BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Many around the country are preparing for a huge weekend ahead, between our country’s big birthday and the World Cup. On Friday some were trying to make the most of local events, despite the extreme heat.

“Live and die for fútbol, our fútbol, not soccer here,” Adam Alsaad, a Portugal fan, said.

Alsaad was watching Egypt face Australia from SteelStacks’ outdoor big screen on Friday afternoon.

As World Cup weekend kicked off Friday, Erik Betlaf was watching from a much cooler, indoor screen inside the nearby ArtsQuest building.

“I’m actually a huge soccer fan,” he said. “To see the sport grow over here in this country is amazing.”

And what better place to watch than at SteelStacks in Bethlehem?

“We just heard it’s a lot of excitement, very busy, a lot of food,” Patrick Kinek, from Northampton, checking out the game with his girlfriend, Lindsey Peniston, said.

But Friday afternoon, die-hard fans for both Australia and Egypt couldn’t help but feel the heat — and we’re not just talking about the competition.

“It’s too hot in here,” 13-year-old Egypt fan Moustafa Elsayed said.

Moustafa was watching outside in the scorching heat with his mother and 11-year-old brother, Moaz.

ArtsQuest’s big free events — celebrating the World Cup and America’s birthday and the fact that it’s America’s 250th birthday — were all adjusted for the day’s extreme heat.

Cory Stevens, Executive Director of Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks and Volunteer Program Manager for ArtsQuest, explained changes made to the events due to the brutal heat.

“Today our headliner is U.S. Army Field Band,” Stevens said. “Forty serving, active members of the U.S. Army, and they do orchestral marches and travel with a choir. It’s very cool.”

The band was moved inside to the third floor of the ArtsQuest building, and other outdoor shows were canceled for Friday.

“Just because the heat is over 100 degrees with real feel more like 110 degrees,” Stevens said.

Meanwhile, some continued braving it out, outdoors.

“Anything for the World Cup,” Moustafa said, adding his family would move indoors during halftime.

“Honest to God,” Alsaad said, “since the World Cup started, I didn’t miss any games, like finishing work, immediately coming here.”

The United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus will perform at the ArtsQuest building at SteelStacks Friday at 7:30 p.m..