If you didn’t get your annual Independence Day fireworks fix, check out the second in a series of five events staged annually along the banks of the Rhine River.

“Rhein in Flammen,” translated variously into English as Rhine in Flames or Rhine Aflame, sees different stretches of the mighty river and its castles and ruins illuminated by light shows and fireworks, as the river itself bustles with traffic and tourists.

Saturday, July 7, is the night of glory for the stretch between Bingen and Rüdesheim, also incorporating the towns of Trechtingshausen and Assmannshausen. At 6 p.m., a procession of illuminated ships sets sail, and fireworks go off from 10 p.m.

If you’re not in Germany but plan to visit, Ryanair, which lands at Frankfurt Hahn airport, would be a great option for your incoming travel to this neck of the woods.

Can’t make this Rhine in Flames? Here are the other chances for you in 2007:

Aug. 11, Spay/Braubach to Koblenz

Sept. 8, Oberwesel to St. Goar

Sept. 15, St. Goar to St. Goarshausen

Do any readers have experience with these events and know any tricks for avoiding what I imagine must be a real traffic nightmare afterward?