Fourth of July: Classic Americana-Style

Big-city celebrations of the Fourth of July are a blast (think Boston or the National Mall in Washington), but there´s a special place in our hearts for the parties that small towns throw.

Here´s a four-pack sampler from Tennessee, Wisconsin, Idaho and Texas. You might not be close to any one of them, but there´s another one somewhere near you. Slap on some sunscreen, break out that red, white and blue shirt and practice saying, "Oooohhh! Ahhhhh!" in anticipation of the fireworks.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

This little town (5,800 residents) knows how throw a big birthday party. It´s the Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival, appropriately staged in Patriot Park.

With the ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a backdrop, the Patriot Festival offers hours of music and lots of booms to cap off the night.

Entertainment this year includes everything from a majorette and drum corps and a 40-voice community chorus to country singer John Berry, The Temptations Revue and the Classic Rock All-Stars. It´s not just anywhere that you can find Motown, country, rock ´n´ roll, patriotic songs and Big Band music on the same show.

Admission is free. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket for festival seating. Information: www.MyPigeonForge.com/patriot.

LaPointe, Wisconsin

It´s an independent breed that lives in LaPointe (population about 250), but you should expect that in the only inhabited spot in Lake Superior´s Apostle Islands. That´s LaPointe, a collection of artists, free spirits and fun-lovers.

You´ll find an Independence Day event that fits the environment--patriotic speeches at an old fort and a parade that´s long on inspiration if short on formality.

One year recently, there were two pirate ship floats in the parade, and they managed to stage an impressive battle while the parade was in progress. Another crowd fave was a rolling hotdog stand from which riders distributed wieners in the spirit of Mardi Gras beads; condiment distributors walked behind. Trophies for the winning float builders are recycled from other events--karate camps, bowling tournaments, youth soccer leagues.

Spectators line the sidewalks, and many raise bloody Mary toasts to floats they favor. Do you get the sense LaPointe is a spiritual cousin to Key West? Information: www.MadelineIsland.com.

McCall, Idaho

McCall´s roughly 3,000 residents plus perhaps 7,000 holiday guests have a similarly fun time on the Fourth of July as they take advantage of the 5,330-acre Payette Lake.

It´s the McCall Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Celebration, and the highlight is a parade of about 30 highly decorated boats. After the boat captains strut their stuff, the boats retreat to safe waters while a powerful fireworks display explodes over the lake. The show is plenty big enough for spectators to be all around the lake, but there´s a celebratory atmosphere at Legacy Park, where the bulk of the crowd gathers.

Some of the most appreciative spectators are rafters who have just emerged from an otherworldly experience on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in the nearby Frank Church Wilderness. Information: Write to Info@mccallchamber.org.

Luckenbach, Texas

If you had to name just one small Texas town, there´s a good chance it would be Luckenbach. That´s what being the subject of a Willie Nelson-Waylon Jennings song will get you.

Luckenbachians know how to throw a party. Their Web description invites visitors to join them for "a day full of remembrance, music, fun, beer and celebration." Beer, of course, is an important component of any outdoor Texas event.

Daytime activities include a lawn mower parade and a weenie roast, and evening fun focuses on a dance, this year featuring songwriter Walt Wilkins. It´s free, except for the beer, of course. Information: www.LuckenbachTexas.com.

Just down the road is an even bigger event in Fredericksburg. It starts with a children´s parade at 8 a.m. and a big-time Main Street Parade at 10 a.m. Fireworks are at 9:30 p.m., so there´s plenty of time to catch both parades, zip to Luckenbach for dancing and beer and still catch the fireworks.