Find fireworks in your region.
Western Central Eastern
WESTERN
Listen to live music from The Tonez and enjoy a fireworks show launched from behind the Old Rocks School at dusk.
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
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 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
From live music to local food vendors, there will be tons of activities offered at this celebration. And, of course, a fireworks finale will end the night.
355 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 268-6280, exploreboone.com
Locals and visitors can enjoy concessions, live music including The Lonesome Road Band, 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, the littles can enjoy kid-friendly activities while adults enjoy a concert from the Carolina Soul Band. 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 Ormond’s Plaza during the day and enjoy a fireworks show at night.
1120 S Pollock St
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 975-1411, selma-nc.com/departments/parks-rec/all-american-festival/
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 your spot at Dorothea Dix Park and enjoy music, games, and, of course, fireworks at this event.
1030 Richardson Dr,
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 996-3255, https://raleighnc.gov/fireworks
Head out to Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park to enjoy live music, food trucks, and other activities before watching 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 July 2, will feature a sand sculpture contest, an old-time parade, a community beach fire under the stars, and a fireworks show launched from the large National Park Service parking area 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.
201 West 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 a free concert, food vendors, and a flag-raising celebration.
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 for a performance by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and a fireworks show.
Riverside Historic Downtown
Wilmington NC, 28401
(910) 341-7855, wilmingtonnc.gov
Enjoy a July 4th parade down East First Street and holiday market at 5 West Third Street before the fireworks spectacular is launched from the Ocean Isle Beach Pier in the evening.
1 West First Street
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
(910) 579-2166, ncbrunswick.com
When it comes to spreading holiday cheer, the residents of this Chatham County town start early.
Our editor in chief shares a few treasured memories from her childhood home, a Christmas Eve night being one of the very first.
We took some, ahem, creative liberties when we combed through Our State’s archives to find a few favorite stories that carry the tune of a Christmas classic.
From decades-old family recipes to a centuries-old Carolina cookie, we’re filling our holiday tables with dishes that have stood the test of time.
