There are so many fireworks shows and Fourth of July-related parades this holiday weekend, that we'll focus on those first:

• Unless you are new to the area you know about the fireworks show over the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge. It's part of the Waterfront Blues Festival, (pictured above in a file photo from Valerie K. Davis. If you haven't been, it is definitely worth checking out), and organizers claim the fireworks show is twice as big as any other fireworks show in Oregon. 
• Of course, that doesn't take into account the show across the Columbia River. The celebration at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve (Fort Vancouver) is billed as one of the largest fireworks shows west of the Mississippi.
• Looking for a small-town celebration nearby? The folks out in Corbett have a day full of festivities.
• Over at PGE park in Portland, you can watch the post-game fireworks celebration after the Portland Beavers take on the Tacoma Rainiers.
• There's also a fireworks show at Oaks Park near Sellwood.
• If you are heading to the coast this holiday weekend, Seaside has a fireworks spectacular.
• And over in Newport, officials are promising a heckuva fireworks finale involving 125 explosions - one explosion for each year of the town's existence. There's plenty of other events as well.

For a list of more fireworks shows in Oregon, click here. For those in Washington, click here.

Now, there are other things going on.

Perhaps you are a fan of bull riding and steer wrestling. You are in luck. There are dueling rodeos in the northern Willamette Valley. Both the St. Paul Rodeo and Molalla Buckeroo run throughout the weekend.

Just a quick trip down Interstate 5, you can catch the Albany Timber Carnival. There is a lumberjack competition, chainsaw carving, a car show and plenty of live music.  

And, finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that July is Oregon Craft Beer Month. What does that mean to the average beer connoisseur? Well, officials have more than 120 events planned around the state to celebrate. That includes a "pimped out bike in" event, a "puckerfest" and the "Portland International Beer Festival." Cheers!

For more local events, click here.

Have a great weekend!