COURTESY OF FLICKR/TIMOTHY K HAMILTON

The calendar may say it's June, but guess what? The Fourth of July celebrations begin this weekend — with the rocket's red glare filling the skies as early as Saturday, July 1. The excitement continues on Sunday, Monday and into the Fourth itself on Tuesday evening. Plan right, and you could catch multiple shows around the metro area.

Here's our guide to some of the best. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section, and we'll update this post accordingly.

Like a mighty red, white and blue phoenix, Fair St. Louis rises once again from the heart of Forest Park (www.fairsaintlouis.org) to thrill the city and celebrate Independence Day. This year's Fair St. Louis takes advantage of the holiday weekend to spread over four days. The 135th VP Parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Broadway and Market streets in downtown St. Louis. The Fair proper starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, 4 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Tuesday (July 2 to 4), with family-friendly entertainment in the Purina/Ameren Festival Zone, zip lines and human slingshot rides, a fairway and an interactive zone. Music headliners are Akon (Sunday), 3 Doors Down (Monday) and Jake Owen (Tuesday), with fireworks starting at 9:35 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday and at 10 p.m. sharp Monday. As always, admission to Fair St. Louis is free.Want to see the fireworks of Fair St. Louis, but want to avoid the crowds in Forest Park? The Pat Connolly Tavern is teaming up with The Wandering Sidecar Bar to transform its side lot into an outdoor lounge and picnic area on July 2-4. Camp out early and claim your spot for great views of the fireworks. The outside bar will open at 3 p.m. with burgers, hot dogs and BBQ ribs available for dinner. Live music every night. July 2: Daniel Tevlin's acoustic covers (inside 8 p.m.-midnight). July 3: Miss Molly Simms rock & roll (outside 7-8:30 p.m., inside 10-11:30 p.m.). July 4: Tommy Halloran rockin' jazz & guerrilla swing (outside 7-8:30 p.m., inside 10-11:30 p.m.).Enjoy an unparalleled view of the Innsbruck fireworks show on the Aspen Patio on July 1. Tables are available for groups from four to ten guests with prices ranging from $200 to $400. A limited number of Adirondack chairs are also available for $50 each. Drinks will be available for purchase. Patio opens at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Reserve your table today by calling 636-928-3366, ext. 0. This event is open to the public with advance reservations. Private party rooms available.Grafton business owners mark the holiday with food and drink specials, live entertainment and games for the kids. At dusk the fireworks are set off over the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.Enjoy music under the stars performed by the Air Force Band of Mid-America, Shades of Blues, in the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater (Jefferson Barracks Park) and a brilliant fireworks display to celebrate our country’s birth! Concessions will be available. Call 314-615-4386 for more information. Admission is free! Sat., July 1, 7-10 p.m., free admission.Every summer the River City Rascals and the Gateway Grizzlies play a home-and-home series, and since they're minor league teams, tickets are affordable enough ($5 to $45 for a group) that you can bring the husband and the kids. The Rascals host the Grizzlies at 6:35 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at CarShield Field in O'Fallon, and Friday is Rick Ankiel bobblehead night. But it's Sunday that promises real fireworks. The teams face off at 6:35 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at the Grizzlies' GCS Ballpark in Sauget. Kids get to run the bases after the game and, yes, there will be fireworks.If you want to see fireworks over the Mississippi River, Alton isplace to be this year on July 3. Before the fireworks begin enjoy live entertainment from the patriotic Air Force Band of the Midwest. The fireworks will begin with a bang at approximately 9:30 p.m. and last 30 minutes. Admission is free with open seating available on the lawn. Special VIP tickets are available and include a private concession area, restrooms and one VIP parking spot close to the amphitheater. The VIP tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased through MetroTix.com or at the Alton Visitor Center (200 Piasa St., Alton, IL).The St. Louis Cardinals take on the Florida Marlins on Monday and Tuesday (July 3 and 4). But July 4 is a day game, so fireworks fans will want to be the there the night before, on Monday. That's when the team will light up the sky downtown. Tickets start at $10.90.Chesterfield celebrates Independence Day on July 4 with a Kid's Zone featuring Circus Kaput, carnival games and two bubble machines from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fat Pocket takes over the main stage at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.O'Fallon's annual celebration of America's birthday, rock & roll and fireworks takes place from 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, 2 to 11 p.m. Monday and noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday (July 2 to 4) at the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex (900 T.R. Hughes Boulevard, O'Fallon; www.heritageandfreedomfest.com). Sunday is family night, with no concerts or fireworks but plenty of entertainment in the form of carnival rides, a Midway full of games, a bungee trampoline and the Bubble Bus. Monday and Tuesday bring everything Sunday had plus fireworks (at 10:15 and 9:30 p.m., respectively), and concerts by Creedence Clearwater Revisited and World Classic Rockers, which features former members of Steppenwolf, Santana and Journey. Admission is free, although there is a nominal fee for the carnival ride tickets.Webster Groves' long-running Community Days is a four-day party that features a pet parade, a people parade, a carnival and the Webster Groves Lions Club's BBQ. The Miss Webster Pageant takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 2, and the fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday (July 3 and 4).Live entertainment kicks off at 7 p.m. on July 4, and the Kirkwood Lions Club will be selling beer, ice cream, soda and glow necklaces. Tropical Moose will be open, and several food trucks will be open for business as well. Fireworks start at dusk.Celebrate Independence Day along the banks of the Missouri River with a parade, live music, carnival, food and craft vendors and fireworks (July 3 and July 4 only).DJ entertainment begins at 9 p.m. on July 4, with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. and red, white and blue swag all night long. Reserved VIP seating is available but not required to join the party. Contact Three Sixty Sales at 314-641-8842 for more information on food & beverage minimums to secure your VIP spot today.