Fairbanks — An Independence Day 5K starts at 10 a.m. Monday. At 11 a.m., there will be food, family activities, a craft bazaar, entertainment and military colors ceremony at Pioneer Park. At 7 p.m., enjoy baseball as the San Francisco Seals take on the Alaska Goldpanners at Wilbur Street and Second Avenue, across from the Carlson Center.

North Pole — Get to the Fourth of July Pancake Feed early, and Santa’s Seniors, the event hosts, promise you’ll get a front row seat for the “Freedom in Motion” parade. They’ll be serving pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee and tea from 8-10:30 a.m. (Santa’s Senior Center, 101 E. Fifth Ave.). Suggested donation is $3-$6.

Juneau and Douglas — Head to Douglas Island on Sunday for a community picnic on Sandy Beach from 6-8 p.m. There will be a watermelon eating contest to kick things off, followed by a sand dollar search at 7 p.m. A soapbox racing challenge for ages 5-10 will shut down Queen Anne’s from 6-7:30 p.m. and a fireworks display on Gastineau Channel will commence at 11:59 p.m. that night. On Monday, the Juneau Parade will travel through downtown starting at 11 a.m. The Douglas parade will start at 2 p.m. at Gastineau School. There will be footraces at 3 p.m. in Savikko Park and the Douglas Community United Methodist Church will have its annual deep pit beef BBQ from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or whenever the food runs out) at the corner of Third and E Street ($10-18). The final soapbox challenge is at 3 p.m.