SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - This year, Independence Day celebrations will lead into a long weekend of fun times and fireworks. 

Pocket residents look forward to the Fourth of July events every year and celebrate as a community. 

Here are some ways to spend the upcoming holiday weekend in and near the area. 

Every year, Councilmember Rick Jennings hosts the largest parade in the Sacramento area in the community of Pocket/Greenhaven. 

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. July 4. The route starts on the corner of Windbridge and South Land Park Drive, south on Windbridge and right on Pocket Road, and ends at the Garcia Bend Park entrance.

This free event will be a morning filled with vintage cars rolling down the streets, local sports teams showing up in full spirit and creative, high-energy parade floats that celebrate the community.

Start the Fourth of July celebrations by going to the Sacramento Zoo where there will be a reduced entry fee July 3 and July 4. Admission for these days will be $10 and zoo members enter for free. 

The zoo will be open with its regular hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available to purchase ahead of time at tickets.saczoo.org/calendar.

The Sacramento Zoo is at 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento.

Take family and friends to the ballpark July 3 to celebrate Independence Eve with an all-you-can-eat barbecue feast. 

Fans can purchase single game tickets to the Sacramento River Cats July 3rd game or the July 3rd BBQ ticket pack which includes seating at the Sky River Casino Solon Club with unlimited servings of barbecue. 

Barbecue will be served at the Sky River Casino Solon Club and will start at 5 p.m., until the top of the fifth inning. Tickets for adults are $65 and $45 for children ages 12 and under. A 10-minute fireworks show will be presented at the end of the game. Purchase tickets online at rivercats.com.

On July 4, the Athletics will play against the San Francisco Giants where the game will be proceeded by a display of patriotic postgame fireworks presented by Chevrolet.

To view ticket prices and availability, visit mlb.com/athletics/tickets/single-game-tickets. 

Both games will be held at the Sutter Health Park, located at 400 Ballpark Drive in West Sacramento.

Come down to the riverside for the Independence Day Boat Parade on the Sacramento River at the Old Sacramento Waterfront on July 4. Spectators can watch from both sides of the Sacramento River, including the Old Sacramento Waterfront, the River Walk Trail and various restaurants and parks along both sides of the river.

Decorated boats will leave the Sacramento Yacht Club, located at 3365 Chicory Loop, about 1 p.m. and head north up the Sacramento River.

The parade will go through Old Sacramento Waterfront and turn around at the Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant and Marina. 

Old Sacramento Waterfront is located at 1002 Second St. 

For residents 21 and over, the annual Fourth of July Bar Crawl will be from 6 to 11 p.m. July 4 and July 5. Registration will start at Kbar in DOCO, 732 K St., and tickets for a single adult are about $35.

With purchase of a ticket, attendees get a wristband that grants free entry to bars, discounted drinks and food specials. Those who participate will get access to a detailed, digital map to explore the different bars in the area. 

Tickets are available to purchase online at vipnightlife.com/events/sacramento-pre-4th-of-july-red-white-and-brew-bar-crawl-party.