GIVE US LIBERTY, GIVE US BLASTS : This 4th Features Speeches, Battles and Other Fireworks

For the tradition-minded, this Fourth of July will offer plenty of comfortably familiar events to mark the independence of the United States: community-oriented fairs, picnics, parades and, of course, fireworks shows.

One event, however, presents a new twist, at least for these parts. Patrick Henry will deliver his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, Gen. George Washington will review his troops, and the battles of Lexington and Concord will again be fought.

The replica of Independence Hall at Knott’s Berry Farm will be the site of what is being called an American Revolutionary Encampment, Friday through Monday, with a variety of historical re-enactments, craft and cooking demonstrations and actors presenting the words of such figures as Henry, Washington and Thomas Paine. All the presentations will be offered several times a day.

Demonstrations include drill and musket firing by the Southern California Colonial Arts Council. Presentations of 1770s-era cooking (bean soup, corn bread, guber peas and boiled potatoes with stew), weaving, spinning, leather crafting, woodworking, tin-smithing, blacksmithing and violin-making will be offered.

Knott’s is offering the event as part of its Adventures in Education series for Southern California schools, although the public is invited, with free admission and three-hour parking. Hours are Saturday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Independence Hall is across the street from the main Knott’s entrance. Knott’s also offers fireworks shows nightly through the summer, beginning Friday.

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Meanwhile, Huntington Beach will again be the site of a Fourth of July parade--just as it has been every year since 1904, when the city celebrated the opening of Henry Huntington’s Red Line, the Pacific Electric Railway.

The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at Main Street and Acacia Avenue and wind up about two hours later at Main Street and Clay Avenue. About 200 entrants have signed up for the parade, including drill teams, bands, equestrian units, color guards, floats and antique autos. TV personality Sarah Purcell will be celebrity grand marshal.

Organizers predict some 300,000 spectators and say the event is the biggest Fourth of July parade west of the Mississippi, both in length and in number of spectators. The city is also offering a Fourth of July fair Friday through Monday at Worthy Park, at the corner of 17th and Main streets. A city fireworks show begins at 7 p.m. Monday.

Centennial Park in Santa Ana will be the site of a three-day Independence Day fair beginning Saturday, with entertainment, food booths, carnival rides and, on Monday, a fireworks show. Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley will also see the return of the Fiesta Friday through Monday, with carnival rides, live music and a Monday fireworks show.

The Garden Grove Lions Club will offer a musical variety show Monday at 7 p.m. at Bolsa Grande High School Stadium, followed by a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Fullerton offers its Community Fireworks Show and Festival beginning at 4 p.m. Monday at Fullerton Union High School Athletic Stadium, with fireworks at 9 p.m.

At Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, the Pacific Symphony returns Monday to open its summer series with a swing-oriented program, along with picnicking and fireworks. The Angels, alas, will be out of town on the Fourth.