It's time for floats, flags and fireworks as the region celebrates the Fourth of July. The following is a sampling of Saturday's events around the area:

LAKE COUNTY

CEDAR LAKE | Cedar Lake Summerfest continues its four-day run today on the town grounds, 7408 Constitution Ave. Daily activities include carnival rides on the midway, live entertainment, contests, food booths, a parade, two fireworks shows and two laser light shows.

Summerfest runs from noon to midnight today with a variety of entertainment from 3 p.m. until midnight. Fireworks will begin on the lake at 9:30 p.m.

The festival is open from noon to midnight Saturday. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Hanover Central Junior-Senior High School and ends at the town grounds, 7408 Constitution Ave. The day's highlights include the Great Cedar Lake Cardboard Boat race at 12:30 p.m., kid games at 3 p.m., a bathing beauty contest at 3:30 p.m. and a laser light show at 9:30 p.m. The midway opens at noon.

The festival ends Sunday, but includes a full day of activities, starting with a pancake and sausage breakfast at 7 a.m. A car show, a talent show and the citizen of the year awards will occur throughout the day. The midway and beer garden open at noon. The day will conclude with fireworks on the lake at 9:30 p.m. and the closing celebration at 10 p.m.

For a complete schedule, visit http://www.cedarlakesummerfest.com.

CROWN POINT | Crown Point's annual Fourth of July parade steps off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Taft Middle School, 1000 S. Main St., and travels north on Main Street. The city will put on a fireworks show at dusk at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

GRIFFITH |The Griffith Special Events Committee is sponsoring the town parade, which steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday and travels south on Broad Street from Pine to Main. The theme is "One Town, One Nation, One People."

HAMMOND | The city's yearly Independence Day celebration is Saturday in Harrison Park at Hohman Avenue and Waltham Street. Food vendors and music begin at 2 p.m. The library will host a patriotic music concert in the band shell at 5:15 p.m., with a naturalization ceremony at 6 p.m. The music of the Bill Porter Orchestra will follow. The band will play during the fireworks display by BaDaBoom! Pyrotechnics at dusk. Admission is free.

HIGHLAND | The Highland Special Event Advisory Committee is sponsoring the four-day Fourth of July celebration at Main Square Park. Admission is free.

The festival includes rides, food vendors, arts and crafts booths and a variety of musical acts that run from noon to midnight tonight and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday at Main Square Park, Ridge Road at Fifth Street.

The Citizen's Financial one-mile race through the town's streets kicks off at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Runners of all ages can register on the day of the race at 5 p.m. near the School Town of Highland's administration building at the corner of Kennedy Avenue and 40th Street. Registration is $9 per runner.

The Twilight Parade will begin at St. James the Less Catholic Church at 45th Street and Kennedy Avenue immediately following the Citizen's Financial race . The parade will move north on Kennedy Avenue, east on Highway Avenue and end at Main Square Park.

The kiddie parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. The town's fireworks display is at 9 p.m. at Homestead Park, 8000 Parrish Ave.

For more information, visit http://www.highland.in.gov/specialevents/july4th.htm.

Our Lady of Grace will host its 12th annual Beer Garden Festival from 6 p.m. to midnight today, Saturday and Sunday at 3025 Highway Ave. Beer, other beverages and Langel's Food Court will be available.

HOBART | School Superintendent Peggy Buffington serves as this year's grand marshal at the city's annual Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The parade starts at Mundell Field and heads east on 3rd Street to Main Street, north on Main Street to Old Ridge Road, west on Old Ridge Road to Wisconsin Street, south on Wisconsin Street and finishes back at Mundell Field.

Other Fourth of July activities include a Brickyard Run and 2 Mile Fun Walk at the new Hobart High School at 7 a.m.; a Baby Olympics, Watermelon Eating, Spelling Bee and Fence Painting, all at 6 p.m.; and a fireworks display at Festival Park at 9:30 p.m.

LAKE STATION | The city will hold its parade at 5 p.m. tonight. It begins at Columbus Park, on 29th Avenue and Clay Street, and heads east on 29th Avenue. The route will turn on DeKalb Street, then turn on Central Avenue and end at Pike Street.

The fireworks display will begin at dusk on Saturday at Riverview Park off Ind. 51.

MERRILLVILLE | Motorcyclists from across the nation will meet at VFW Post 1563 on Friday for a rally, hog and corn roast, music, vendors, free tent camping and more. A three-hour ride to the VFW National Home for Children will leave at 5 a.m. sharp on Saturday. The cost is $25 per bike, which includes food and entertainment. The rally fee is $10 per person and also includes food and entertainment. For more information, call (219) 781-5776.

Holiday events, including a magic show, a beer garden, food vendors and paddleboating, take place Friday and Satuday at Hidden Lake Park, 6355 Broadway. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. both nights.

The city's parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Geisen Funeral Home, 7905 Broadway, and will travel north on Broadway to 68th Place.

MUNSTER | The town's two-day holiday celebration starts with a performance by the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, sponsored by The Community Hospital, at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Centennial Park. Food vendors open at 6 p.m. Fireworks, sponsored by the Munster Civic Foundation, follow at 9:15 p.m. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fisher Street and Calumet Avenue.

WHITING | The city celebrates the 90th anniversary of its Fourth of July parade. The parade lasts from 10 a.m. to noon and will travel down Indianapolis Boulevard from 116th Street to 119th Street.

PORTER COUNTY

HEBRON | The Hebron Chamber of Commerce's Fourth of July fireworks begin at dusk tonight on the north side of Hebron schools. Enter through the main entrance to the schools. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and will start at the Country Square Mall on Ind. 2. The route continues south on Main Street and turns west onto Ind. 231 at Walgreens before dispersing in the area of Harry Brown Trucking. A turtle derby will take place following the parade in the parking lot of First Source Bank, followed by a flag raising.

PORTER/CHESTERTON | In conjunction with the Friends of Porter Fourth of July Festival in Hawthorne Park, the Chesterton Lions Club will be running the 70th Annual Turtle Derby on Saturday at Hawthorne Park, 500 Ackerman Drive. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the first of five heats is at 10 a.m. First, second and third place winners of the final heat will receive a trophy and prize. The Port Drive-In will provide coupons for free root beer for all entrants.

Participants need to bring their own turtles; snapping turtles are not permitted.

The Lions Club will serve a pancake breakfast.

PORTAGE | The Pride in Portage Committee is sponsoring the city's Fourth of July parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. The evening's festivities will begin at 4 p.m. at Trumble Field with food vendors and family activities.

Fantasy Cakes will attempt to build the world's largest cupcake for the Guinness Book of World Records. There will be live music on the field from 4 to 6 p.m. The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra will perform an outdoor concert from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and the evening will end with a fireworks display by Melrose Pyrotechnics.

SOUTH HAVEN | American Legion Post 502 will host a parade at 4 p.m. Saturday. Line up is at 3 p.m. at Paul Saylor Elementary School on Midway Drive. The parade ends at the American Legion. Hot dogs and pop will be provided to all participants after the parade, followed by awards. Those interested in participating may call (219) 759-2121.

VALPARAISO | Festivities begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 1600 Roosevelt Road, with performances by The Conservadellics and the Valparaiso High School Band. The evening with conclude with fireworks at dusk.

ILLINOIS

GLENWOOD | The city's annual event starts with a parade at 10:15 a.m. Saturday from 191st and Cottage Grove Avenue to the Village Hall. A children's parade begins at 9:45 a.m. at Brookwood Junior High and merges with the main parade. Other festivities are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Village Hall. Fireworks will begin at dusk at Glenwoodie Golf Course, 19301 State St.

LANSING | The Grand Ole Fourth celebration and food booths will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at Lan-Oak Park at 180th and Arcadia. The fireworks show starts at dusk.

SAUK VILLAGE | The village's festivities begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at Veterans Park, behind Village Hall at 21701 Torrence Ave. Live entertainment and food vendors will be available. The fireworks show begins at dusk.

SOUTH HOLLAND | The city's celebration begins with a rib fest at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and includes family activities all day long at Veterans Memorial Park, 160th Place and South Park Avenue, including children's games, the annual softball game between town employees and the South Holland Ministerial Association and a Flea Circus Magic Show. The fireworks show will begin at 9:15 p.m.

THORNTON | The fireworks display will start at dusk Saturday at Hubbard Park behind Wolcott School, 200 N. Wolcott.