Save the Date: Fourth celebrations, pride, road races and art get July started

Start off your Fourth of July with the Felida Children’s Parade at 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Participants are encouraged to wear patriotic costumes to march in this community parade, which is open to all. After the parade, there will be picnic games, music by the Vancouver Community Concert Band, community displays and refreshments. The parade begins at 11 a.m., followed by displays, games, kids activities, free snacks and water. Bring your own picnic lunch to the Felida Community Park, Northwest 36th Avenue and 122nd Street, Vancouver. 360-573-4030

The Independence Day at Fort Vancouver will be filled with activities — including traditional picnic games, musical performances and drink, food and craft vendors — at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 1001 E. Fifth St., Vancouver. The gates open at 8 a.m., with music kicking off at noon. The fireworks display synchronized to music will launch at 10:05 p.m. from Pearson Field. Festivities admission is $7, free for ages 12 and younger. Prime-viewing seating is $60, $30 for ages 6 to 20. 360-816-6230 or www.fortvan.org/fourth

Wave your rainbows. Open to all, the annual Saturday in the Park Pride event celebrates the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in Clark County and their families in a picnic-like setting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 9. The celebration features entertainment, music, activities, vendors and community booths. The day begins at 9:15 a.m. with the annual Lyle’s Myles 5K run and walk, which benefits Martha’s Pantry, Global Partners for Development and Cascade Aids Project. L-Connection, a lesbian social group, will host Vancouver’s First Dyke March at 11 a.m. in Esther Short Park, Columbia and West Eighth streets, Vancouver. www.sitppride.org

The Twilight Half Marathon runs by Vancouver Lake and the Columbia River, featuring food, beer and live music at the finish line. Race day registration begins at 4 p.m., with a 6 p.m. race start July 9 from Vancouver Lake Regional Park, 6801 N.W. Lower River Road, Vancouver. Race registration is $84 to $89 for the half, $64 to $69 for the 10k and $54 to $59 for the 5K. www.twilighthalf.com

The Dixie Chicks are headlining a North American tour for the first time in more than a decade, and they will make a local concert stop at 7 p.m. July 9 at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater, 17200 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Tickets are $48 to $137 through Ticketmaster. 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com

Relay for Life of Vancouver raises funds for the American Cancer Society through a 24-hour fundraising walk around the track by team members, with games and activities throughout the relay. A survivors lap and luminaria ceremony will recognize those who have been affected by cancer. The relay runs 10 a.m. July 9 through 10 a.m. July 10 at Columbia River High School, 800 N.W. 99th St., Vancouver. Donations encouraged. 360-721-1144 or http://relay.acsevents.org

The Wildlife Botanical Gardens will be filled with local art and artisans for a day of live music, artist demonstrations and composting and recycling workshops from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 10. The event is hosted by the Clark County Chapter of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and NatureScaping of Southwest Washington, and it takes place at the botanical gardens, 11000 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie. Admission is free. 360-737-1160 or www.naturescaping.org

Contemporary masks by artists Lillian Pitt and Bill Rutherford will be on display during the Cathlapotle Plankhouse Second Sunday event. The artists will talk at 1 p.m. July 10 about their creative processes, using masks as a medium and cultural inspirations. There also will be a guided ethnobotany hike at 2:30 p.m. with a refuge naturalist, along with children’s activities from noon to 4 p.m. July 10 at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Carty Unit, 28908 N.W. Main Ave., Ridgefield. Admission is free, $3 for parking. 360-887-4106 or http://ridgefieldfriends.org