1. Get some global culture at the 44th annual International African Arts Festival, with world, soul, and reggae music, a craft bazaar, a youth talent show, and a lot more. (Friday through Sunday, FREE)
2. Take in a huge amount of independent music at the Julybalaya festival, created by indie artists, for indie artists. (Friday & Saturday, $25/day)
3. Dance your butt off at Dark Disco on the Roof, featuring Galcher Lustwerk, Young Male, DJ Richard, Morgan Louis, and Alvin Aronson. (Friday, $15)
4. Celebrate comedian Nick Naney’s 30th with Naneyfest, a screening of funny short films plus comedy performances by Nick Turner, Nate Fernald, Jo Firestone, and more. (Friday, FREE)
5. Laugh globally at Joloff Restaurant’s Comedy Diaspora, hosted by Ndidi Oriji and Charles McBee. (Friday, FREE)
6. Get down to an all-new DJ set with special guest vocalists to celebrate the birthday of Mister Rogers cofounder Sensei Shnay. (Friday, FREE)
7. Stake out a spot to watch the fireworks, especially because you’re not limited to squeezing into Brooklyn Bridge Park this year. (Saturday, FREE)
8. We’ve got a roundup of 11 awesome patriotic events before the fireworks start, like patriotic burlesque, an all-day Independence Day marathon and of course the hot dog eating contest. (Saturday)
9. Just try to stay normal at the Might Get Weird party at Sugarhill Disco, featuring a smorgasbord of entertainments, from DJs to live music to performance art. (Saturday, $20)
10. Groove out at the CityFox Experience, a day-and-night immersion in “crystalline sound” at brand-new event space Brooklyn Mirage. (Saturday, $60)
11. Bring your strangest skill to the Show/Tell Show, a talent show mixed with standup comedy. (Saturday, FREE)
12. Celebrate Clinton Hill art space Jack’s 3rd birthday with performances, DJs, and free beer (while it lasts). (Saturday, $15)
13. Prove your patriotism by helping Three Bones Theatre Company perform Independence Day entirely from memory. (Saturday, $10)
14. Get down late into the night at the Whoreth of July queer dance party. (Saturday, FREE)
15. Dance off your BBQ hangover at Tiki Disco, featuring DJs Ely Escobar, Lloydski, and Andy Pry. (Sunday, $10)
16. Stockpile your best wordplay and head to the Punderdome 3000, Brooklyn’s best groan-filled competition. (Sunday, $6)
17. Spend an emotionally confusing hour with comedian Chris Gethard, who will make you laugh about really depressing things. (Sunday, $8)