Mark your calendar with these local holiday events

The cities of Auburn, Opelika and Valley will each host an annual Fourth of July celebration this week.

Thursday
- Opelika will kick the festivities off with its event starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the football practice field at Opelika High School. Activities will include inflatables for children and games. Musical entertainment will be provided by Summer Breeze, and A Few Good Men will sing the National Anthem.
Children at the event are encouraged to put their names on a paper plate that will be scattered on the adjacent baseball field for a chance to win a prize during a skydiving demonstration. At 7:30 p.m., the Buddy Blue and three other skydivers will parachute with the Stars and Stripes. If a jumper lands on a plate with a child’s name, that child will win a prize.
Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be for sale at the event. Fireworks will begin at about 9 p.m.
For more information, call Opelika Parks and Recreation at 705-5560.

Saturday
- Auburn’s celebration, sponsored by Briggs and Stratton, will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday behind the home side of Duck Samford Stadium.
“Goodies,” courtesy of Briggs and Stratton, will be given away when the gates open. Live musical entertainment featuring Floyd the Barber will kick off at 7 p.m. Country’s Barbeque food will be for sale. The public is encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. The fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. The rain date is Sunday. For more information, contact the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department at 501-2930.

- In Chambers County, the city of Valley will host its annual fireworks extravaganza Saturday on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Gates to the old Shawmut Airport, 2300 12th Ave., open at 5 p.m. EDT. Admission is $2 for adults. Children younger than 12 and military are admitted free.
This year’s event will feature live music, food and craft vendors, horseshoes, a watermelon seed spitting contest, a paintball shoot with the Valley RC Flyers Club, and fireworks. Tents, chairs and campers are welcome at the site. For more information call Sheila Still at (706) 518-7213.