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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