See Fireworks During Fourth of July and All Summer in North Carolina

1 Valdese Independence Day Celebration

See on map

It’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

See on map

The 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

4 Independence Day Festival and Parade

See on map

Saturday 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

See on map

Venture 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

See on map

The 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

8 Symphony By the Lake at Chetola

See on map

It’s the signature summertime event of the Symphony of the Mountains, and a fireworks show wraps up the night.

Admission: $65 to $125

9 Symphony in the Park & Fireworks

See on map

Bring 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

See on map

Events 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

See on map

Watch 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

See on map

After 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)

15 Skyshow Charlotte

See on map

The 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

See on map

Ranked 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

See on map

Celebrate 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

See on map

The 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

See on map

This annual street festival features arts and crafts vendors, food, live music, amusement rides for kids and a fireworks display.

Admission: free

21 North Carolina 4th of July Festival

See on map

For 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

Celebrate 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

24 Annual Independence Day Celebration

See on map

Celebrate 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

See on map

Experience 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

See on map

Fireworks 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

See on map

Choose 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