The Northside Fourth of July Festival starts at Hoffner Park at 6 p.m. on Friday when the Rock ‘N’ Roll Carnival comes to town and transforms the Park into a giant beer garden. There, you’ll get an eyeful of deliciously deviant and exotic delights such as fire breathers, aerial dancers, sword swallowers and drag queens. Man Halen, Wussy, Culture Queer and more bands provide the soundtrack until 1 a.m. Then, on the 4th, drag yourself out of whatever gutter you slept in and stumble into the parade along Hamilton Ave. at 11 a.m. It ends at Hoffner Park, where the carnival becomes a festival featuring Vaudeville shows, a gypsy circus, food and artist booths and more live music by The Lions Rampant, Fists of Love and seven more bands until 1 a.m.

The LaRosa’s Balloon Glow, now in its 10th year, features as many as 20 glowing hot air balloons in every color tethered to the Moonlite Mall at Coney Island. They’ll be there, all lit up, from 8-10 p.m. for your viewing pleasure. And along with glowing balloons, there will also be live music from the Anderson Township Symphony Orchestra and the Bearcat Jazz Ensemble; entertainment from the guys who turn balloons into different animals and hats, stiltwalkers, jugglers and wake boarders; not to mention Coney’s classic rides. And, of course, at 10 p.m. there will be a gigantic fireworks display provided by Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.

On their latest traveling tent revival, the Shack*Shakers will likely be singing from the upcoming chapter in their snake-handling hymnal, the fall-scheduled 'AgriDustrial.' Get on your go-to-meetin' duds and find out why News of the World called Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers the Rockabilly Sex Pistols. They play the Southgate House's Independence Day Throwdown #1 with The Tillers, Joshua Black Wilkins, Hillbilly Casino, The LadyBirds and more.

For the summer, the Shadowbox is offering a greatest-hits revue of material that has entertained audiences at the "sketch comedy and Rock & Roll Club" venue on the upper level of the Levee. Comedy skits and music have been retooled with new ensemble members and fresh casting, so even if you've seen some of this material before, it will have some new twists and turns. Their special Red, White and Box event starts at 7:30 p.m. with a bistro-style menu and cash bar.

Starting on Friday, the Newport Motorcycle Rally will take over the Newport Kentucky Festival Park with a performance by the Natalie Wells Band followed by a great fireworks show. Then on Saturday, the annual charity ride to benefit the family of Charles Barrett starts at 1 p.m. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and will run until 12:45 p.m. The ride is a Poker Run and has a total of four stops. Prizes will be given away and the entry fee is $20 per bike (includes any rider). Then, after the ride, Taylor Farley, G Miles and the Hitmen and the Natalie Wells Band perform. On Sunday, look for live music by Poker Face. And everyday this weekend, enjoy great music, food and, of course, motorcycles.