., with family games and competitions starting at 1 p.m., including three-legged races, tug o' war and more. Prizes and awards will be available for participants.

Throughout the afternoon, hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn will be available in the park, with face painting, clowns, musical entertainment, the Furry Friends Therapy Dogs and a fishing pond.

Fireworks, provided by the city of Coos Bay, will begin at dusk by the waterfront.

€ Coquille: Sturdivant Park will be ground zero for fun in Coquille on the Fourth beginning at 10 a.m.

Jump 4 Fun Inflatables, music in the gazebo and art in the park will provide entertainment. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, foods to grill on the barbecue and enough food for the family - though Larry's Hotdogs will be on hand for those without a lunch.

€ Florence: Florence will celebrate the nation's birthday with a hot dog and pie eating contest at 1 p.m. at Gazebo Park. Participants can register for free in divisions based on age: from 10-14, 15-20 and those 21 and older.

Beginning at dusk, a fireworks display will cap off the celebration along the riverfront.

€ Gardiner: The Friends of Gardiner Cemetery will be hosting a fireworks show on Wednesday in Gardiner at dusk. Other activities during the day in Gardiner include the annual potluck picnic at noon at the end of Front Street, along with games for the kids, including snail races, water balloon toss and a watermelon-eating contest. For the older kids, there will be an egg toss. Prizes will be T-shirts designed by local Jerry Solley, one of the owners of Cape Cod Cottages.

The Gardiner Fourth of July Picnic has been held since 1992 and the fireworks are possible thanks to donations.

A barbecue fundraiser for the Gardiner Fire Department also will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the fire department.

€ Gold Beach: The city will provide a celebration of lively music and unique delights on Wednesday. Live music with the Ferguson Brothers Band and Heart and Soul will be played during the day, with a food and beer court, bounce house, climbing wall, giant slide, bean bag toss, bull ride and executive dunk tank all day long at the Port of Gold Beach. Also, Laura Middleton will sing the National Anthem at 3 p.m. and veterans will be honored with a flyover by F14 jets. Fireworks will cap off the day at about 10 p.m. at the port.

€ North Bend: Folks searching for fireworks, food and family-friendly activities in North Bend can visit The Mill Casino-Hotel today.

The Mill's 13th-annual Fun-Tastic Fireworks Celebration runs from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the casino's north parking lot. There, visitors will be able to take part in children's activities, such as face painting and a bounce house, watch jugglers, magicians and stilt walkers, as well as Captain Byrde and his Wonderful MaCaws.

The casino's waterfront fireworks display, which will be set to a mix of patriotic and contemporary rock music, will light up the night sky after dark. The 30-minute show is expected to begin at about 10 p.m. as darkness falls.

Guests can bring chairs, beach towels or other seating, which will not be provided by the casino.

Live music also will be played at the event from 4 to 9 p.m. in the outdoor tent pavilion, beginning with the Steel Magnolias, a steel drum band, and The Cheeseburgers, a Jimmy Buffet-style band, at 7p.m.

Meanwhile, in the Mill's new lounge, Warehouse 101, The Flashbacks, will play 1950s and '60s pop from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by Notorious 253, an R&B group, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

€ Port Orford: Port Orford began celebrating the Fourth of July with activities on Saturday and will wind up with a grand finale fireworks display at dusk on Wednesday.

There will be old-fashioned carnival events, kite flying, a pet show, keg toss tournament, a miniature golf tournament, dingy races, quilt show, flower show, a crafter's emporium, vendors, a parade, a sand castle sculpture event, square dance and skateboard demonstrations and many more activities.

€ Winchester Bay: One of the most spectacular fireworks displays on the coast takes place in Winchester Bay. Visitors and locals can head to the harbor, grab a spot, fire up the barbecue or picnic, and settle in for a night of fun. A car cruise and other events also are planned.