There's the cookout with family and friends in the afternoon, and the fireworks to look forward to at night, but the dog's still going to wake you up at 6 a.m., so why not get an early start? It's never too early to celebrate the independence of our great nation. Give in to the patriotic fervor and bunting-strewn, marching-band fun of a small-town celebration!

You could start with a charming, old-fashioned (literally!) neighborhood parade. The Palo Verde neighborhood is hosting its 50th(!) Annual July 4 parade at 9 a.m., at the corner of Palo Verde Avenue and Camden Street in Tucson. Prizes will be awarded for the best hand-pulled floats and patriotic costumes; Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will be the parade marshal; and Tucson Police are providing the color guard. The event gets underway at 7 a.m. with a $3 pancake breakfast, including bacon, fruit, coffee and juice, in a driveway on Fairmount just west of Palo Verde Avenue.

If you're up for a drive, you can get into the spirit with the Bisbee Rotary Club July 4 parade featuring the theme "Celebrating Our Families." The parade includes music, animals, and groups of all kinds; prizes are awarded for best of parade, most humorous, best depiction of the theme and best depiction of family history. Line-up is at 9 a.m., at 1 Main Street in Old Bisbee; the parade begins at 11 a.m. Call 266-2194, or (520) 432-7071 for more information.

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, 1 Burruel Street, offers an "Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration" with games for kids, free hot dogs and watermelon, and a "squirt down" courtesy of the Tubac Fire Department from 10 a.m. to noon. Parking is free, and so is admission to tour the park and learn what was happening in Southern Arizona at the time young U.S. of A. first celebrated its independence.

If you're getting a late start, you can head to the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa at 1 Otero Road and let the good folks there do it all for you. Their celebratory family festivities including a Kids Zone, an inflatable obstacle course, face-painting, food booths, Clydesdale wagon rides and a DJ for dancing, all starting at 4 p.m. Fireworks happen at 8:45 p.m. It's all $7 per car. Call 398-3521 for more information.

So, yay! Independence Day! That's where all this life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness got its start. But face it, there are many who would never think to pursue happiness in pancakes, parades and jumping castles. Luckily, the Loft Cinema offers a July 4 triple feature of a different sort: raving patriotism, epic horror and a whole lot of cussing—all while food trucks offer tasty alternatives to the backyard barbecue.

At noon, a screening of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is hosted by Charles Heller of Liberty Watch Radio and Emil Franzi of Inside Track. Steven Spielberg's terrifying July 4 fish story Jaws screens at 3 p.m.; and a 6 p.m. showing of Team America: World Police inspires a mayhem of cursing and singing in celebration of first amendment rights. Films are $5 to $8 each. Visit loftcinema.com for reservations and more information.

America. Fuck yeah.