Many of the expected 850,000 tourists coming to the state for July Fourth week will be coming to the Lakes Region, and there's a lot to do in the area for visitors and residents alike.

The timing of the holiday, coming in the middle of the week, may bring more tourists to the region, particularly if the weather continues to be good, said Amy Landers of the Lakes Region Association.

“With this weather, we're definitely going to see a stronger turnout on the fourth,” Landers said. “It's already been a very strong summer for tourism.”

The association, which represents close to 100 communities, 273 lakes and ponds, and more than 400 businesses in central New Hampshire, monitors trends in the Lakes Region. Landers said there seems to be a trend this year of tourists taking extra-long weekends because of the holiday.

“People are either taking the long weekend at the beginning of the week, ending on the fourth, or at the end of the week, beginning on the Fourth,” she said.

► For a list of fireworks displays taking place across the state this week, click here.

For shoppers, the Tanger Outlet Center in Tilton begins it Fourth of July Weekend Sale on Wednesday, running through July 8, with sales in all of the outlet's stores.

The M/S Mount Washington Cruise Ship will host its July Fourth Fireworks Party Cruise. Small boats light up the lake while they wait for the fireworks from 7-10 p.m., according to ship officials. The night cruise includes dinner and dancing as the boat travels around the lake watching fireworks in lake towns. For more information, go to www.cruiseNH.com.

Meredith will host the annual The Lions Club Rubber Duckie Race down the Mill Falls waterfall at 4 p.m., followed by a summer concert in Hesky Park at 7 p.m. and fireworks over the bay at 9:30 p.m.

The town of Ashland's Fourth of July celebration begins with a pancake breakfast on July 4 from 8-9 a.m. at the Common Man Restaurant. The town's parade will begin at 10 a.m. downtown with fireworks starting at about dusk on the L.W. Packard ballfield.

Center Harbor's Fourth of July celebration begins with foot races at 10 a.m. in the 2-mile, 5-mile and kids categories.

Registration is from 8-9:30 a.m. The town's parade starts at 2 p.m. There will be a concert at the bandstand featuring Monadnock at 7 p.m. Fireworks over the bay start at 9:10 p.m.

dseufert@newstote.com