Surf City has had some pretty notorious Fourths of July, to be sure. But it would like to put those bad memories behind it and move on. This year, the city presents its annual celebration of all things America. The city's too darn patriotic to contain its annual parade, fireworks show and Pier Festival in one day, however. Instead, you'll have the entire weekend to enjoy live music, delicious food (fried candy bars!) and a rock-climbing wall (always a hit). To be fair, there probably will be a few drunken, sunburned U.S.A-holes stumbling around . . . but hey, that's definitely a little part of our country, too.
Fri., July 4, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat., July 5, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., July 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 2008
