The Fourth of July will be packed with activities on the Vineyard. Highlights and information about holiday events follow.

For those interested in a morning ocean swim, the Oak Bluffs Polar Bears will jump in at Inkwell beach at 7:30 a.m. on July 4. All are welcome to take a dip and enjoy cold water camaraderie to start the holiday.

After a swim, perhaps a run is in order. The Murdick’s Run the Chop Challenge is in its 16th year, and all proceeds benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club to support Vineyard kids. Registration is online and before the race at Tisbury School, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. The five-mile road race will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Tisbury School.

Parades will begin early, with the Camp Ground Children’s Parade in Oak Bluffs stepping off at 10 a.m. Participants will assemble at West Clinton avenue. The parade flows down Clinton avenue and around the Tabernacle, ending at the Cottage Museum.

In Aquinnah, the Old South Road Neighborhood Association’s 17th annual parade will begin with face painting, music, coffee and doughnuts at 5 Old South Road. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. Afterward all children are invited to a treasure hunt on Philbin Beach. Parking is available on Moshup Trail.

As the day continues, action will shift to Edgartown. At the corner of Main and Water streets, a capella group Vineyard Sound will sing the national anthem at 10 a.m. Down the street, the Harbor View hotel in Edgartown will have its annual barbecue and party beginning at 3 p.m.

The Good Shepherd Parish will be selling lobster rolls at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Edgartown from noon to 5 p.m.

The parade begins promptly at 5 p.m., starting at the school and winding around downtown Edgartown. Post-parade fireworks will begin at dusk.

Parade participants should arrive at the Edgartown School at 3 p.m. All roads along the parade route will be closed at 4:30 p.m. Roads are closed downtown until 7 p.m.

The Edgartown police department said residents should expect traffic delays.

At 7:30 p.m. the Old Whaling Church will host the Vineyard Haven Band.

Fireworks begin at dusk in the outer harbor near the lighthouse. Parking for people with handicaps is available in the yacht club parking lot at the foot of Main street. Lower Main, Dock and Water streets will all be closed to traffic until 11 p.m. Town parking is available in the Dark Woods Road lot, with trolley service to the center of town.

For those traveling between Edgartown and Chappaquiddick, the Chappy Ferry will stop carrying cars between 4:15 and 6 p.m. during the parade (pedestrians will still be transported). The ferry will shut down during the fireworks and resume service again at about 9:45 p.m.

The Vineyard Transit Authority will adjust its service due to road closures. VTA operations manager Patty Philbin said route 6 will be able to get as far as Edgartown Hardware. Routes 1, 13, and 11 will get as far as Memorial Park and then circle back. During the fireworks, only route 11 will be affected, she said. That bus will not go all the way to Mayhew Lane.

Bars in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs will adjust their service after the fireworks and through the weekend.

In Edgartown, last call on July 4 is at 1 a.m. with a 2 a.m. closing.

In Oak Bluffs, last call is at 1:30 a.m. and closing at 2 a.m. from July 4 through July 7.

The Gazette office will be open on the Fourth, which falls on deadline day for the print edition. Watch for the red truck in the parade!

For a complete list of events, visit the Gazette calendar online.