July 4 is coming up, and across the region organizers are well into their final lap of preparations for the big day as Americans in all 50 states celebrate the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776.

For those with the urge to run, Independence Day can start with a healthy burst of activity. The Marbletown Run, beginning at 9 a.m. at Kripplebush Firehouse, takes in the usual 2.3 mile course up to Marbletown Elementary School in Stone Ridge.

America's birthday party is always something special, and every year the Ellenville July 4 parade and subsequent fireworks extravaganza does its best to make that special really something! This year there will be a crafts fair in Liberty Square with 25 vendors on hand offering something for everyone, including plenty of food. In addition Ellenville's restaurants, from Aroma Thyme Bistro to Gaby's to newcomer The Publik House, will be open for business with specials. The craft fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition the band River's Edge will perform both before and after the big parade.

Ellenville is known for having one of the biggest parades in our region on July 4, and this year will be no exception. There are more than 90 parade units signed up already, including six marching bands. Among those will be the Middletown City Band, the Pine Bush Community Band and the Walker Valley Marching Band.

The parade will begin mustering on Maple Avenue, by the Ellenville School District building, from 11 a.m. on. The parade route, as usual, will head down Yankee Place to Canal Street, then left on Canal down to Towpath Road where it will turn right, moving over to Center Street. Then west on Center Street all the way to the Ellenville Public Library. There it will turn right, and right again on Canal Street, before heading back to the reviewing stand in Liberty Square... finally making a left on Maiden Lane and proceeding back to the mustering area on Maple Ave by the school building. With this long a parade, some units will have only just left Yankee Place when others are passing the reviewing stand in Liberty Square.

Finally, come evening, the action shifts to Ellenville's Joseph Resnick Airport for the fireworks display, which will be one of the biggest put on in the region. The fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m., shortly after the sun sets. To get really close, get to Airport Road early. Later arrivals may consider going through the ShopRite parking lot for a good vantage point.

If that's not enough celebration for you, then get down to Wurtsboro on July 6 for their Founder's Day Street Fair. This runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sullivan Street, come rain or sunshine. There will be a Human Truck Pull at 1 p.m., with kids' rides and activities, a dunkin' booth and a lumberjack demonstation too. Alongside the fun will also be an "Is It Art" exhibit opening at the Wurtsboro Arts Alliance.

Talk about celebrating some independence, in traditional American small town fashion!