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There are a lot of pleasurable things you could put in your pie hole, but is there any more American than the corn dog? (Checks Wikipedia… “Newly arrived German immigrants in Texas…” That’s the melting pot at work, y’all!) To be fair, this annual contest is not about patriotic ideals, but numbers: Specifically, how many corn dogs you can eat in eight minutes. Winner takes home a cash prize while everybody else can feel good about supporting Helping Hand Home, a local nonprofit supporting abused and neglected children. – Kimberley Jones

Are you looking for an excuse – and we mean any excuse – to climb onstage and sing your heart out for a crowd of strangers? Look no further. This Independence Day, Volstead Lounge invites you to celebrate the freedom to sing whatever you want, whenever you want (as long as it’s between the hours of 9pm and 1am). Let the grand ol’ flag handle the stripes while you and your personal Rat Pack provide the stars. – Jasmine Lane

Finally: an Independence Day party for the inside kids. Blue Owl Brewing – home of sour beers and argyle can art – hosts a Fourth of July fête featuring mini golf, a water-balloon toss, mini corn dogs, red, white & blue slushies, and sparklers & free Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs sno-cone coupons to the first 30 guests. Keeping with the sno-cone theme, this party will also highlight Blue Owl’s newest brew: a Tiger’s Blood-inspired sour that’s sure to pucker the lips and delight the taste buds. The more competitive among us may also want to sign up for the watermelon eating contest – just do so in advance so there’s enough melon to go around. – James Scott

It’ll be 99 degrees on July 4? Who cares! That never stopped anybody from eating a hot dog or watching the fireworks. So get your red, white, and blue ass down to the Buda amphitheatre for the annual festivities. There’s a bike parade at 9am, a cornhole tournament at 4pm, and fireworks at sundown. Stars and stripes forever! – Brant Bingamon

Round Rock is celebrating the ol’ U.S. of A in a big way, starting with a 1.5-mile parade down Mays Street at 8:30am, before it gets too hot. Patriotic festivities at Old Settlers Park go from noon until 11:30pm, with carnival rides, live music, pig races from Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, a Sam Bass Shootout, and the 3pm pepper-eating contest, which sounds intense: 20 minutes of contestants just eating whole peppers. They aren’t allowed to squeeze out any of the seeds or juice! All that activity and you’ll be ready to relax and gaze at the fireworks show before heading home. – Kat McNevins

Wahoo! For 47 years now, the Austin skies have gotten painted all shades of red, white, and blue to celebrate Independence Day. This year’s no exception as all y’all Austinites are invited to spread out over Auditorium Shores aka Vic Mathias Shores aka the spot outside of the Long Center. Lovely tunes from the musicians of Austin Symphony Orchestra will fill the air – probably including “America the Beautiful,” the best of our nationalistic themes – and oh, won’t you be glad you grabbed a ticket to this longstanding tradition. – James Scott

Looking back on our field days of yore, we can imagine ourselves, hitching up our knee-high athletic socks and yanking tight our pigtails, thinking, “The egg toss is pleasant enough, but someday I’ll be an adult and this will be a fuckton more fun with an icy cold beer in hand.” And lo, that day has arrived. Zilker Brewing Co.’s first-ever Summer Field Day will include classic games like dizzy bat and cornhole, along with music from Double Heads and food from Spicy Boys. Calling it now: After a few frosty ones, the three-legged race is going to be absolute carnage. – Kimberley Jones

The original plan series creator Stephen Hillenburg intended was that the adventures of lovable rectangular & jaundiced sea sponge SpongeBob would conclude with this mega-movie event. Unfortunately, corporate greed demanded the sponge be wrung out for everything he’s got, so we’re still getting nautical nonsense well into 2024. However, only a real bubble-blowing baby would skip the chance to see what continues to be the gold standard of cartoon big-screen leaps. You can try to hide, but don’t think we don’t know how to weeeeeeeeed you out. I’m a goofy goober, yeah … you’re a goofy goober, yeah …: – James Scott

Hoo-wee! Does anything feel better than a dip in the pool during a hot Texas summer? While some among us may be privileged to own private watering holes, most of us get to enjoy the great Austin PARD’s work at the 44 public aquatic facilities to choose from this summer. You’ve got regional, neighborhood, and community pools; a wading pool; splash pads; and the crown jewel: Barton Springs. Check austintexas.gov/pools-splashpads for up-to-date info on which pools are open, what their entry fee is, and whether you have what it takes to be a public pool lifeguard. Now, outta the way if you don’t wanna get wet: I’m gonna do a cannonball! – James Scott

This program from the city of Austin, run by Farmshare Austin, has opened new market locations. There are now six weekly markets around town that sell Texas-grown produce, eggs, honey, and other groceries all at reduced prices. Most major cards are accepted at these markets and if you are a SNAP customer, you can also use your Lone Star card and Double Up Food Bucks. Locations and schedules are subject to change, so check the current info online to find one near you.

A nighttime shotgun-style nine-hole round made more fun and challenging with glow-in-the-dark balls.

Who doesn’t want to build up their CV in these trying times? Or perhaps you just want to fill your free time with something other than TikTok? Or maybe you want a behind-the-scenes, hands-on tour of Austin’s best place for sustainable craft supplies? Whatever reason you’ve got, it’s a good time to volunteer for Austin Creative Reuse’s Summer of Service program. Opportunities are abundant, with group projects like fabric rolling, dog toy making, or Funky Fabric Friday – that’s when they process all the weird stuff like purple faux fur or bright yellow vinyl. Sign up on austincreativereuse.org, complete 30 volunteering hours, and earn your Summer of Service certificate. Beats losing eight hours to ASMR slime-scoop videos, I’ll tell you what. – James Scott

Gather the picnic blankets and lather on the sunblock: The Long Center and ACL Radio’s free outdoor music series returns to the lawn every Thursday through Aug. 15 (except July 4).

Organized types will have fun volunteering to help Austin Creative Reuse sort through donated items, roll fabric, and detangle yarn. Registration required.