If you have cats and/or dogs, read this ahead of the Fourth of July. It's often a scary time for beloved pets.

The day after the Fourth of July is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters as they take in pets that ran away during fireworks celebrations.

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers will celebrate the Fourth of July with a post-game fireworks show following their matchup against the Hickory Crawdads. Time: 5 p.m. Celebrate the Fourth at Stumptown Park with food trucks, beer, live music, kids’ activities and plenty of patriotic fun. Pets and outside alcohol are not permitted at the event.

Most people hear about big July 4th fireworks in New York or Washington, but there are dozens of lesser-known cities that take Independence Day just as seriously. Some launch fireworks over rivers, others set them off from mountains,

When the 4th of July comes around, finding a place that really knows how to celebrate can make all the difference. These 11 U.S. cities with the best 4th of July celebrations bring the right mix of fireworks,