Unless they look down at the sidewalk and realize you are on the Freedom Trail or their heel gets caught in one of those damn cobblestones downtown, Boston residents can often overlook the history right around them. Well, when the Fourth of July rolls into the city, residents are almost slapped in the face with a six-day-long historical celebration for Independence Day. Boston Harborfest kicks off today at noon in Faneuil Hall with a 500 lb. cake to celebrate the 375th birthday of Boston, along with a performance of "Four Guys in Tuxes." (Being the cynic that we are, Bostonist assumes this "wedding band" won't be as good as the free WBOS concerts this summer, but we could be wrong here.)

Bostonist decided to highlight some of the events that might interest you readers out there this holiday weekend:

Friday, 7/1: "TGIF" Concert at noon, City Hall; touted as "The Beach Party Band of the New Millenium," The Flounders will be putting on a show. From the looks of their website and being "the official band of Kiss 108's Matty in the Morning Show," Bostonist will probably skip the concert and take the extended lunch break anyway.

Saturday, 7/2: If you happened to score tickets to Saturday or Sunday's Sox game against Toronto, bring a canned good or $5 cash donation to Fenway; Sox players' wives will be collecting for the Greater Boston Food Bank. If you donate, you get an autographed photo of the player of your choice. (We know you want that Varitek glossy 8x10" for your cubicle.)

The Martha Vineyard's "eclectic" band, Entrain, is giving a free concert at City Hall, starting at 6pm. Bostonist saw them at Harper's Ferry a few years ago and thought it was worth the cover charge, which in our Bostonist world means they were entertaining.

Sunday, 7/3: "Chowderfest" at noon, City Hall; over 1,000 gallons of chowder from local restaurants compete to be the Best in Boston. Will last year's winner, Ned Devine's, take home the prize again? Cost: $5-7 per person to sample all chowders.

Bostonist needed a reminder that Keith Lockhart and the Pops perform July 3rd before the big show on the 4th. The concert starts at 8:30 on the Esplanade. Fewer people means a better seat, but you won't see any fireworks or hear the cannons during the 1812 Overture (which they also do only on the 4th).

Monday, 7/4: For those of you who get up every Patriots Day to see the reenactment on Lexington Green, we're sure you'll be lined up to hear the Declaration of Independence read at the Old State House, 206 Washington St. at 10am. If you want to get really crazy, head over to the Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., for a reenactment of the heated debate on the tea tax at 11am.

If you are headed to THE event in the city this weekend, you better leave very early to grab a spot on the Esplanade for Boston's 4th of July. Bring lots to keep you occupied throughout the afternoon until 8pm when the Pops start their show, followed by 23 minutes of great fireworks over the Charles. (Bostonist watched the fireworks from the Mass Ave. bridge last year and still had a great view.)

Happy 4th of July!