Dog About Town: Having Fun on the Fourth and More Things to Do

Looking for ways to celebrate the Fourth without fireworks? The whole family is invited to Five on the 4th on Thursday morning at Klyde Warren Park. Along with a 5-mile run, a 5k run and races for kids, there will be a pooch-friendly 2-mile walk at 8:45 with commemorative bandannas, racing bibs and cooling stations for the four-leggers. The festivities also include face painting, balloon artists, a watermelon-eating contest and an after-party with music and food. Over Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets. $29 for the walk through Sunday, $39 at the event; free for dogs. Money raised will go to the YMCA of Greater Dallas. rundallas.com.Also dog-friendly on the Fourth (make sure furry little ones don't get overheated, and if yours doesn't like fireworks -- most don't -- leave before they start):The annual 4th of July Parade at 9 a.m. in downtown Arlington. Free. arlington4th.org.Irving's Independence Day parade at 9 a.m. at Sowers and West Irving Boulevard. Free watermelon and a patriotic concert will follow at Heritage Park, 217 S. Main St. Free. cityofirving.org.Heath's annual Independence Day Parade at 9 a.m., followed by a celebration in Towne Center Park. The parade, which will present awards including one for most patriotic pet, starts at Amy Parks-Heath Elementary, 330 Laurence Drive. Free. heathtx.com.Lake Cities 4th of July at Lake Dallas City Park, which will kick off with a parade at 9 a.m. Vendors and entertainment, including headliner Eleven Hundred Springs, start at 4 p.m. 101 E. Hundley Drive. Free. lakedallas.com.Many of the neighborhood parades, including the Hillcrest-Forest one at 10 a.m. at Kramer Elementary, 7131 Midbury Drive. Free. hillcrestforest.org.Festivities in downtown McKinney, including a parade at 10 a.m. followed by a block party until 2 and a car show from 1 to 5 p.m. If you go, stop by the Canine Cookie Co. for a treat. Free. mckinneytexas.org.Dallas Heritage Village's Old Fashioned Fourth, which will feature a patriotic parade at noon, costumed guides and old-time games from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You're welcome to bring a picnic, along with a bowl (they have water fountains). 1515 S. Harwood St. $10, free for kids under 13 and dogs (must be carried if inside buildings). 214-421-5141. dallasheritagevillage.org.Also on the schedule•Homegrown Hounds Dog Deli and Bakery in Las Colinas invites four-leggers to make a Pride Month paw painting during store hours through Sunday. They are 8.5 by 5.5 inches, with three phrases to choose from. 5620 N. O'Connor Blvd. A $10 donation is requested. 888-929-2697. facebook.com/snackinwaggin.•The Levitt Pavilion's summer concert series is continuing with the Vandoliers on Friday, Flor De Toloache on Saturday and Wood & Wire on Sunday at Founders Plaza, 100 W. Abram St. in Arlington. All start at 8 p.m. The usual rules apply: Dogs must be leashed, well-behaved and cleaned up after. Free. levittpavilionarlington.org.•Also dog-friendly Friday: a concert by party band Downtown Fever at Cedar Hill's Valley Ridge Park Amphitheater.•Learn relaxation exercises for public places and signs of dehydration and heat stroke during this month's Paws on the Plaza class at 10 a.m. Saturday at McCall Plaza in downtown Plano. An after paw-ty at Hub Streat will follow. Dogs must be leashed and current on their rabies vaccination. 998 E. 15th St. Free. facebook.com/planoarts.•3 Nations Brewing in Farmers Branch will celebrate the launch of cans of its Perspective Hazy Pale Ale, which feature a dog and Paws in the City's logo, from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. A donation will be made to the group whenever it is purchased. You can snap a selfie with dog pictured, Miss Jovi, and JilliBean BBQ will also be there. 2405 Squire Place. Free admission. $20 will get you a commemorative pint glass and three beers. 214-888-DEBC. pawsinthecity.org.•Speaking of Homegrown Hounds (details above): Their monthly "Cooking for Your Dog at Home" class is at 3 p.m. Sunday. $30 per family (dogs are welcome too), includes food to take home. Register at homegrownhoundfood.com.•More meet and greets (dogs welcome at all): Cowtown Boxer Rescue at the Hollywood Feed in Plano from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. ... White Rock Dog Rescue at the Eatzi's on Royal Lane from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. ... ... The Street Dog Project at the Hollywood Feed on Skillman from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. ... Tails From the Heart Rescue at the Hollywood Feed in Allen from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. ... Legacy Humane Society at the Petco in Allen from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. ... Rockwall Pets at the Petco in Rockwall from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. ... Straydog.org at the PetSmart on Park in Plano from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. ... ... The Humane Society of North Texas at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth during the MEGA Adoption Event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.•Mutts Canine Cantina is celebrating the Dog Days of Summer with ice-filled pools for the pooches and $4 draft beer all day Wednesdays at both locations. 2889 Cityplace W. Blvd. (at Oak Grove Avenue), Dallas, 214-377-8723; and 5317 Clearfork Main St., Fort Worth, 817-377-0151. facebook.com/muttscaninecantina.•The Plano Community Band's pooch-friendly summer concerts will continue with "Patriotic Pops" at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St., Plano. Coming up: "Palooza in the Park" on July 15 and "A Night at the Jazz Club" (performed by the Frisco Jazz Band) on July 29. Free. planoband.com.•Also dog-friendly Wednesday: the 'Merica the Beer-tiful Party at Texas Ale Project (we recommend leaving before the fireworks start).•To celebrate the Fourth, Snuffer's is offering a free small order of cheddar fries with an entrée purchase and coupon July 4-7. Their locations at 3526 Greenville Ave. in Dallas and 4901 W. Park Blvd. in Plano have dog-friendly patios. snuffers.com.Ears up•To mark National Pet Preparedness Month (June), Canine Journal sent us this handy graphic:  Continue reading...