Still bitter about your beach-weekend plans falling through? (We are.) Well, if the events we gathered for you in our exhaustive roundup for the Fourth haven’t, um, exhausted you by the time the fireworks start, here are a few parties at local music and dance venues you might want to check out. Know of fun Fourth of July parties happening in town? Let us know in the comments. Oh, and God bless America!

Earlier: Where to Watch Fireworks on the Fourth
Fun Ideas for a Bang-Up Fourth of July

(Note: All these dance parties take place on July 4th except for Apex, which starts Thursday, the 3rd, and goes through Saturday the 5th.)

DC9
Liberation Dance Party does its patriotic duty by going green—hemp green, that is. The long-running indie-pop dance party hosts a special midnight fashion show by local clothing store Capitol Hemp. The bar’s relatively new open-bar policy runs form 10 to 11. There’s a $6 cover charge. Doors open at 10.

Black Cat
Celebrating our independence by dancing to British tunes may seem a bit odd, but those Brits do make great music. From 9 PM to 2 AM, DJ Stereo Faith will host Sorted, a dance party playing soul, indie pop, and Britpop songs, at the Black Cat’s main stage. Alongside Faith, there’ll be an entourage of guest DJs, including locals DJ Cassidy and DJ Cale. Tickets are $10.

Music Center at Strathmore

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has some light and enjoyable programs coming up. It plays Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and Astor Piazzolla’s tango version, “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” on July 10. A program called “The Tchaikovsky Spectacular,” which includes the “Romeo and Juliet” violin concerto and selections from Swan Lake, is July 17. Maestro/pianist Leon Fleisher’s 80th birthday will be celebrated with an all-Mozart program July 24. “A Tribute to Gershwin & Bernstein”—including “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris” by Gershwin and selections from West Side Story by Bernstein—takes place July 31. For tickets ($25 to $60), call 877-276-1444 or visit bsomusic.org. 5301 Tuckerman La., North Bethesda; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Pop/rock singer/songwriter John Mayer appears with guitarist/singer Brett Dennen July 13; tickets are $36 to $59.50. The Steve Miller Band and Joe Cocker come through town July 17; tickets are $35 to $75. The rock band O.A.R., whose founding members are from Rockville, is joined by the Beautiful Girls, a trio of Australian blokes playing roots rock, July 26; tickets are $30 to $38. 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia; 410-715-5550; merriweathermusic.com.

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

On a hot day, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is one of the city’s nicer spots. On Fridays at 5 (except July 4), Jazz in the Garden takes place on the west side of the fountain. The Joshua Bayer Quartet plays classic jazz July 11; Nasar Abadey and Supernova do modern jazz July 18; Deanna Bogart and her boogie-woogie rhythm-and-blues jazz band stir it up July 25. Admission is free, with no tickets required. Drinks and snacks are sold at the sculpture garden’s cafe. The main entrance is at Seventh St. and Constitution Ave., NW; 202-737-4215; nga.gov/programs/jazz.

Beating the crowds is always a plus, but a little hoopla never hurt anyone, either. Whatever your style, the key to celebrating the Fourth of July in Washington is a little bit of planning. Braving the Mall? Get there early. In the mood for something different? Check out these alternatives for Independence Day fun. We’ve got everything from restaurant roof decks to off-the-beaten-track fireworks-viewing spots. What are your best spots for watching fireworks? Let us know your favorite viewing spots in the comments.

Related: Fun Ideas for a Bang-Up Fourth of July in and Around DC

Sticking With Tradition

Cardozo High School
1300 Clifton St., NW
Metro: U Street/Cardozo
Cardozo High School is on a hill high above downtown DC, and its playing field has views of the Mall. The Independence Day crowd is a diverse group of locals with a friendly community feel. It’s a well-known viewing area within the neighborhood, so arrive early to secure your spot.

OMG, your Fourth of July beach weekend fell through?! Worry not, city-bound friend—we’ve got a roundup of events to make the most of the holiday. Check out our guide to the Fourth, and start planning a day of America-rific fun!

Related: Ooh! Aah! Where to Watch the Fireworks in Washington—From Traditional Spots to the Unexpected

It’s been 232 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Celebrate with a visit to the National Archives, where a dramatic reading of the document by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin will start at 10 AM on the Constitution Avenue steps. Afterward, until 2 PM, patriotic music and family fun—with temporary tattoos!—will abound.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival runs June 25 through 29 and July 2 through 6, so you can brave the crowds and check out this year’s cultural offerings on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. If you’ve never been, the Smithsonian packs the two-week event with music, food, dancing, crafts, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor exhibits from a diverse sampling of world cultures: this year, Bhutan, Texas, and. . . NASA. (Hey, we said it was diverse!) Open 11 to 5:30.

On Wednesday nights from late April through mid-September, the Annapolis Yacht Club hosts Wednesday Night Races. Even if you don’t know a mainsail from a jib, there are opportunities to join the crew of a competing boat.

The races are mostly a social affair, and many boats need a spare hand. Veteran crew members will show you the ropes and give you a few pointers about how to move about the boat, where to be, and (most important) where not to be. Soon you’ll find yourself in the thick of a race, leaning over the boat’s high side (a move called hiking) and feeling the wind and cooling mist rising off the bay. Rush hour will seem a million miles away.

It’s time to break out the picnic baskets and lawn chairs—free outdoor movies are back! From Bond movies to Bee Movie, check out our round-up of great places in the DC area to catch a flick under the stars.

Got a tip on another free movie spot? Let us know in the comments!

WASHINGTON
James Bond Film Festival: Thursdays through August 28, catch a free Bond flick in DC’s NoMA neighborhood at the future site of the upcoming mixed-use development Washington Gateway. (See below for the Rosslyn-location Bond screenings.) Upcoming showings include Live and Let Die (June 19), Moonraker (July 17), and Goldeneye (August 14). Come dressed as your favorite Bond character for a chance to win prizes. Recite a few lines or act out a scene for the best chance to win.

Mount Pleasant Films in the Park: Three Saturdays this summer, head to Mount Pleasant's Lamont Street Park for free outdoor movies, music, and games. The 1982 Spielberg classic, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, kicked off the series on June 14, followed by Blanca Nieve (Snow White) with English subtitles on July 12, and Raiders of the Lost Ark on August 9. Films begin at 9, with music and games beforehand.