Get ready for fireworks in Seattle and Bellevue

Civic pride and spectacular fireworks will be on display at Seattle's Family 4th at Lake Union, "A Celebration For The People, By The People," paid for by hundreds of businesses and individuals who stepped up to ensure that the popular annual celebration would go on this year.

The party at Gas Works Park will include performances by the rock group The Presidents of the United States of America and a fireworks display choreographed to music, featuring a special 1,000-shot finale donated by Pyro Spectaculars. The all-day festival will include food and beverage vendors, a lakeside beer and wine garden, games, climbing walls and a kids' play center. Local radio stations and businesses will host craft projects, carnival games, inflatable sumo wrestling, rocking chair races and other activities. Parking and access to Gas Works Park is limited and Metro buses will be on reduced holiday schedules. Arriving by foot or by bicycle is encouraged.

On the Eastside, the Bellevue Family 4th party starts at 2 p.m., with entertainment, Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone activities, food vendors, a C-17 flyover from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and performances by the 60-piece Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra before and during the fireworks display. Free activities in the park at 3 p.m. include sack races, beanbag toss, hula hoops and other picnic games.

Admission to both events is free, with charges for some activities.

The details

Family 4th at Lake Union

Time: Park and activities open at noon; fireworks show, 10 p.m. Sunday. Coolers allowed, subject to search; no outside alcohol permitted. Pets, personal barbecues and weapons prohibited.

Location: Gas Works Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle.

Getting there: From I-5, take the 45th Street exit, go west on Northeast 45th Street, then left on Meridian Avenue North to Gas Works Park. Parking in the area is expected to be extremely difficult. Beginning at 5 p.m., several streets surrounding the park will be closed. Metro Transit information, 206-553-3000 or http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/. Bicycle parking available on the northwest side of the park. Boaters may watch from the south end of Lake Union only; the Harbor Patrol will close boat access to the lake at 9 p.m.

More information: 206-281-7788 or www.family4th.org.

Bellevue Family 4th

Time: Open 2 p.m. Sunday; music starts 3:30 p.m.; Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra performance 9:30 p.m.; fireworks display, 10:05 p.m. Sunday.

Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue.

Getting there: From Interstate 90, take the Bellevue Way exit, follow Bellevue Way to Northeast Fourth Street; from I-405, take the Northeast Fourth Street exit, go west on Northeast Fourth Street, left on Bellevue Way. Metro Transit information, 206-553-3000 or http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov. Free parking at Bellevue Square after 6 p.m. and at Bellevue City Hall visitor lot

More information:www.bellevuedowntown.org/events/familyfourth.

Madeline McKenzie: 206-464-8245 or mmckenzie@seattletimes.com