Looking for an amazing place to celebrate the Fourth of July? Here are 10 cities that really know how to salute Independence Day.
Stars, Stripes & Pops
Boston rivals Philly for Independence Daya panache, and nothing says All-American Fourth of July like spreading out a picnic blanket with friends and family alongside the Charles River and listening to the Boston Pops play at the Hatch Shell, followed by an incredible fireworks show. This year, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular celebrates its 51st anniversary on the Esplanade, with feature performances by LeAnn Rimes, “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom Jr., and Bell Biv Devoe. Tradition dictates that the fireworks show is accompanied by conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”
A Traditionalist Fourth of July
The charming Rhode Island seaport of Bristol hosts “America’s Oldest Continuous Fourth of July Celebration.” Dating back to 1785, just nine years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it has since become the quintessential way small-town America marks Independence Day. The center lines of the parade route on Hope and High streets are freshly painted red, white, and blue each year. Beginning at 10:30 am, the 2025 parade will be a showcase of drum corps and bands from all around the country, along with brightly decorated floats. Spend the rest of the day at Bristol Town Beach, Independence Park, and the Bristol 4th of July Carnival, with a fireworks finale over Bristol Harbor.
A Fourth for American History Buffs
The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776, and the city marks the date with the two-week-long Wawa Welcome America festival. It includes the All-American Block Party, Movies on the Mall, and a Salute to Independence Parade. That winds up on July 4th with a free concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with a concert anchored by Hip-Hop artist LL COOL J and DJ Z-Trip on the turntables. The evening will also feature a performance from GRAMMY Award-winning R&B singer and songwriter, and Philadelphia native, Jazmine Sullivan. The fireworks are best viewed from the parkway between Eakins Oval and Logan Circle.
The Big Apple & Macy’s Fourth of July
No one does Fourth of July Fireworks quite like the Big Apple, and this year, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks are returning to the East River after last year’s switch to the West Side. The festivities begin with an incredible concert at Pier 17, featuring Eric Church, the Jonas Brothers, Keke Palmer, Lenny Kravitz, Ava Max, and Trisha Yearwood. The fireworks that follow are always nothing short of spectacular, and Macy’s has promised “crackling crown jellyfish, atomic rings, yellow & green sunbursts, strobing lemon cascades, comet fans” and more. Some 80,000 shells will be launched more than 1,000 feet above the East River. Brooklynites and downtown Manhattan residents will have a prime viewing spot. Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show is free to attend, but spectators at Brooklyn Bridge Park must have a ticket. Free tickets are available only through the NYC-sponsored lottery.
NASCAR, Navy Pier, and Zac Brown in the Windy City
Navy Pier has long been the center for Chicago’s world-class fireworks displays over Lake Michigan. This year, the festivities begin with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2. Navy Pier will remain open on July 3 and 4, featuring live music and performances, but will not host fireworks. The pyrotechnics resume on Saturday, July 5, with a massive 15-minute display jointly hosted by Navy Pier, Choose Chicago, the Chicago Sports Commission, and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, at 10 p.m. The city is filled with excitement this weekend, as the NASCAR Chicago Street Race will be held over the July 4th weekend for the third consecutive year. The Zac Brown Band Concert is also scheduled for July 5th at the start/finish line on Saturday evening, as part of the Busch Light Summer Music Series.
Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th
Music City, aka Nashville, Tennessee, brings its special magic to the Fourth of July with Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th has a roster of downtown concerts by both established and rising country stars, headlined by Dierks Bentley, and featuring Russell Dickerson, Niko Moon, Grace Bowers, and Keesha Rainey. The highlight of the evening will be fireworks synchronized to a live performance by the Nashville Symphony.
Star Spangled Symphony in the Rockies
Colorado Springs is famed for its annual Fourth of July spectacle with the city’s Star Spangled Symphony. Held in Memorial Park, an incredible fireworks display is accompanied by a live symphony performance by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The Ford Amphitheater and Banning Lewis Ranch are two good vantage points for viewing the spectacle.
Fireworks Over Biscayne Bay
The Bayfront Park Fourth of July festival, located on Biscayne Bay, promises a massive fireworks display over the water. Yet it’s more than just fireworks. It’s a day-long event that, this year, will celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The July 4th celebration will feature entertainers, food stations, a military vehicle and classic car showcase, a hot dog eating contest, and live music headliners including Orlando Mendez, the US Navy Band, DJ M-DOT, and Higher Ground.
Surf City USA Independence Day
You might not equate the coast of Southern California with an Independence Day celebration, but Huntington Beach, best known for its surfing culture, has a celebration that the city claims is the largest one west of the Mississippi. “Surf City USA”, as it’s known, began the tradition more than a century ago, in 1904, when the event also marked the arrival of the first electric passenger train linking the town with Long Beach and Los Angeles. Some 50,000 people came to the event that year, but today the festivities attract more than 500,000 attendees. The 121st Independence Day Event in Huntington Beach includes the Surf City 5K Run, the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade, and Fireworks Over the Ocean.
Earth, Wind & Fire Light Up LA
The traditional way to mark the Fourth of July in LA is grabbing a ticket to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, the concentric arched band shell that has been welcoming performers since 1922. This year, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind & Fire headline one of LA’s greatest summer traditions, the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl. The GRAMMY Award-winning music icons will perform at the Bowl over three nights, accompanied by Thomas Wilkins and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. All three concerts will end with a fireworks display.