7/10-7/12: Fireworks, Fisherman's Pier and Funny Man

Didn't get your fill of fireworks? Don't worry. We wouldn't want to welcome Jay-Z and the Warped Tour to the state any other way.

By ALEX ZURITA

Updated 6:30 PM EDT, Tue, Jul 28, 2009

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For those of you who didn’t get your fill of fireworks last weekend -- don’t worry! This one promises to be filled with the red glare of rockets and bombs bursting in the air. Even though it’s a week after Independence Day, there is at least one spectacular display everyday this weekend.

On Friday, watch the New Britain Rock Cats battle the Binghampton Mets at New Britain Stadium. Baseball, hot dogs, beer and fireworks, you can’t ask for anything more American. It’s a good family trip or a really cheap date, and the best part is it's followed up by a post-game fireworks display. Tickets range from $5 for general admission to $15 for the “MVP” section and can be bought at the stadium box office. Doors open at 5:35 p.m. and first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

For those of you who have listened to neighbors playing with illegal fireworks all week and want something with more of a rhythm and beat, take your “Hard Knock Life” and head over to Mohegan Sun and see rap legend Jay-Z. (Oh yeah, we told you about that here.) He will be performing Friday with special guest Ciara and the crowd will surely want an “Encore.” The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena and tickets cost $70 and $110.

Two huge fireworks displays are happening on Saturday -- both of them on water. The annual Riverfest is happening in downtown Hartford, starting at 4 p.m. and ending with a huge fireworks display over the Connecticut River. It’s a great day to spend on your yacht BBQ'ing and watching the fireworks from the water.

Sailfest starts on Friday but gets into full swing on Saturday. It also promises an amazing fireworks show in New London over the Sound.

A great place to see the fireworks from exclusive seating is Fisherman's Pier. You're served a tasty lobster dinner on a private pier in a prime viewing location. This is more of high-style American, but American none the less. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are available online.

Sometimes, though, you just need to laugh. Enter: Jim Gaffigan. The funny man will be at the Foxwoods MGM Grand Theater. You might remember Gaffigan from his roles in the hit movie "Super Troopers" and his hilarious commercials for Sierra Mist, ESPN, Saturn and Rolling Rock to name a few. The show starts at 8 p.m. and the tickets range in price from $30 to $50.

And on Sunday, the Vans Warped Tour 2009 will hit the Comcast Theatre. Hartford will be invaded by some of the most popular alternative, punk and rock bands around today. Some of the bands that will make an appearance are 3OH!3, Alexisonfire, Senses Fail, and Meg & Dia. This is the fifteenth year that there has been a Warped Tour and you know that by now they have the show down to a science. Tickets will run you $32.75 online and $39.75 day of show. The show starts at 12 p.m.

This weekend will leave a ringing sound in your ear, but who needs those things anyways. Also, before you go out, be sure to check NBCConnecticut weather, because there could be a chance of some other boomers in the sky -- isolated thunderstorms.