LUMBERTON — The parade of Fourth of July festivities to celebrate our nation’s 242nd birthday has formed.

Maxton leads the parade with a celebration at Beacham Park that begins at 4 p.m. Saturday and climaxes with a fireworks display that is to start shortly after the sun goes down.

Fairmont’s July Fourth patriotic celebrations are on Sunday at Fairmont Community Park. The band Too Much Sylvia will begin playing about 5 p.m., and the fireworks are scheduled to start about 9:30 p.m. Children’s rides and food vendors will be part of the holiday fun.

Parkton’s 57th annual Independence Day Celebration, sponsored by the Parkton Ruritans, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. It will take place in Parkton Town Square. The event will feature local performers, including Kayla Godwin Hughes, Mattie Mabes, Soul DeCree, and The Gospel Four. Fun activities, food and drink will be part of the celebration.

Lumberton’s annual Family Fourth Celebration will take place Tuesday at Lumberton Senior High School’s Alton G. Brooks Stadium. The free event will begin at 6 p.m., and entertainment, including a free fall parachute demonstration, will start about 7:30 p.m. The fireworks show by Zambelli Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.

St. Pauls will celebrate Independence Day with live music and fireworks on Wednesday. The event will take place behind Lumbee Guaranty Bank off West McLean Street. Bands Through the Night, Great Marsh Band, and NC Roots will perform beginning at 5 p.m. A disc jockey will take over in between the bands’ performances. Fireworks will begin shortly after dark and will be provided by the St. Pauls Volunteer Fire Department.

Pembroke’s Fourth of July Summer Jam is set for 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday The Pizazz band will provide entertainment for the event that will take place at Milton R. Hunt Memorial Park.

The town of Red Springs asks its citizens to proudly display American flags in honor of the holiday.