With babies and small children, the ritual of watching 4th of July fireworks becomes a little, well, inconvenient. Often they're scared of the noise (if you're close enough to hear, that is), or they're up way past their bedtime or, even worse, woken up from a deep sleep. Nothing's quite as crabby and grumpy as an overtired toddler or preschooler, no matter how great the promised fireworks are.

With this in mind, we've sought out places to watch the fireworks at the Marin County Fair that don't involve straying away from the car, because there of the two sleeping occupants. The Marin County Fair's fireworks used to be kind of weak, but the last couple of displays we've seen have been really impressive. Obviously you can just pay your $14 and go to the fair, but again, if you've got two sleeping children in the car, this isn't really going to work. Neither is driving over near the fair; it's hard to see anything from the area along Civic Center Drive, and the resulting post-fireworks gridlock is pretty miserable.

Celebrate Independence Day the Marin way! Communities across the county observe the 4th of July in their own unique ways. Here’s what’s going on in Marin on the 4th of July. We will be updating the list as we learn of new events, so please check back.

Corte Madera-Larkspur

• The Corte Madera-Larkspur festivities start off with a pancake breakfast at Larkspur's American Legion Twin Cities Post 313 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at the corner of Ward Street and Magnolia Avenue. The cost is $5 to $7 and proceeds benefit local Boy and Girl Scouts and Little League.
• Don’t miss this year’s 44th Annual Corte Madera-Larkspur Chambers of Commerce 4th of July Parade! Don't miss the elaborate floats, precision drill teams, classic cars and the Corte Madera Town Band. Post-parade festivities at Corte Madera's Town Park 9 am to 5 pm include arts and crafts, food and drink, carnival games, children's activities, and live entertainment. The parade leaves Redwood High School in Larkspur at 10:30 am, moves down Magnolia into Corte Madera and continues down Tamalpais Ave. to the Town Center. Free. Info: (415) 924-0441 or www.cortemadera.org.

Inverness

• The 102nd annual 4th of July "Races at Inverness" will be held from 10 am–1 pm on Inverness Way North near the Inverness firehouse. Join in on the family foot races and the traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Marinwood Firefighter's Association's 49th Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast

• Join the Marinwood Firefighters for pancakes from 8:30–11:30 am at the Marinwood Community Center at 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael. Adults $7, children under 11 $5, and seniors (over 65) $5. For more info call (415) 479-0122 or visit www.marinwood.org.

Nicasio

• Rancho Nicasio Restaurant & Bar will hold its annual 4th of July Weekend BBQ on the Lawn, featuring Zydeco Flames, at 3 pm at the town square. The cost is $15 for adults; $5 for children under 10. Call (415) 662-2219 or go to their website.

Novato 17th Annual 4th of July Parade, Breakfast, and Races

• Novato’s 17th Annual 4th of July Parade begins at 10 am in downtown Novato, at the corner of Grant and Railroad Avenues. This year's theme is "Novato Goes Green" which emphasizes the importance of energy conservation and of the environment in today's world. Every year Novato hosts fifteen to twenty thousand spectators and over 100 parade entries ranging from classic cars and vehicles from a military museum to Irish bagpipers and a Chinese drum and bell corps. Along the parade route, you will also find food and refreshment booths, and souvenir t-shirts. For more information, go to www.novatoparade.com.
• The 56th annual Buckaroo Breakfast will be part of 4th of July festivities in Novato served from 7:30 to 10 am at the Redwood Credit Union parking lot at 1010 Grant Avenue in downtown Novato. Come enjoy eggs, pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and coffee. Hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Novato, all proceeds benefit a Novato community mission project. There is a suggested donation of $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Proceeds will be donated to the Marin Community mission project. For more info, call (415) 897-6152.
  

Today is Youth in Arts Day, with free admission for all children 12 and under. Today is also Marin IJ Day. Visit marinij.com to print out your coupon for $2 off fair admission.

Admission: adults $14, senior citizens 65 and older $12, children ages 4 to 12 $12, and children under 4 free. All admission prices include the exhibits, entertainment, fireworks and rides.

Today's Concert:

• Creedence Clearwater Revisited, 7:30 pm. Featuring original Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist and drummer Stu Cook and Doug Clifford.

More Marin County Fair information: www.marinfair.org

It’s time again for the Marin County Fair at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael. This theme for this 64th fair is "Cool Green Fun." Highlights include a solar powered carousel and stage, the Big Green Magic Show by Steve Trash, science fun and education with Wizard's Challenge, recycled arts and crafts, an electric car display, and more!

Of course there are also the more traditional fair offerings like farm animals and Hambone Express pig racing in the barnyard, 28 free (with fair admission) carnival rides, the 20th annual Creatures and Models exhibit, concerts, fine arts, and of course the nightly fireworks display.

This year's Marin County Fair runs from Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 5, 11 am to 11 pm daily.

The highlight of our recent road trip to California's Gold Country was our visit to Columbia State Historic Park in the Tuolumne County town of Columbia. In fact, much of Columbia is the park itself. While most of the small Mother Lode towns along Highway 49 are just dripping with history, Columbia takes this to an extreme due to the fact that its old downtown has been preserved to represent its mid-19th century heyday. It's the best preserved Gold Rush town, and a fantastic place for families with children since there's a lot to do and see. The downtown state park part of Columbia is also closed to vehicular traffic (stagecoaches excepted), so it's safe and families literally have the run of the place.

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, June 26

• Friday Nights on Main in Downtown Tiburon is from 6–9 pm. Bring the family and enjoy music, dancing, shopping and food. Bring a picnic or enjoy dining outdoors at your favorite local restaurant. Friday Nights on Main will run from June 5 through August 14. For more info, go to their website or call (415) 435-5633.
• Bring the family to this year’s Sonoma-Marin Fair, from June 24–28 from noon to midnight daily. This year’s theme is "Saddle Up for Fun," celebrating the North Bay’s equestrian heritage. Admission prices include all entertainment, carnival and midway attractions, exhibits, agricultural events, and more. Don’t miss the famous World's Ugliest Dog Contest on Friday, June 26 at 6 pm. Location: Petaluma Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. Admission: $15 adults, $10 ages 4–12, $8 seniors. Gates close at 10 pm. For more info, call (707) 283-FAIR or go to their website: www.sonoma-marinfair.org.
• The Marinwood Community Center’s Music in the Park series will be featuring Bonebag from 6–8 pm. Bring a blanket and enjoy the music. For the entire family. There will be beer & wine available for purchase. The Marinwood Community Center is located at 775 Miller Creek Road in San Rafael. For more info, go to www.marinwood.org.
• Join Call of the Sea for a Sunset Sail, 6–8:30 pm. Watch the sun set from the deck of the 82’ schooner Seaward, operated by Call of the Sea, a non-profit that educates children and adults about sailing and maritime activities. Adults $40, children (6–12) $25, no toddlers please. Beverages and snacks are provided. The cruise leaves from the Bay Model Visitor's Center in Sausalito. Get more information, directions, and reservations at www.callofthesea.org, or call (415) 331-3214.
• Enjoy Jazz & Blues by the Bay this Friday at Gabrielson Park in Sausalito from 6:30–8:30 pm. This Friday: Orquesta d’Sol sponsored by Sausalito Presbyterian Church. For more info, call (415) 289-4152.
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Unless you've been living under a rock or in a remote cabin in the Sierras for the last year or so, you know that the big King Tut exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, opens at the de Young Museum in San Francisco this Saturday, June 27. The exhibition will be there through March 28 of next year.

The last King Tut exhibition that rolled through the Bay Area back in 1979, back when many of us were small children, and certainly there are many of us who are looking forward to taking our children to see these treasures this time. This exhibition is bigger, and concentrates a little more on the history of ancient Egypt around the time of Tut, with artifacts from the tombs of his ancestors and members of his royal court, as well as 50 objects from Tutankhamun's tomb itself. What isn't in the show is the famous solid gold mummy mask that was the hit of 1979's Treasures of Tutankhamun; you're going to have to fly the family out to Cairo to see that, as the Egyptian government won't let it travel anymore for safety reasons.