On the 4th: Free Hot Dogs, Freedom Fest, Pub Crawl, & Female Firecrackers

Jul 2, 2012, 2012, 1:01pm

Fourth of July is two days away and maybe your plans are still pending (I know mine are), so I searched the city for events happening on Wednesday that have not sold out yet, or are free for you to consider, but maybe not totally commit to, depending if the 70 degree forecast permits a BBQ on your patio.

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From 1 to 4 p.m., bring your tots to the Hayes Valley Farm for an afternoon of crafts, farm portraits, and a picnic. You’ll get the chance to tour the farm on Laguna Street and even get a slice of cake before the fireworks.

It may not feel like Independence Day until you eat a hot dog, or, a free hot dog. The age old battle of veggie vs. beef dogs is undergoing at Frankenart Mart (apparently beef always wins). Not only is the Mart giving away hot dogs, it's hosting a hot dog drawing contest where the winning art is being turned into a souvenir wienermobile.

Mission residents don’t have to stray too far to have a spark of fun. The Bay Bridged is presenting Freedom Fest, a daytime show at El Rio with local bands like Tartufi and Religious Girls. Oh, and let’s not forget El Rio’s stellar back patio, the perfect escape for a holiday.

Parade on over to the Hemlock Tavern for a BBQ show, and I don’t mean a cooking demonstration. From 3 to 6 p.m., the Hemlock is providing free BBQ while guests watch Winter Teeth, Wicked Mercies, and the Gypsy Moonlight Band, providing the classic Laurel Canyon sound of the '60s.

Or, if you’re feeling really patriotic, join in on the Red, White & Brew Pub Crawl in the Marina to sip cut-rate drinks from more than a dozen venues on Union Street. Register any time between noon and 9 p.m., and you’ll have a night full of merrymaking, guaranteed.

Fireworks don't light your fire? I suggest The Knockout's Fourth of July Burlesque. Its nearly naked female firecrackers will help you celebrate this great country's birthday.

What do two outdoor patios, seven ping pong tables, and one spankin’ DJ add up to? An unforgettable night at the House of Pong. Of course they’ll be providing drinks and BBQ, plus killer views of fireworks and the Golden Gate Bridge.

But some thrill-seekers want to get all up under those fireworks. Explorers should climb aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien at Pier 45. Music, hot dogs, and non-alcoholic beverages may be the most epic way for you to spend America’s birthday with your friends and family.