Free Performances, Festivities Mark A Fantastic 4th of July in Cary, North Carolina

Start your Independence festivities off with an Independence Eve Celebration at the Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park; located in Cary, North Carolina. According to the Town of Cary's BUD newsletter, the free performances will start at 6:30 p.m. July 3rd, 2007. Applause! Cary Youth Theatre starts off the performances with a presentation of "Faces of Freedom." "Faces of Freedom" is a play that tells the stories of young immigrants to America who are united in their search for freedom. Old time patriotic music performed by the Cary Town Band will follow "Faces of Freedom."

Come back the next day for Cary's Independence Day Olde Time Celebration at Bond Park. From 8 am- 3pm there will be free games, competitions and a parent-child fishing tournament. The Raleigh News & Observer reports that there will also be donut-eating and watermelon seed-spitting contests. Registration for the fishing tournament begins at 7:30 a.m. with the tournament kicking off at the Waterfront at 8 a.m. Parade decorations begin at 9 a.m. at the Kiwanis shelter with the "Parade in the Park" starting at 10 a.m. Participants can drive, walk or ride in the parade through the park and will end up at the Boathouse and Waterfront. Awards will be given for various age groups (Ages 0-10) and categories. Parents may walk with their children in the parade or watch from the side as a spectator.

Are you interested in showing your talents for donut eating or watermelon speed sitting? The following family contests will be held at the Boathouse; Donut Eating Contest, Lakeside Olympics, Watermelon Eating Contest, Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, Water Balloon Toss, Water Balloon Volleyball.

Contestants can enter in one of the following age groups; 0-10 yrs, 11-17 yrs, 18 and older. Contests starts at 11 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.

Also going on throughout the day will be the 15th annual The Spin Cycle 4th of July Firecracker 100k and 50K Cycling Ride. The ride kicks off at 8 a.m. and benefits the Multiple Sclerosis Society. For more information concerning the ride please visit The Spin Cycle's website at www.thespincycle.com/events.asp .

Fireworks and a concert by the North Carolina Symphony will be held in the evening at Booth Amphitheatre. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m. Tarps, blankets and chairs will allowed into the amphitheatre.

For more information please visit the Town of Cary's website at www.townofcary.org or call 469-4061.