As you gear up to celebrate America’s 243rd anniversary of the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence here’s some info on fun and logistics.

Fireworks and fun, Needham

Needham always does it up big to celebrate Independence Day, and this year is no exception. The Needham Exchange Club sponsors the whole shebang which includes:

July 3: Food and fun starting at 5:30pm followed by fireworks at dark at Needham High School parking lot, 608 Webster St.

July 4: The Charles River YMCA Road Race, 8:30am. At 9am there will be a raising of the flag followed by the Grand Parade. The Parade them this year is “Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Right to Vote.” After the parade, stop by Memorial Park for a craft fair and flea market, athletic events, food, and entertainment.

Fireworks and fun, Walpole

July 3, fireworks at 9:30pm, Walpole, at Joe Morgan Memorial Field, 220 School St. Also fun stuff going on ahead of time.

Fireworks and fun, Newton

July 4, 9pm, Newton at the Albemarle Field/Halloran Sports Complex. Lot’s of good times beforehand as well.

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Parade, Natick

In general, the mean streets of Wellesley are pretty quiet on and around the 4th, so if you’re looking for excitement I recommend you head over to Natick’s parade. The 64th annual parade starts on July 4 at 9am at Wilson Middle School (22 Rutledge Rd.) and travels down Route 27 to the Natick Common and concludes right after St. Patrick’s Church.

We’ve enjoyed the parade a few times over the years. We like to bring our chairs and set them up toward the end of the route, just across the street from St. Patrick’s Church. That way we get a good look at all the fun while watching the parade as geographically close to Wellesley as possible, so we don’t suffer separation anxiety from our town.

How many fireworks displays can you hit?

Here’s a list of every (legal) fireworks display in the state (make sure you scroll down to the second page), so whether you’re on the Cape or in the Berkshires, The Swellesley Report has the information you need. Aren’t you glad you checked in with us?

Why doesn’t Wellesley have fireworks?

We do, silly, they shoot off in May during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. Why then? You don’t think Wellesley residents are actually in Wellesley on a long summer weekend, do you? Heck, no, not when the Cape and other tempting locations beckon.

Wellesley closures during the big weekend:

Parking meters in Wellesley will be free.

Wellesley’s RDF will be closed.

Wellesley town offices will be closed.

Wellesley Free Library will be closed for the 4th, and closed on Sundays for summer hours through August 25.

The Tolles Parsons Center will be closed.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday, so Post Offices will be closed on the 4th, and there will be no home delivery of mail. It is also an official holiday for UPS, but scheduled UPS Critical Express and UPS Holiday packages should still arrive.

Liquor stores are open.