Ah, the Fourth of July: Could it come at a better time each year? The summer has settled in, but the malaise of endless sopping August is still far in the future. The fresh food is flowing steadily from local farms, but the sadness of its winter disappearance is inconceivable. The water at area swimming holes is warm enough for a refreshing dip, but it's not yet become routine. The world is warm and welcoming and fully renewed now, and two months of steady summer glory lie ahead. It's no wonder that our forebears found the confidence and determination to break free from Britain on this date so many years ago. (Are you counting? America's 232 years old!)

Want to step into that same lineage of confidence and determination? Want to celebrate the part you play in the U S of A with your fellow countrywomen and -men? Opportunities abound: Food, fireworks and outdoor celebrations of all kinds are on offer throughout the region this Independence Day (and on the days surrounding it). For details on what's happening in your neck of the woods, check out the synopsis below; it begins with celebrations in the southern part of Alm@nac's distribution region and travels northward.

- At West Point, a concert titled "Happy Birthday America" will take place on Saturday, July 5 at 8 p.m. at the campus's Trophy Point Amphitheatre. The United States Military Academy Concert Band will perform master sergeant Douglas Richard's composition Celebration for a New Era as well as selections from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Sergeant first class MaryKay Messenger will sing the National Anthem and Land That I Love. The Hellcat drummer, staff sergeant William Calohan, will be featured on xylophone, and the evening will conclude with a performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, complete with cannon salute and fireworks. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Please allow extra time for vehicle and photo ID inspection - of all vehicles and all individuals 16 years of age and older - at the Stony Lonesome and Thayer Gates. The rain date is Sunday, July 6 at 8 p.m. For more information, call the Academy Band Hotline at (845) 938-2617.

- In Newburgh, at the Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, visitors can learn about the history of the early days of baseball at the "Birthdays and Baseball" event. The site opened on the Fourth of July in 1850 (it was the nation's first official historic site); at that time baseball was in its infancy, but here to stay. To commemorate these histories, the site will host Mickey "The Lip" Tangel, who will share the lore of the national pastime with music, poetry, storytelling and hands-on activities for children. The program is free of charge, and the grounds remain open for the City of Newburgh's fireworks. For more information, call the site at (845) 562-1195.

- In Fishkill, the words of our Founding Fathers will ring out in the historic town as the Declaration of Independence is read aloud at Van Wyck Hall, located at 1095 Main Street. The reading will take place on Friday, July 4 at 11 a.m. The reader this year is Dutchess County legislator Alison MacAvery. Fishkill's fireworks will take place at Sarah Taylor Park on July 13. The event starts at 6 p.m.; food concessions are on offer, and the band Harvest will provide music. Inflatable attractions are available for kids. The event is free. For more information, call the Town of Fishkill at (845) 897-4430.

- In Hyde Park, community groups, bands, floats, performers and fire departments compete for trophies and ribbons. The parade, which is free for onlookers, begins at 10 a.m. and winds its way along Route 9 from the Roosevelt Cinemas to the Regina Coeli School.

- In Plattekill, the town will be holding its annual Independence Day celebration on July 12. The "Red, White and Blue" concert at the Thomas Felten Community Park in Modena will take place from 5 to 9 p.m., and will conclude with a display of fireworks. Music will be provided by the band Touch of Rhythm, and the Boy Scouts and Southern Ulster Rotary will sell refreshments. Fireworks take place at dusk; no alcohol or pets are permitted.

- In Marlboro, Benmarl Winery - which bills itself as America's oldest vineyard - will provide food, music and free admission to visitors on both July 5 and 6. The vineyard will be open for extended hours (until 10 p.m.) so that visitors can enjoy watching fireworks from the vineyard's hill. For more information, call the Winery at (845) 236-4265.

- In Highland, there will be food, music and fireworks at Highland Village Park (adjacent to downtown Highland) beginning at 6 p.m. on July 4. The food will be provided by a wide variety of vendors (selling, according to Events Committee chairperson Carole CrimiVaroli, all the traditional "fair foods"). Two bands - the Roads and the Hitmen - will provide the music, which will be mostly contemporary rock, soul and other popular genres. And the town will provide the fireworks, which will begin at dusk. Says CrimiVaroli, "For a little town, we really go all out on this event - and it's a different kind of event. It's not about merchandising. It's about eating food, hanging out and singing and dancing together." CrimiVaroli recommends that people arrive by 8 p.m. for the fireworks; the six parking lots fill quickly with cars carrying the 6,000 to 7,000 people who typically come to the event.

- In Gardiner, Majestic Park is the setting for the town's fireworks celebration, which takes place at dusk on the evening of July 12. For more information, call the town at (845) 255-9675. The Gardiner Fire Department Auxiliary is holding a barbecue before the fireworks at Majestic Park from 5 p.m. to dusk with food, entertainment and a chance to win a round of golf at the Mohonk Golf Course.

- In Ellenville, a parade begins at noon on July 4. Arts and crafts are for sale at Liberty Square from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., and at 9:30 p.m. fireworks will burst overhead.

- In New Paltz, the celebration takes place on Saturday, July 5 at the Ulster County Fairgrounds. Live entertainment includes fifth-grade singing phenomenon Julia Cohen, Bearfoot Bluegrass (made possible by Unison Arts & Learning Center) and the Vickie Russell Band. A free inflatable obstacle course for the kids is on offer (sponsored by the New Paltz Police Benevolent Association). An outdoor dance party featuring the Marc Black Improvisational Rock Trio leads into the night. The gate opens at 5 p.m., and the fireworks decorate the sky at dark. No alcohol is permitted at the event. The rain date is July 6.

- On the actual Fourth of July in New Paltz, the Rivendell Winery is hosting "Reds, Whites and Blues," its annual concert on the lawn of the winery, from 3 to 6 p.m. Visitors may bring a picnic; cheeses, pâtés and New York wines will be available for purchase. The Vintage New York Store and Tasting Room will be open all day. No outside alcoholic beverages are permitted. The winery is located on Albany Post Road between New Paltz and Gardiner. For more information, call (845) 255-2494 or see the winery's website at www.rivendellwine.com.

- In Rhinebeck, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds is hosting what it calls the "Great American Picnic." On Friday the 4th at 7 p.m., the Hudson Valley Philharmonic performs pieces from its largely classical repertoire; fireworks follow the performance. On Saturday the 5th at 2 p.m., dozens of vehicles will compete in a demolition derby; an encore performance takes place at 7 p.m. Fireworks again take place at dusk. Admission to either day's event is $11 per person or $40 per carload; children under 12 are free. For Friday only, Rhinebeck residents with proof of residency get in for $6. On Sunday the 6th, the fairgrounds hosts "Freedom Fest," a classic rock concert sponsored by radio station WPBM. The event includes the band Orleans as well as Jimi Jamison of Survivor, John Cafferty and tunes from the Beaver Brown Band, Joe Lynn Turner of Deep Purple and Rainbow, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth, Dave Jenkins of Pablo Cruise, Robbie Dupree, Spencer Davis, Gary US Bonds and Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult. Tickets for Sunday cost $25, with children 12 and under admitted free of charge. See www.hudsonvalleyfreedomfest.com for more information.

- In Saugerties, a full day of events is in store. Friday, July 4 begins with a parade at 11 a.m., which winds from Saugerties High School through the village and finishes at Cantine Field. There, craft and food vendors will be offering their wares beginning at 2 p.m. Fireworks take place at Cantine Field at dusk. Though there will be no music or carnival attractions at Cantine Field this year, there will be music nearby: at Kiersted House, at 119 Main Street, beginning at 6 p.m. Home of the Saugerties Historical Society, the house will also host a flea market earlier in the day.

- In Highmount, at Belleayre, this weekend marks the beginning of the Belleayre Music Festival, the summerlong series of music performances. Opening the series on Saturday, July 5 at 8 p.m. is the Belleayre Festival Orchestra with special guest Irish tenor Ronan Tynan. Tynan is a true Renaissance man: In addition to being a world-renowned singer, he is also a physician and world-record holder at the Paralympics. His renditions of traditional vocal classics, Irish melodies and Broadway and pop favorites will be the highlight of the evening, which concludes with a fireworks display. Tickets for the event range in price from $45 to $65. For more information, see www.belleayremusic.org or call (800) 942-6904, extension 344.

- In Clermont, an old-fashioned Independence Day is taking place from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 4. The fetivities take place at the Clermont State Historic Site. For an admission fee of $7 per vehicle, visitors will gain access to the festival grounds and its full roster of activities -from Revolutionary War reenactments to a reading of the Declaration of Independence (at 5 p.m.) to a Punch and Judy show. For kids, there is a "Please Touch" booth where reproduction artifacts are available for the handling. Nostalgic contests (watermelon-seed-spitting, a three-legged race and more) begin at 12:30. The Providers plays music from 8 p.m. until dusk, at which time visitors have a nice view of the Saugerties fireworks display. For more information, visit www.friendsofclermont.org or call (518) 537-4240.

- In Taghkanic, a community celebration will take place on Saturday, July 5 from 3 until 10 p.m. at Lake Taghkanic State Park. Displays related to local history, agriculture and emergency services will be on view, and a chicken barbecue and live entertainment will keep visitors fed and entertained. The event is sponsored by the towns of Gallatin, Taghkanic, Livingston and Ancram. For more information, call (518) 851-3631.

- In Catskill, the Watt 4 Band will be performing at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 4 at Dutchmen's Landing Park. The band plays classic rock, and the music is followed by a fireworks display. The event is sponsored by the Village of Catskill; for more information see www.catskillny.org or call (518) 943-0989.

- In Hunter, the fireworks go off at Bear Creek Restaurant and Recreational Park at dusk on the evening of Friday, July 4. In addition to the fireworks show (which the facility claims is the best between New York and Albany), Bear Creek is hosting a barbecue pit, a tiki bar and patio dining. Deejay Drew will spin music. Admission is free; the food and music begin around 5 p.m. The rain date is Saturday, July 5. For more information, call (518) 263-3839.