Fourth of July in Baton Rouge – This week, we celebrate the birth of our nation, and Baton Rouge does it as big as any other major city.

This week, we celebrate the birth of our nation, and Baton Rouge does it as big as any other major city. In this edition of Weekender, we’ve got a complete list of what’s going on in the Red Stick for the Fourth of July.

The USS Kidd will host the Star Spangled Celebration, an all-day affair that starts with a one-mile race through downtown at 8:30 a.m. The festivities continue with musical performances from 90 Degrees West, Jenny Brooks and The Chris Leblanc Band. The celebration concludes with fireworks on the Mississippi River at 9 p.m. For more information, call 342-1942 or click here to view a full schedule.

The Baton Rouge Zoo will host Red, White and Zoo Saturday, which celebrates red, white and blue animals and includes amphitheatre programs, games and crafts. The event takes place during normal business hours, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 775-3877.

Red Stick Farmers Market will host a special Wednesday market 8 a.m.-noon at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. There will also be a special patriotic market Saturday highlighting state farmers, fishers and food artisans. Chef Celeste Gil will be on hand Saturday at 10 a.m. in the North Street seating area of Main Street Market to demonstrate how to put a fresh and local twist on Fourth of July barbecue and party favorites.

L’Auberge Casino & Hotel will celebrate with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. on the riverside patio. The Sunset Society finale kicks off at 6 p.m. Cover is $10 and includes music by DJ Triz-A. Soul Jukeboxx will play a free show at The Edge inside the casino at 8 p.m.

Companion Animal Alliance (Map it!) will host an animal independence and ice cream social through Sunday. For more information and ticket prices, click here or call 774-7701.

LSU Museum of Art will host its annual fundraiser at Tsunami. The party kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday and will include a selection of the sushi restaurant’s dishes, wine and beer and live music from Blues4Sale. A portion of the ticket price will support the museum. Tickets are $125 for members, $150 for non-members and $50 for those ages 5-21. Children 5 and younger get in free. To purchase tickets, call 389-7210.

The Kenilworth Independence Day Parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, honoring those who serve in our nation’s armed forces. This year’s theme is “Hometown Heroes” and Collis Temple Jr. is the grand marshal. For more information, click here.

St. James Episcopal Church will host the National WWII Museum’s Victory Belles, a vocal trio singing of-the-era classics, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, call 387-5141.