Light Up Your Fourth With Music

MARYLAND

Today

HOLIDAYS Frederick's 4th Residents inside the Beltway have plenty of options for today: Go to the Mall? Or hit one of the city-sponsored parties? Those with farther to drive need their bashes to be all things to the people in their family. Frederick's festivities come close: Frederick's 4th features a best-dressed-patriot competition (meet at 2 p.m.), bands including locals the Lloyd Dobler Effect (3:30) and tribute act Beatlemagic (at 5:15), chili cook-off, boat and kayak rentals, and children's activities such as pony rides and a junior Ferris wheel. Free admission (some of the kids' activities and rentals have a small charge). Fireworks are at 9:15 p.m. Noon-10 p.m. Baker Park, 121 N. Bentz St., Frederick. 301-600-2841 or for details about parking and schedule visit http://www.celebratefrederick.com.

Tomorrow

ON STAGE Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre The second play of the season, staged outdoors under the stars, is the musical "Forever Plaid," about a 1950s pop boy-band whose dreams are quashed, literally, by the oncoming rock-and-roll behemoth. The production kicks off tomorrow. 8:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays (except the first and final weekends), through July 26. $18; seniors and students, $15. Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, 143 Compromise St., Annapolis. 410-268-9212.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Today

HOLIDAYS The Deal With Alexandria and the Fourth of July . . . You Virginians, always contrarians. Alexandria regularly forgoes Independence Day bashes in favor of celebrating its own birthday a week later, with a little nod to the birth of this country (Alexandria is, after all, celebrating its 259th year; the United States, only its 232nd.) What can you do today? This morning at St. Paul's Church, there is the Fourth of July Organ Concert, at which you can get in the spirit through organ interpretations of Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture and more. Free. 10-10:45 a.m. St. Paul's Church, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria. 703-549-3312.

HOLIDAYS "Celebrate America" In Old Town Manassas, you can celebrate the holiday at this bash, with live music near the city's train depot, children's rides and games, face-painting and even watermelon- and pie-eating contests -- and there's even a "Sweet Street" with contests and refreshments. The event opens at 4 p.m., contests start about 5 p.m. and fireworks at 9:15. Free admission; rides have small fees. 4-10 p.m. Old Town Manassas Train Depot, 9431 West St., Manassas. For details, visit http://www.visitmanassas.org.

Tomorrow

THE SCENE Broke and Miserable? Singing Your Heart Out Might Help A fter having to give up karaoke night late last year because of music licensing issues, Galaxy Hut has paid the industry folks and is bringing back karaoke nights, beginning tomorrow, and continuing the first Sunday of every month. Best part: It doesn't cost a thing. Second best part: You finally get to watch other people get up there and humiliate themselves again. Awesome. Free (sorry, 21 and older only). 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Galaxy Hut, 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-525-8646.

Monday

CONCERT Ani DiFranco The Grammy-winning indie-folk singer and budding poet, famous for blazing a path as an entrepreneur who started her own label, returns to Wolf Trap for the sixth time on Monday. Expect DiFranco to play tunes from her funk-folk back catalogue, since her latest, 2007's "Canon," was a "retrospective," featuring songs spanning her career. $40; lawn, $28. 8 p.m. Wolf Trap, Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna. 877-965-3872.