07/04/09 - Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts stand ready with the American Flag before the start of the annual Fourth of July Celebration and community parade in Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC, a suburban community north of Charlotte, North Carolina. Birkdale Village combines shopping, dining, apartments and entertainment venues within a 52-acre mixed-use development. Each Independence Day, families gather their children and pets to participate in the popular July 4th community parade. The event includes a firefighter water fight, in which neighboring fire stations blast a large ball (strung on a wire) into the opposing team's area. Charlotte event photographer Patrick Schneider has additional Birkdale Village Fourth of July photos available at http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/patrickschneider/gallery/July-4th-celebrations/G0000CXKFlHTylqk/.