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Oh say, can you see? Fireworks all over the Triangle!
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Right in the middle of the summer, it’s a classic celebration of freedom, fun, and all things summer. I’ve put together this list for you which shares all of the 4th of July family-friendly fun I’ve found around the Triangle. From fireworks to parades, there are so many ways to celebrate Independence Day in and around Raleigh.
More events will be added to this list as information becomes available!
Note: Though I do my very best to confirm the accuracy of information listed, I’m just a one-woman show over here and I occasionally make mistakes! It’s always recommended to check out the links for each event or even call ahead.
Fireworks in Raleigh + the Triangle
Independence Day Celebration – South Park (Fuquay-Varina)
Monday July 1st | 6:00pm
Event Link
Music, food, and fun in Fuquay. Live music begins at 6:30 pm. Food Trucks will be onsite and the Splash Pad will be open from 6 to 8:30 pm. Make sure to bring a blanket or chair and get there early to claim the best location to view the fireworks. Fireworks start at sundown (typically 9:15pm).
Wendell Fireworks Show – Wendell Community Park (Wendell)
Tuesday July 2nd | 6:00pm-10:00pm
Event Link
What: Activities at the Fireworks Show will include music and multiple food trucks! Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and activities for their families to enjoy. Please refrain from bringing coolers, pets, or personal fireworks including sparklers, so we can keep this a safe event for everyone!
Fireworks Frenzy – Hunter Street Park (Apex)
Wednesday July 3rd | 5:00pm-10:00pm
Event Link
Kick off July 4th celebrations with a spectacular fireworks display! This year’s event offers food trucks and activities along Hunter Street from Salem Street to Mason Street / Laura Duncan Road, including a Kids Zone with inflatables and games. Fireworks start at 9:30pm.
Garner Independence Day Celebration – Lake Benson Park (Garner)
Wednesday July 3rd | 5:00pm
Event Link
Mark your calendars for a free evening of fun for the whole family. Enjoy delicious food and great music while your children play in the kids’ zone. Top it all off with a headlining performance by the North Carolina Symphony and the best fireworks show in the Triangle!
Morrisville Red White & Boom! – Cedar Fork District Park (Morrisville)
Wednesday July 3rd | 5:00pm-9:00pm
Event Link
You don’t have to wait until July 4 to celebrate Independence Day in Morrisville! Join us for Red, White & BOOM, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, and family friendly games. We’ll end the celebration with a gorgeous fireworks show!
Wake Forest Fireworks Spectacular – Heritage High School (Wake Forest)
Wednesday July 3rd | 9:30pm
Event Link
Wednesday, July 3; Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road
Tyson Brothers will take the stage around 6 p.m.
Band of Oz takes the stage at just after 7 p.m.
The fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks 2024 – Dorothea Dix Park (Raleigh)
Thursday July 4th | 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Event Link
Join us for Raleigh’s July 4th Fireworks celebration at Dix Park!
ABC11/WTVD-TV is our partner in presenting this family-friendly event on Thursday, July 4, starting at 6 p.m. Enjoy music, games, food, and the main event, fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Cary Presents: Independence Day Celebration – Koka Booth Amphitheatre (Cary)
Thursday July 4th | Gates 3:30 p.m., Fireworks 9:25 p.m.
Event Link
Enjoy a Triangle tradition! Join us for a salute to the red, white, and blue as we honor the birthday of the U.S.A. with the music of the North Carolina Symphony. Enjoy patriotic favorites, high-spirited classics, fun activities for kids and a dazzling firework display over Symphony Lake.
Durham 4th of July Fireworks – Durham Bulls Athletic Park (Durham)
Thursday July 4th | Time TBD
Event Link
Spend the 4th partaking in a classic American pastime: a baseball game. After the game, enjoy a brilliant fireworks display!
Chapel Hill 4th of July Fireworks – Southern Community Park (Chapel Hill)
Thursday July 4th | 9:00pm
Event Link
Fireworks will light up the Chapel Hill sky this 4th of July! The best viewing is from the Southern Community Park ball fields and around the Southern Village Green. Fireworks take place at 9:00pm and parking begins around 7:00pm.
Square to Square Independence Day Street Festival & Fireworks – Downtown Clayton (Clayton)
Thursday July 4th | 5:30-9:30pm
Event Link
Downtown Clayton will be filled with games, activities, food, and music from Town Square to Horne Square! Fireworks start around 9:15pm.
Rolesville 4th Celebration – Redford Place Park (Rolesville)
Thursday July 4th | 5:00pm-9:00pm
Event Link
Join us on July 4th for our popular Rolesville 4th celebration! Festivities start at 5pm and include food trucks, inflatables, beer & wine, vendors, and a live performance from The Ray Band (starting at 6pm). The night will end with a spectacular fireworks show beginning at 9:15pm.
Brier Creek Star Spangled Block Party and Fireworks Show – Brier Creek Commons (Raleigh)
Thursday July 4th | 8:00pm
Event Link
This July 4th join Brier Creek Commons Shopping Center for an evening full of festivities and fun. The Star-Spangled block party is back from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with DJ Mark McNally in the clock tower area. Find your spot in the Brier Creek Commons area for one of this area’s largest fireworks shows that begins after dark. The fireworks soundtrack will be broadcast on Kix 102.9, just tune in after dark and listen to the choreographed show live.
Holly Springs Independence Day Celebration – Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park (Holly Springs)
Friday July 5th | 6:00pm-9:30pm
Event Link
Keep the 4th going even longer with this event taking place on the 5th of July! The Holly Springs Independence Day Celebration on July 5 is full of fun with live music, food trucks, games, and spectacular fireworks. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m. Admission is free and open to all.
Other Independence Day Events
July 3rd Celebration – Downtown Cary Park (Cary)
Wednesday July 3rd | 3:00pm – 10:00pm
Event Link
Get ready to kick off your July 4th festivities early at our July 3rd Celebration in the Park! Join us for a star-spangled extravaganza featuring a movie screening of National Treasure (PG), family-friendly activities, and a mouthwatering lineup of food trucks. It’s the perfect occasion to gather your loved ones and enjoy some pre-Independence Day fun! This event is free, open to the public, and is suitable for all ages. The film will begin at dusk.
Independence Day Fishing Tournament – Bond Park Boathouse (Cary)
Thursday July 4th | 8:00am-12:00pm
Event Link
Join us for the annual Independence Day Fishing Tournament at Bond Park! Anglers of all ages are welcome. Registration starts at 7 a.m., and the tournament begins at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for the longest and shortest fish caught in each age group.
Children’s Independence Day Parade – Durham Central Park (Durham)
Thursday July 4th | 9:30am-11:30am
Event Link
Bring the whole family to Durham Central Park to celebrate the Fourth of July at the Children’s Independence Day Parade! Families are welcome to decorate bikes, trikes, wagons and strollers using items from the Scrap Exchange and then parade through Durham Central Park at 10:30 a.m. Pssst … there will be free popsicles and fire truck tours after the event.
Olde Fashioned 4th of July – Downtown Apex (Apex)
Thursday July 4th | 9:00am-1:00pm
Event Link
This long-standing traditional event features games for all ages, inflatables, the Parade of Wheels, and ends with a splash down from the Apex Fire Department!
2024 Children’s Parade – North Main Street (Wake Forest)
Thursday July 4th | Lineup begins 10:00am
Event Link
All area youngsters are invited to hop on their bicycles or be pulled along in a wagon as part of a “walking parade” designed just for them!
The lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue, near the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St., and the parade begins at 10:30 a.m. along North Main Street. The parade will end at the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave.
2024 Art & More in the Park – Wake Forest Community House (Wake Forest)
Thursday July 4th | 11:00am-1:00pm
Event Link
On Thursday, July 4, from 11 am-1 pm, children of all ages will have the opportunity to create a variety of interesting arts and crafts projects.
Presented by the Wake Forest Woman’s Club, Art & More in the Park will take place inside the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave., and outside in the vicinity of the Holding Park basketball court and R.H. Forrest Field.
In addition to the arts and crafts projects offered inside the Community House, the Wake Forest Fire Department will be outside grilling and serving free hotdogs, interacting with the children and their families, and providing information on fire prevention and safety.
Fire officials will also hand out a variety of giveaways, including plastic fire helmets, stickers, and more!
Town of Carrboro’s 4th of July Celebration – Carrboro Town Commons (Carrboro)
Thursday July 4th | 10:30am-3:00pm
Event Link
This fun Independence Day celebration starts off with the People’s Parade and continue with live music, carnival games, contests, food trucks, bubbles, and more. Come early to participate in the kids costume contest!
Mayor Barbara Foushee will host a gathering of community members for the annual Community Reading of Frederick Douglass’ essay, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro.” The reading will occur in the Carrboro Century Center’s Century Hall at 12:00pm.
Knightdale 4th of July Celebration – Knightdale Station Park (Knightdale)
Thursday July 4th | 9:00am-1:00pm
Event Link
A fun, family-friendly morning at Knightdale Station Park. The event will include a bike parade, live music, food trucks, inflatables and giveaways. There will also be a DJ performing at the splashpad, which will be open to help people cool off.