What’s the Fourth of July without fireworks? Quieter, at least. Stripes has compiled a round-up of all the on base happenings. See Fourth of July events on U.S. bases in Europe on the Stripes Web site or the July 3 issue.

If you can’t get to a base for the Independence Day festivities, or that only whets your appetite for more, there are other local happenings in which fireworks will feature, and plenty more out there to ensure your long weekend is a memorable one.

The second in a series of five Rhine in Flames events in 2008 takes place between Bingen and Rüdesheim on Saturday, July 5. This upcoming weekend’s version is named The Magic Fire-Lit Night, and will feature dozens of illuminated ships and fireworks displays being shot off in succession from the towns of Trechtingshausen, Rheinstein Castle, Assmannshausen, and the Ehrenfels and Klopp Castles in Bingen. Expect a late night out, as the final display kicks off at 11:30 p.m.

Darmstadt’s Heinerfest runs through the weekend and closes on Monday, July 7, with fireworks rounding up the festivities at around 10:30 p.m. While you’re out and about, don’t miss the ABBA cover band, playing out by the palace.

If your Independence Day would be complete if only you could find a parade, you could always head to Cologne for its Christopher Street Day festivities. This three-day fest, which runs July 4-7, is the gay and lesbian pride event for the city, and features three stages full of music, comedy, cabaret and political discourse. This year’s slogan is “Zero tolerance — for zero tolerance.” The annual event attracts a huge and diverse crowd, so expect anything and everything.

An event that will hark you way back, even further than the time of the American Revolution, takes place in Andernach. From July 4-6, a medieval market will take place within the framework of the Bäckerjungenfest. Catch the historical re-enactment in the castle gardens at 8 p.m. Friday, 10 p.m. Saturday or 5 p.m. Sunday.

Perhaps you want for nothing more than a fest, friends and a cold beer or two. In that case, there’s an Altstadt Fest or two with your name on it. Koblenz and Kaiserslautern each have one from July 4-6. If you’re in Bavaria, Bayreuth’s Bürgerfest, July 4-6, might be more up your alley. There you will not be plagued by the eternal question, beer or wine, because it features both a “beer street” with five breweries serving their wares and an Italian wine fest in recognition of its partner city La Spezia.