AREA EVENTS

Fun and Wheels Entertainment Park will host a Family Freedom Fest from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday through Monday at the entertainment park, 9227 County Line Road. Food, refreshments, beer, games, batting cages, paintball, miniature golf, inflatables, water slides, pony rides, go-karts, watermelon and hot dog eating contests, arcade games and prizes for every age, face painting/tattoos, corn hole tossing contests, fireworks stand and "light your own Family Freedom Fest Fireworks" area will be featured. In addition, Beef 'O' Brady's will have its full menu available. All day passes and individual ride and game tickets will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting "The Wounded Warrior Project." Admission to the event and parking will be free. For information or to volunteer, contact Stephanie at (760) 960-0033 or email danielsonstephanie@yahoo.com

Hernando County Democratic Club will host an Independence Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Strong Tower Vineyard & Winery, 17810 Forge Drive. Special guests, food and wine tasting will be featured. Suggested donation is $10 per person at the door or join the club at a cost of $20 per person. The event is being held in recognition of Independence Day, and the public is welcome. For information, call 352-597-9551 or visit www.hernandocountydemocraticclub.com.

Elks Lodge 2582 will hold a Fourth of July party at 2 p.m. Monday at the Lodge, 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The menu will include barbecue pulled pork, baked chicken, veggies, potatoes and all the fixings. The cost is $8 per person, and the event is for members and guests. For information, call (352) 596-2582.

High Point community will hold its annual Fourth of July parade beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. Participants will line up at 8:30 a.m. at the High Point bus stop near Cortez Boulevard. The parade will then proceed down High Point Boulevard to the club house, ending at the community center. For information, call 352-200-8843.

Hernando Sportsman's Club will hold its annual Fourth of July Machine Gun Shoot from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at its club, 16121 Commercial Way. Bring own machine gun to the range – several cars, trucks and assorted targets will be destroyed. Admission for machine gun shooters will be $20 per person. Spectator admission will be $2 per person, with kids under 15 years old free. For information, call 352-597-9931 or visit www.hernandosportsmansclub.com

Hernando County Philippine-American Association will sponsor a "Fiesta in Hernando County" from 6 to 11:30 p.m. July 9 at the SNPJ Lodge (dance and party center), 13383 County Line Road. BYOB. Ticket cost is $15 per person for members, $18 per person for non-members, $10 per person for ages 6 to 16, and free for children 5 years old and under. For tickets or information, call Aurora Rice at 352-848-1031, Cobbie Atienza at 352-666-5381, Giezel Tadlip at 352-397-9730 or Fred Argoncillo at 352-442-4244.

Brooksville/Spring Hill Christian Women's Connection, affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries, will host a luncheon for women from noon to 1:30 p.m. July 12 at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue. Special feature will be "Music Man" with David Hunsberger, guitarist. Inspirational speaker will be Ann Combs of Clermont with the theme, "Decisions, Decisions – How to make the Right Decisions!" The menu will be a half chicken club wrap, potato salad, fruit garnish, and apple pie. The inclusive cost is $13.50 per person, and reservations are required by July 7. For assured seating, early reservations are suggested. For reservations or information, call Jan at 352-556-4658 or Mary at 352-238-9272.

Jolly Rancher's 4-H Club will host a ho-down dinner, dance and barn auction July 16 at the Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Dinner will include a choice of pulled pork or grilled chicken served with baked beans, green beans, macaroni salad, rolls, cornbread, drink and a dessert. A disc jockey will provide music for dancing; and silent auction items, celebrity "Kiss a Pig" pledges, and Kiddie Corral with games, food and supervision for children will be featured. Adult plate suggested donation will be $10 each; and for children 12 and under, suggested donation will be $5 each. All proceeds of the event will help its 4-H club travel to the Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga., and the AgriRama in Tifton, Ga. At the AgriRama, 4-H youth will have hands-on learning experiences of the old ways of farming; and the Ag Expo will expose them to the new ways of agriculture. In addition, the club is raising funds to help with its 2012 fair animal projects. For information, call Tammy at (352) 650-0409, Susan at (352) 585-3577 or Shari at (352) 585-1064.