Summertime: A Guide to Entertainment, Activities And Excursions : Festivals for the Fourth : * Communities plan family fireworks and summer fun.

There’s a certain quality about the Fourth of July that cuts across cultural barriers. It’s a good-time holiday, custom-made for large gatherings, barbecues, ballgames and music.

And, of course, fireworks.

Those colorful exploding stars that force us to collectively gaze up into the warm summer sky are a brilliant form of magic. They make everyone feel like a kid again.

“It’s a very special day,” said Tim Brannon, 43, and the chairman of Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July Festival held at Pierce College. “My great-grandfather was in a carnival, so I guess it’s in my blood. I love everything about the day--the excitement, the flair and especially the entertainment.”

Now in its 17th year, the Pierce College celebration has blossomed from a small picnic-like affair with a $4,000 budget to a $50,000 extravaganza. There are food and game booths, a sky-diving exhibition with a team of 25 jumpers and a slew of live entertainment--big-band jazz by the S.R.O. Band, country music from American Made, the Aloha Paradise Dancers, The Flash Backs and the Great American Dance Factory.

And fireworks?

“No doubt about it. You can’t miss them this year,” said Brannon, who estimates that a crowd of 15,000 will attend the stadium festivities. “About 800 rockets are fired off in rapid succession over 20 minutes. We like to call it ‘The Mother of All Fourth of July Shows.’ ”

Gates at Pierce College Stadium, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, open at 4 p.m. The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $7, $5 for senior citizens and children 12 and under. Parking is $4. Call (818) 347-4737.

Here are other Fourth of July celebrations:

* This year, the SAN FERNANDO FIREWORKS SHOW kicks off the city’s 65th annual San Fernando Fiesta, a four-day communitywide celebration that runs from July 4 to 7. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. July 4 at San Fernando’s Recreation Park, 1st Street and Park Avenue. Admission is free.

July 5: The “Miss San Fernando Pageant” begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Odyssey Restaurant in Mission Hills. Tickets are $30. Reservations required. Call (818) 365-9141.

July 6-7: The festivities continue at Recreation Park with food, games and entertainment from noon to 8 p.m. Some of the musical groups include El Tiempo, La Vanda Sina Loence as well as folk and mariachi bands. Admission is free. Call (818) 361-1184.

* The CITY OF LANCASTER sponsors its Fourth of July Show at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 155 E. Ave. I, Lancaster. Geared toward family fun, the day begins at noon with magic shows, jugglers, games, a carnival and children’s circus. Four stages provide continuous music, beginning at 1 p.m. Featured is Dixieland music by Bourbon Street, 1950s a cappella numbers from The Knights, surf music by Surf City and rock ‘n’ roll from Yesterday. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Call (805) 723-6077.

* The CITY OF BURBANK and its Parks and Recreation Department present their annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show at John Burroughs High School Stadium, 1920 Clark Ave. With a “Welcome the Troops Home” theme, entertainment includes the American Heritage Ensemble which plays colonial-style music and trumpeter Art DePew and His Orchestra. The gates open at 7 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Tickets are $3. Call (818) 953-9572.

* “Proud To Be An American” is the theme of this year’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular on the North Campus of CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE, Devonshire Street and Zelzah Avenue. Sponsored by the Tri-Chambers of Commerce (Chatsworth, Northridge and Granada Hills), the show will be broadcast live by KMGX 94.3-FM. Gates open at 3 p.m., with entertainment, food and game booths. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Tickets are $6, $4 for children 12 and under. Call (818) 366-7425.

* The CITY OF SANTA CLARITA presents a variety of Fourth of July events, beginning at 6 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast at the Century 21 office, 24200 San Fernando Road, Newhall.

At 9 a.m., the Independence Day 5-K Run begins at Newhall Park, 24923 Newhall Ave.

“American Independence--Its Beginnings, Its People, Its Events” is the theme of this year’s Fourth of July Parade, with Sen. Ed Davis and his wife, Bobbie, as grand marshals.

The Penny Carnival is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Newhall Park. Two stages with live entertainment are offered, along with food and game booths and small rides for children. Admission is free. Call (805) 255-4910.

* The CONEJO RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT sponsors a variety of events throughout the Conejo Valley. Most events, unless otherwise indicated, are free. Call (805) 499-4355.

Family activities include a rodeo, games and country hoedown, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Triunfo Park, Tamarack Street and Westlake Boulevard, Westlake Village.

The “Desert Storm Salute!” features the Conejo Concert Band at 4 p.m. at Cal Lutheran University, 60 W. Olson Road, Thousand Oaks.

Fireworks begin at 9 p.m., at The Oaks Mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

* “Fourth of July Spectacular” begins at 2 p.m. at CAMARILLO’S FREEDOM PARK, Pleasant Valley and Freedom Park Drive. Fireworks display starts at dusk. Admission is $5, $3 senior citizens and students, and free for children under 5. Call (805) 482-1996.

* Third annual “Concert in the Sky” fireworks and entertainment is scheduled at MOORPARK COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, 280 Casey Road, Moorpark, on July 3. Gates open at 4 p.m., with continuous music, food booths and children’s activities. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Admission is $6, $4 children ages 3 to 12 and seniors, and free for kids under 3. Call (805) 378-5154.

But that’s not all. Here’s a peek at other summer festivals:

* The LANKERSHIM ARTS CENTER, 5108 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, continues to celebrate its first anniversary with free events held Fridays and Saturdays through June 30. Call (818) 989-8066.

* MUSIC EXPO ‘91/THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FESTIVAL is scheduled Aug. 17 at the Boys & Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley, 11251 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Admission is free. Call (818) 896-5261 or (213) 485-2437.

* A NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN SOLSTICE CELEBRATION, sponsored by the Friends of Satwiwa in cooperation with the National Parks Service, begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park. The program is free. For directions, call (818) 597-1036 or (805) 498-0305.

* OUTDOOR PAGEANTRY FESTIVAL--FANDANGO is scheduled Aug. 25 at the McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga. The Ballet Folklorico Cuica Calli, under the direction of Alfredo Calderon, is featured. Hours are 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call (818) 352-5285.

* PADUA HILLS PLAYWRIGHTS’ FESTIVAL begins July 18 at Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. The 14th annual event, which continues Thursdays through Sundays until Aug. 11, emphasizes new and experimental one-act plays. Two programs of four plays each are performed 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call (213) 913-2636.

* THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FAIR is held July 25-28 at the Hansen Dam Sports Complex in Lake View Terrace, 11770 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace. The fair includes pig races, a livestock auction, “Happy Time” circus, home and gardening exhibits, arts and crafts, a carnival, games, entertainment and food. Hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5, $3 children 12 to 14, free for 11 and under. Call (818) 373-4500.