The 14th annual Hometown Fourth of July Celebration in Oneonta will begin at noon on Tuesday in Neahwa Park.

There will be entertainment on the Main Stage all day, including the Tabernacle of Praise from noon to 2 p.m., Ronald McDonald from 2 to 3 p.m., Rebound from 3 to 6 p.m. and Lazy T from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

The Oneonta Tigers will play a free game at 3 p.m. against the Vermont Expos.

Fireworks will begin after dark.The event's main sponsor is WDOS/WSRK radio.

Cobleskill

Jack Aernecke will be the grand marshal of the Fourth of July parade through Cobleskill at noon Tuesday for the Schoharie County celebration.

After the parade, entertainment at the fairgrounds will be provided by Karvell the Magician, Uncle Sam and the Star Spangled Quartet, Stock's Family amusements and kids' rides, Rollerblading and bicycle tricks by the Trickstars.

Also on hand will be the Atlantic Coast Old Time Auto Racing Club with cars from the '30s, '40s and '50s, firematic competitions, animals to pet, the Crossfire Band, the White Lightning Band, a variety of food and barbecue, craft and educational booths, the Schoharie County Antique Auto Club and more.

The fireworks display will be at 9 p.m. by the American Fireworks Co. of Utica at a cost of $5,000. Donations will be asked at the gate.

Cooperstown

In celebration of Independence Day, the Friends of the Parks Committee in Cooperstown is sponsoring its annual "Afternoon in The Park" from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday in Lakefront Park, just off Main Street in Cooperstown.

The Friends of the Parks will be selling ice cream and popcorn. The Lions Club will also be having a cookout, which will include hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches and soda.

The Cooperstown Community Band will perform from 8 to 9 p.m., to be followed at dark by a fireworks display, sponsored by the Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department.

Family-oriented patriotic art and activities are scheduled at the Fenimore Art Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday in celebration of Independence Day.

Workshops and tours are scheduled every hour throughout the day. Some activities are centered around the recently opened folk art exhibition, The Kingdoms of Edward Hicks. Children and adults may paint their own patriotic trade sign in the style of Hicks, a folk artist who apprenticed as a young boy in the art of sign making.

Visitors also may choose to acquaint themselves with Hicks's famous Peaceable Kingdom paintings through family workshops and special exhibition tours.

All activities are included in the price of admission: Adults $9, $4 for children ages 7 to 12, children age 6 or younger are admitted free. Fenimore Art Museum is located on state Route 80, a mile north of the village. For more information, call (888) 547-1450.

The Farmers' Museum will have a traditional Independence Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday. The event is based on a typical 1845 celebration of the nation's birthday and includes patriotic music, games, dances and orations.

In honor of the holiday, the museum's grounds will be festooned with patriotic banners and bunting. Families are invited to picnic on the grounds while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Events range from a parade at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence and toasts to the 13 colonies to a "Come One and All" Town Ball match at 3 p.m. on the Creamery Circle. The day's event will conclude with country dancing on Green Street in front of Bump Tavern at 4:30 p.m.

Admission to Independence Day is included with regular museum admission: $9 for adults; $4 for children ages 7-12; free for children 6.For more information, call (888) 547-1450, or visit the website: www.farmersmuseum.org.

Downsville

Downsville's 26th Annual Firemen's Convention will be held July 1 and 2 at the Fireman's Field on state Route 30.

On Saturday, there will be a fireworks display after dark, a softball tournament, a western jamboree from 1 to 11 p.m., featuring Country Limits and Ellen Harrington and the Smoking Guns, and a parade at 4 p.m.

A softball championship, fireworks, another Western Jamboree and Bingo will be held Sunday, with a $1,000 drawing after the fireworks display. Other attractions include a chicken barbecue, clams, shrimp, other refreshments, games, miniature golf, greased pole, craft fair, children's rides and a dunk tank.

East Meredith

On Tuesday, there will be an Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration at Hanford Mills Museum, East Meredith.

Among the many activities planned for the day, traditional games of the late nineteenth century will be played. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be musical entertainment by The Driftwoods, a local country band.

Hanford Mills Museum is located on Delaware County Routes 10 and 12, 10 miles from Oneonta. For more information, call 278-5744, (800) 295-4992, visit the website at www.hanfordmills.org or e-mail hanford3@hanfordmills.org.

North Blenheim

The New York Power Authority plans a four-day celebration of the Fourth of July at its Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project Visitors Center.

From Saturday through Tuesday, each guest will receive an American flag, while supplies last.

On Tuesday, the Summer Series features old-fashioned games for youngsters with programs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children can play tug-of-war, run hoop races, sack races, three-legged races and other activities with the Outdoor World for Learning.

Visitors Center hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

The power project Visitors Center is located 17 miles south of Middleburgh on Route 30. Adjacent to the Visitors Center is Mine Kill State Park with swimming, picnicking, boating and more.

For more information, call (800) 724-0309.

Norwich

Rotary Family Fun Days at the Chenango County Fairgrounds will start Monday with the Bullthistle Balloon Fest. Balloons will be launched at 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, the festivities will begin with another balloon lift-off at 6 a.m. (Balloons will be launched again at 6 p.m., and on Wednesday at 6 a.m.) A free Classic Car Cruise-in will be held at 2 p.m. At 4 p.m., the band Trouble will open for the popular 1980s group Loverboy at 4:30 p.m. Trouble will play another set at 6:30 p.m., followed by Loverboy again at 7:15. Fireworks will be held at dusk.

Springfield

The traditional Independence Day Parade will continue as it has for the past 86 years. Chairman George Rutler says that the event is the largest celebration in this area honoring the "Birth of our Nation." This year the parade is dedicated to Bob Weeks.

Activities start at 10 a.m. with the parade lining up for the 11 a.m. start. The people at that time will be entertained by music of The Senior Renditions.

The parade will march to the Community Center where more activities will take place, including a barbecue and other foods, the Cooperstown Community Band and the Stone Soup Band. In addition there will be old-fashioned children's games, raffles, award ceremonies and other activities.

Rumors about a mystery guest in the parade are true, Rutler said, adding that he's sworn to secrecy about the identity.For information, call (315) 858-1087