Fourth of July events and shows

Community events this weekend include:

Lake Murray: “Rockin’ in the USA” boat parade, noon Saturday. Viewable from the park sites at the Lake Murray Dam. Patriotic concert, 8 p.m., Dreher Island State Park. Featuring the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra. Admission: adults, $2; seniors, $1.25; 15 and younger, free. Fireworks display from Spence Island and Dreher Island, 9:15 p.m. (803) 781-5940

Gaston: Concert and skateboard competition noon-4 p.m. Friday at Mack Elementary School. Admission $5. Proceeds benefit financially-strapped Town Hall.

Northeast Richland: Free concert starting at 3 p.m. Friday at town center commons at Village at Sandhill, followed by fireworks after dusk

WEATHER FORECAST

The weather should be ideal for ice cream and chilled watermelon on the Fourth of July. Highs will be in the mid-90s with a slight breeze and only the slimmest chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

The rest of the long weekend is iffy, with a 30 percent chance of natural fireworks in the form of afternoon and evening thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday, with highs around 90.

ON THE WATER

Natural Resources Department officers will offer safety inspections at several South Carolina public boat landings during the holiday weekend.

Officers from the agency’s Law Enforcement Division will perform the checks looking for proper safety equipment and boat and motor registrations. Those not in compliance will not be ticketed, the agency said, but will get the chance to correct the violations.

The department says there had been 13 boating deaths on South Carolina waters as of mid-June. That compares with 16 boating fatalities all of last year.