Oregon firework laws sure can make you appreciate a good display. Instead of fiddling around with those annoying, whistling spark fountains this year, catch one of these full-fledged firework shows and let the professionals do the work.

Waterfront Blues Festival

When people think Portland fireworks, they think of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival's annual display. It's the unofficial firework show for the city, and the one almost everyone wants to see. Which can make things tricky.

Scoring a comfortable spot to watch the fireworks from within the festival grounds requires some planning, since it's generally packed. But a ticket to the 22-minute show includes a day full of great live blues music to get you in the party mood, with fireworks kicking off after headliner Curtis Salgado's set.

Music begins at 11:30 a.m., fireworks at 10:05; Tom McCall Waterfront Park; $10 (no longer a suggested donation); waterfrontbluesfest.com

Boats

Perhaps the best way to see the city's main display is from a boat anchored near the barge that sends fireworks rocketing over the Willamette River, where there's nothing to obstruct your view. You can book a cruise on the Portland Spirit or Willamette Star ($108), which will each dock nearby for the show. Otherwise, find a friend with a boat and ask real nicely.

Fort Vancouver

July Fourth is a historical holiday, after all, commemorating the day the United States declared its independence and the battles that led to that moment. So add a dash of history to your fireworks. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has a big day of activities ahead of its fireworks show, but you can always head over to the reconstructed fort ($5) or Pearson Air Museum to learn something new.

Gates open 8 a.m., fireworks at 10:05 p.m.; 612 E. Reserve St., Vancouver; $5-$7 general admission, $30-$60 for prime viewing area and dinner; 4th.fortvan.org

Oaks Park

Everyone's favorite mom-and-pop amusement park knows how to party, and the rides keep running until midnight for July Fourth. Nothing says 'Murica like watching fireworks from aboard the famous Scream'n Eagle ride. Don't want screams to interrupt the firework sounds? Willamette Park across the river and the Sellwood Bridge offer good views as well.

Gates open at 10 a.m., fireworks at dusk (around 9:40 p.m.); Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way; $2-$5; oakspark.com

Portland bridges

If you want to catch the Blues Festival fireworks but don't want to fight the Blues Festival crowds (or pay the newly required entry fee), try staking a claim on one of the Willamette River bridges near downtown. The Hawthorne Bridge is the closest to the show, but the Morrison will do the trick too. The brand new Tilikum Crossing hasn't been tested for July 4 fireworks viewing yet, but it's promising. And the Ross Island Bridge should give views of both Blues Festival and Oaks Park shows.

A baseball game

Celebrate America with its favorite pastime. The Portland Pickles and Hillsboro Hops will be swinging for far beyond the fences when special fireworks shows lights up their ballpark skies.

Pickles: Games start at 7:05 p.m. July 3-4, fireworks after the game; Walker Stadium, Lents Park ; $6-$12; portlandpicklesbaseball.com

Hops: Game starts at 7:05 p.m. July 4, fireworks after the game; Ron Tonkin Field, Hillsboro ; $7-$16; hillsborohops.com

Council Crest

Many eager firework watchers trek up Council Crest hoping for an aerial view of the downtown fireworks, but large trees manage to block most of the show. The mountaintop vantage could still be worth checking out for its views of distant fireworks across the river in Washington, where civilians get to send sparks into the sky.

Expect crowds. Don't expect to hear the fireworks you see. And don't leave your car in the parking lot, which closes at 9 p.m.

Throughout the evening July 4; Council Crest Park; free; portlandoregon.gov/parks

Oregon Gardens

Enjoy explosions of color in the daylight and after nightfall with the many flowers of the Oregon Garden and the fireworks show it puts on the day before Independence Day. Add in a little live music - or even some yoga in the garden - and you've got a laid back warm up for the big day.

Gates open at 9 a.m., fireworks at 10 p.m.; Oregon Garden, 879 W. Main St., Silverton; $8-$14 during the day, free after 6 p.m.; oregongarden.org

And for all you suburbanites, it's a good idea to check your community's calendar. Many cities in the metro area plan their own impressive pyrotechnics for your viewing pleasure (and they're so much less crowded).

--Dillon Pilorget | dpilorget@oregonian.com

503-294-5927 | @dillonpilorget