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Still plenty of fun for the Fourth

The Midpeninsula skies will be quieter this Fourth of July. Redwood City canceled its fireworks show, citing growing costs, and Stanford Lively Arts isn't bringing back its annual Independence Day fireworks and concert, called off last year due to campus construction.

Still, it takes more than a recession to keep down the fireworks show at Shoreline Amphitheatre. Here's a sampling of local Fourth festivities:

• Fireworks are planned at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View as part of the annual San Francisco Symphony performance starting at 8 p.m. on July 4. The program includes music by Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, John Williams, Stephen Schwartz, John Adams and John Philip Sousa. Tickets are $24-$29.50. Go to sfsymphony.org.

• The wind band plays with The Unicorns at a Fourth celebration in Los Altos' Shoup Park, 400 University Ave. The free event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Call (650) 949-5908 or go to www.losaltoscf.org and click on "Events."

• From noon to 5 p.m. on the Fourth, the 29th annual Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off happens at Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. Chili tasting begins at 1:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony is at 3:45. The band Blues at Eleven plays, and Hedy McAdams leads line dancing. Go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/recreation or call (650) 463-4921.

• Redwood City's 72nd annual parade starts at 10 a.m. on July 4 at Brewster Avenue and Winslow Street and travels around downtown with floats and marching bands. The festival begins at 9 a.m., with arts and crafts booths, food and drink, a pancake breakfast, a battle of the bands and other activities. Go to www.parade.org.

—Rebecca Wallace