Watching fireworks light up the sky is an experience as American as they come, thanks largely to these displays being part of Independence Day traditions. North Carolina offers beautiful backdrops for these bursts of color in the skies above our mountains, cityscapes and beaches.
You’ll find many Fourth of July fireworks shows, including several multiday celebrations. Plus, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy fireworks throughout summer beyond Independence Day.
Mountains
1 Valdese Independence Day Celebration
1 Valdese Independence Day Celebration
July 1; Town of ValdeseSee on mapIt’s a special edition of the Family Friday Nights concert series featuring one of the most popular annual fireworks displays in the area. The light display bursts at a lower altitude, allowing for a variety of swirls and explosions of color.
Admission: free
2 Christmas in July Festival
2 Christmas in July Festival
July 1-2; West JeffersonSee on mapThe two-day celebration takes over this small, charming town in the High Country, offering fun for the whole family. There’ll be live bands performing, roving street performers, children’s activities and more than 100 vendors. And in addition to the fireworks, the highlights of this festival are the Christmas tree growers competitions and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Admission: free
3 Independence Day Weekend at Lake Junaluska
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3 Independence Day Weekend at Lake Junaluska
July 1-4; Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat CenterSee on mapIt's a family-friendly, multiday celebration at this lakeside resort in the mountains. Enjoy live music, a hometown-style parade, activities on the water, barbecue and kids' play areas. The fireworks show begins around 9:30 p.m. on July 3.
Admission: most events are free or low-cost
4 Independence Day Festival and Parade
4 Independence Day Festival and Parade
July 2; Blowing RockSee on mapSaturday offers music, games, and watermelon-eating contests in the park for kids and adults. The parade takes place down Main Street on Saturday, and the fireworks show begins later that evening.
Admission: free
5 Ingles Independence Day Celebration
5 Ingles Independence Day Celebration
July 4; Pack Square Park, AshevilleSee on mapVenture to downtown Asheville for a day and night filled with activities for the family. Highlights include children’s activities, the Splashville Fountain, a fireworks extravaganza and more.
Admission: free; $3 for children's activities
6 Freedom Fest and Fireworks
6 Freedom Fest and Fireworks
July 4; downtown Bryson CitySee on mapThe old-fashioned street festival features great music throughout the day, arts and crafts, a children's activities area, watermelon-eating contest and more. The concert headliner performs at 8 p.m., followed by a fireworks show at 10 p.m.
Admission: free
7 Fireworks Extravaganza at Tweetsie
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7 Fireworks Extravaganza at Tweetsie
July 4; Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing RockSee on mapEnjoy the largest fireworks show in the High Country alongside the iconic train. The park is open for extended hours for the festivities.
Admission: $58 (park general admission all day)
8 Symphony By the Lake at Chetola
8 Symphony By the Lake at Chetola
July 22; Chetola Resort, Blowing RockSee on mapIt’s the signature summertime event of the Symphony of the Mountains, and a fireworks show wraps up the night.
Admission: $65 to $125
Piedmont
9 Symphony in the Park & Fireworks
9 Symphony in the Park & Fireworks
June 18; Bailey Road Park, CorneliusSee on mapBring your picnic baskets, blankets and chairs, and enjoy performances by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Concessions are available, including wine and local craft beer, plus you can bring your own coolers, food and drinks. Fireworks begin immediately following the symphony’s performance.
Admission: free
10 Annual Lumbee Homecoming
10 Annual Lumbee Homecoming
June 24 - July 2; PembrokeSee on mapEvents span a week, recognizing the heritage of the Lumbee people in Robeson County. Activities include a golf tournament, 5K run, bike race, parade, car show, outdoor concerts and local markets selling Lumbee wares. The fireworks show takes place July 2.
Admission: cost varies; some events are free
11 Independence Day Weekend Celebration on the Lake
11 Independence Day Weekend Celebration on the Lake
July 2; Satterwhite Point at Kerr Lake, HendersonSee on mapWatch fireworks soar over the lake after an evening of live music, food, vendors and more. You're encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Admission: free; parking, $7
12 Celebrate America Fireworks Show
12 Celebrate America Fireworks Show
July 2-4; Carowinds, CharlotteSee on mapAfter spending the day riding roller coasters at this amusement park, stick around for its biggest fireworks show of the season.
Admission: $45 and up (park general admission all day)
13 Fourth of July Celebration
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13 Fourth of July Celebration
July 3-4; U.S. National Whitewater Center, CharlotteSee on mapIt’s a two-day celebration at the world’s largest manmade whitewater river, complete with outdoor adventures and patriotic races, live music from multiple bands, and food and local craft beer.
Admission: free; parking, $6
14 Fun Fourth Festival
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14 Fun Fourth Festival
July 4; GreensboroSee on mapMonday is an all-day event complete with a block party; Freedom 5K, 10K and a Firecracker Mile; and a fireworks finale.
Admission: free; a registration fee for Freedom Run
15 Skyshow Charlotte
15 Skyshow Charlotte
July 4; Truist Field, CharlotteSee on mapThe festivities begin when the Charlotte Knights host USA Baseball at Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte. The night concludes with the largest fireworks show in the Southeast lighting up the skyline after the game.
Admission: $19 and up for baseball tickets
16 July 4th Fireworks
16 July 4th Fireworks
July 4; Southern Village, Chapel HillSee on mapRanked by Travel + Leisure as one of “America’s Top Ten Best Towns for a July Fourth Celebration,” Chapel Hill carries on the tradition year after year with this fireworks display.
Admission: free if parking at the Jackson Deck at UNC Hospitals and taking the shuttle
17 Fort Bragg's 4th of July Celebration
17 Fort Bragg's 4th of July Celebration
July 4; Fort Bragg Parade Field, Fort BraggSee on mapCelebrate with the men and women of the Armed Forces, featuring live concerts, parachute free-fall demonstrations, a patriotic flag ceremony, kids’ activities, craft beer garden and fireworks.
Admission: free
18 Fourth of July Parade, Pie-Eating Contest and Fireworks
18 Fourth of July Parade, Pie-Eating Contest and Fireworks
July 4; Downtown Mount AirySee on mapThe day begins with a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by a parade and plenty of fun activities such as a dunking booth and pie-eating contest. Live music and fireworks take place at Veterans Memorial Park.
Admission: free
19 Liberty's July Celebration
19 Liberty's July Celebration
July 9; LibertySee on mapThis annual street festival features arts and crafts vendors, food, live music, amusement rides for kids and a fireworks display.
Admission: free
Coast
20 Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast
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20 Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast
Various dates May through September; Carolina Beach Boardwalk and Gazebo, Carolina BeachSee on mapEnjoy fireworks all summer long in Carolina Beach. There's live music by a different band each Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. The best place to view the fireworks is on the beach strand in front of the boardwalk.
Admission: free
21 North Carolina 4th of July Festival
21 North Carolina 4th of July Festival
June 30 - July 4; SouthportSee on mapFor more than 220 years, Southport has celebrated the nation's Independence Day in a big way, and its festival is North Carolina’s official celebration. Events span several days, featuring picnics, arts and crafts in the park, a car show, parade, fireworks, firemen’s competition, children’s games, live entertainment, food and more. The finale, the largest of the planned events, takes place July 4 at the Southport Waterfront.
Admission: free
22 Independence Day Fireworks by the Sea
22 Independence Day Fireworks by the Sea
July 1; Carolina Beach Boardwalk and Gazebo, Carolina BeachCelebrate Independence Day the evening before with live music, followed by fireworks after sunset. Arrive early to grab a spot at the gazebo or on the beach.
Admission: free
23 Surf City Independence Day Celebration
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23 Surf City Independence Day Celebration
July 3; Soundside Park, Surf CitySee on mapEnjoy live music, food from vendors, children’s activities, fireworks and more. Bring a chair or blanket and grab a spot in the park.
Admission: free
24 Annual Independence Day Celebration
24 Annual Independence Day Celebration
July 4; Historic Corolla Park, CorollaSee on mapCelebrate America's independence with live music and a fireworks show on the northern Outer Banks. The event also features food vendors, a cornhole tournament, watermelon-eating contest and children’s games.
Admission: free
25 Wilmington Pops 4th of July Celebration
25 Wilmington Pops 4th of July Celebration
July 4; Downtown Wilmington Riverfront ParkSee on mapExperience historic downtown Wilmington while being entertained by live music and enjoying local food vendors. Fireworks begin at 9:05 p.m., being launched from a barge in the Cape Fear River.
Admission: free
26 4th of July Fireworks Off the Pier
26 4th of July Fireworks Off the Pier
July 4; Bogue Inlet Pier, Emerald IsleSee on mapFireworks illuminate the sky above the pier and are also visible from Bogue Sound and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Admission: free
27 Fireworks Over the Outer Banks
27 Fireworks Over the Outer Banks
July 4; Outer BanksSee on mapChoose from one of these picturesque locations to watch Fourth of July fireworks shows on the Outer Banks, the site of the English’s first attempted colonization in the New World pre-dating Jamestown by 20 years.
- Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills
- Nags Head Fishing Pier in Nags Head
- Fireworks over the sound in Manteo
- Avon Pier on Hatteras Island in Avon
Admission: free
Baseball and Fireworks
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North Carolina is home to 10 Minor League Baseball teams, and they all feature fireworks shows after one of their weekend night home games.
Asheville Tourists (Friday nights)
McCormick Field, Asheville
Carolina Mudcats (Friday nights)
Five County Stadium, Zebulon (near Raleigh)
Charlotte Knights (Friday nights)
Truist Field, Charlotte
Down East Wood Ducks (nights vary)
Grainger Stadium, Kinston
Durham Bulls (Friday nights)
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (nights vary)
Segra Stadium, Fayetteville
Greensboro Grasshoppers (Saturday nights, plus most Friday nights)
First National Bank Field, Greensboro
Hickory Crawdads (some Friday nights)
L.P. Frans Stadium, Hickory
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Saturday nights)
Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis
Winston-Salem Dash (some Friday nights)
Truist Stadium, Winston-Salem