Find fireworks in your region.
Western Central Eastern
WESTERN
Listen to live music from Southside Station, a five-member North Carolina band that plays dance hits, rock, country, and more as part of Valdese’s Family Friday Night Summer Concert Series. After the concert, the evening will end with a fireworks show.
100 Main Street West
Valdese, NC 28690
(828) 879-2120, townofvaldese.com
Spend the day in downtown Bryson City exploring local businesses, eating street food delights like funnel cake, cheese steak sandwiches, and kettle corn, listen to live music, and then find a spot to watch the fireworks launched off from Airport Hill in the evening.
Downtown Bryson City
(828) 488-3681, greatsmokies.com/freedom-fest
Watch a parade along the streets of downtown Marion, listen to live music from the Gotcha Grove Variety Band, and sit back, relax, and enjoy a fireworks show at dusk.
South Main Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-2215
In the heart of Robbinsville Square around the Graham County Courthouse, find games, music, and food before watching a fireworks show at night.
12 Court Street
Robbinsville, NC 28771
(828) 735-0010, grahamcountytravel.com
Spend the day fishing for free at Lake Julian park — anyone can fish in any public body of water in North Carolina without a fishing license on July 4 — and end the evening with fireworks.
406 Overlook Extension
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 250-4260, buncombecounty.org
Spend the day at Tweetsie Railroad’s Wild West theme park, and after the park closes, experience a fireworks show from the parking lot.
300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(800) 526-5740, tweetsie.com
There will be tons of activities offered at this celebration in Clawson-Burnley Park on the Boone Greenway, from a kids’ zone with inflatable games to different crafts to local food vendors. And, of course, a fireworks finale will end the night.
355 Hunting Hills Lane
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 268-6280, exploreboone.com
This celebration is part of Hendersonville’s “Music on Main” concert series. Locals and visitors can enjoy live music, concessions, a special music performance from five-piece band Dashboard Blue, and a fireworks show at dusk.
201 South Main Street
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 693-9708, visithendersonvillenc.org/music-on-main-street
Bring a blanket, games, snacks, and activities to the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds for a fireworks show that will begin at dusk.
3374 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-0866, maggievalleync.gov
At this annual Independence Day Celebration in downtown Sylva, kids can enjoy a bounce house and other activities while adults enjoy a concert from the R&B band All in One. Fireworks will begin once it gets dark.
622 Mill Street
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-2155, mountainlovers.com/july-4
CENTRAL
Spend the day enjoying live music, food trucks, and activities at Blackstone Plaza during the day and enjoy a fireworks show at night.
155 Meghan Circle
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 975-1411, selma-nc.com/departments/parks-rec/all-american-festival/
Watch the Carolina Disco Turkeys — a recreational, collegiate baseball team — compete, listen to live music, eat concessions, and watch fireworks illuminate the night sky at Truist Stadium.
951 Ballpark Way
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 714-2287, wsdash.com
This two-day event offers a bunch of fun activities, including live music and yoga, in addition to all the outdoor activities that the National Whitewater Center offers. Fireworks shows will take place at the end of each day.
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28214
(704) 391-3900, whitewater.org/festival/fourth-of-july-celebration/
Watch a fireworks show the evening of July 3 at Heritage High School. Then, on July 4, enjoy a children’s parade that starts at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue, and an Art in the Park event at the Wake Forest Community House.
Heritage High School
1150 Forestville Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Wake Forest Community House
133 West Owen Avenue
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 435-9561, wakeforestnc.gov/meetings-events/independence-day-celebration
The North Carolina Symphony and Cary Town Band will perform during this event at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Fireworks will be set off once both concerts are complete.
8003 Regency Parkway
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 462-2025, boothamphitheatre.com
Pick a spot around Carter-Finley Stadium and PNC Arena in downtown Raleigh and watch fireworks being launched from Trinity Road.
1400 Edwards Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 861-2300, pncarena.com
Bring blankets and snacks out to Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park to watch a fireworks display.
2401 Grigsby Avenue
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 557-2939, hollyspringsnc.us/358/July-5th
EASTERN
This two-day celebration, beginning on Saturday, July 3, will feature a sand sculpture contest, an old-time parade, a flag-raising ceremony, and a fireworks show over Silver Lake Harbor on the evening of the July 4.
Downtown Ocracoke
(252) 453-9388, visitocracoke.com
Grab dinner or a sweet treat at Atlantic Beach Circle before ringing in Independence Day with a spectacular fireworks show. Can’t make it there? Don’t worry, the show will also be visible across the island.
115 Atlantic Boulevard
Atlantic Beach, NC
(252) 726-2121, atlanticbeach-nc.com/events/july-4th-fireworks/
Enjoy live music and food trucks and meet other vendors at Greenville’s Town Commons during this celebration. Then, end the day with a bang — a fireworks show will start at dusk.
100 East First Street
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 329-2489, greenvillenc.gov
Head over to the Nags Head Fishing Pier for this fireworks celebration. The show will begin after dark, but there are plenty of restaurants near the pier to grab a bite to eat at before the show begins.
3335 South Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-5508, nagsheadnc.gov
Enjoy live music, games, and activities, then sit back for a fireworks display at Lawson Creek Park.
1309 Country Club Road
New Bern, NC 28560
(252) 639-2901, newbernnc.gov
This historic annual celebration has taken place for more than 200 years. The event will feature performances from Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot, food vendors, and live professional wrestlers affiliated with the United Professional Wrestling Association (UPWA).
4433 Long Beach Road Southeast
Southport, NC 28461
(910) 457-5578, nc4thofjuly.com
Eat and shop along the Wilmington Riverwalk in the historic downtown district during the day before heading over to the waterfront in the evening to watch the fireworks show.
Riverside Historic Downtown
Wilmington NC, 28401
(910) 341-7855, wilmingtonnc.gov
Enjoy ice cream, a slushie, or a drink from vendors on the Ocean Isle Pier and then enjoy the fireworks show.
1 West First Street
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
(910)579-2166, oibgov.com
Happy fall, y’all! We’re celebrating the season with a North Carolina-themed jack-o’-lantern carve-off — and we want to see your skills! Find out how to enter our Instagram giveaway.
Give thanks for pie! Creamy chocolate walnut; sweet potato covered in a buttery, crunchy topping; classic, custardy pumpkin — these favorites are fit for a feast.
Served warm in a mug or cold and bubbly in a glass, the sweet-tart taste of hard and soft ciders is one of our favorite parts of fall.
For our editor in chief, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a place to slow down and enjoy the ride.
