Music, Fireworks Salute the 4th

Fireworks displays and community celebrations to ring in the Fourth of July will be held today all over North County.

Here are some of the festivities planned:

* Bonsall’s River Village shopping center is the site of this year’s charity chili cook-off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Twenty International Chili Society cooks will compete for cash prizes and 15 other cooks will compete in the Peoples’ Choice Cook-Off. A $3 admission fee covers chili sampling, entertainment, kids’ games and contests. Children under 12 get in free. A crafts fair, food booths and beer garden will also be featured. The event is sponsored by Bonsall’s Chamber of Commerce, Lions and Lionesses, Rotary Club and Kiwanis and all proceeds go to local charities.

* Carlsbad’s Big Bang Committee is hosting its annual fireworks display at 9 p.m. at the foot of Tamarack Avenue at Carlsbad Boulevard. The 23-minute sky show will be synchronized with patriotic music on KKOS-FM Radio.

* Escondido will celebrate the nation’s independence with its 17th annual Red, White and Blue Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grape Day Park. A program to honor veterans of all wars will be held at 1 p.m. Games, contests, musical entertainment and food will be available throughout the day.

The Escondido Historical Society will also open the doors of its 1920 Santa Fe railroad car from 1 to 4 p.m. The combination passenger-mail car is part of the Heritage Walk Museum in Grape Day Park. Admission is free.

* Oceanside will begin its annual Independence Day Parade at 10 a.m. on Hill Street in downtown Oceanside. A concert by the Marine Corps Band begins at 8 p.m. at the Pier Bandshell followed by a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

* Poway will host a salute to military personnel past and present from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lake Poway. Military displays, a patriotic band concert and a speaker are part of the morning activities. Throughout the day, there will be food, games, a fishing contest for kids, face painting, a vintage car show, music, dancers and a beautiful-baby contest.

* Rancho Bernardo’s Spirit of the Fourth Committee will be host to family-oriented festivities beginning at 9 a.m. at Webb Park. Music, games, relay races, food and baked goods will be available. The annual “Spirit of the Fourth” parade begins at 2:30 p.m. on Lomica Drive. A fireworks display begins at 9 p.m. from atop the Bernardo Heights water tower and can best be seen from Bernardo Heights Parkway.

Rancho Bernardo’s Symphony on the Green 1991 Summer Series opens with a bang at 7:30 p.m. on the driving range of the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Singer Marie Osmond and comedian Paul Lennon headline a night of music under the stars. Grounds open at 5 p.m. for picnicking. Food and beverages will be sold. A gala fireworks display will follow the symphony.

* Rancho Penasquitos Community Council will sponsor fireworks at 9 p.m. from the parking lot of Sun Devil Stadium at Mt. Carmel High School.

* San Marcos is holding an evening celebration beginning at 5 p.m. at Bradley Park on the corner of Linda Vista and Rancho Santa Fe roads. Entertainment, games, food and a co-ed sports festival will lead up to the 9 p.m. fireworks show.

* Vista starts its Independence Day with an Over-the-Line Tournament at 8 a.m. at Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive. A horseshoe tourney sponsored by the Optimists will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The food booths will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Children’s games, a salute to the military, a Cub Scout flag routine, sky diving, and rock, Motown and big-band music fill the rest of the day. Fireworks will be set off from 9 to 9:25, and a free “After the Fireworks” dance will be held on the basketball courts.