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7 Must-See Fourth of July Fireworks Displays

From big cities to small, don’t miss these bright and booming patriotic celebrations

spinner image Fireworks over the hudson river with illuminated skyscrapers
This year, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show will launch from barges on the Hudson River.
Alamy

New York City

For the first time in 10 years, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show will launch from barges on the Hudson River instead of the East River. That means the more than 60,000 shells fired between West 14th and West 34th streets in Manhattan will be visible from vantage points in New Jersey (good locations include Hoboken and Jersey City). The party begins in the Big Apple at 8 p.m., with performances from Tanner Adell, Luis Fonsi, The War and Treaty, and Lainey Wilson. A 25-minute fireworks show will start at 9:25 and promises a “never before seen” firework that features a silver cascading burst, creating a sky-filling kaleidoscope that alternates between red and blue. The concert and fireworks air live on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET (with an encore at 10 p.m. ET).

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spinner image Fireworks explode over the Lincoln Memorial
Fireworks explode over the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Ting Shen/Alamy

Washington, D.C.

The National Mall is always stunning at night, but when fireworks burst in reds, pinks and blues above the stately white memorials and monuments, the views are, well, monumental. The evening begins with the annual A Capitol Fourth concert, held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, with music from Smokey Robinson, Sheila E., the National Symphony Orchestra and more. The fireworks kick off at 9:09 p.m., accompanied by the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets. A Capital Fourth will air on most PBS stations at 8 p.m. ET (with a repeat at 9:30) and will be streamed on pbs.org, the PBS app and the PBS YouTube channel.  

spinner image Fireworks explode over cinderella's castle
Fireworks explode over Cinderella's Castle at Disney World.
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Orlando, Florida

Fireworks are a nightly occurrence at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot, but for the nation’s birthday, the shows are bigger and more star-spangled. On July 3 and 4, Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky will illuminate Magic Kingdom Park while a simultaneous show occurs over the nearby Seven Seas Lagoon. The start time for both nights is 9:20 p.m. At Epcot, visitors can enjoy two July 4 fireworks shows: the nightly Luminous The Symphony of Us — which includes fountains, music and lights — at 9 p.m., followed by the patriotic-themed The Heartbeat of Freedom. Epcot will also be illuminated in red, white and blue at night to celebrate the holiday.

spinner image Fireworks over Boston
Boston celebrates the Fourth of July with fireworks.
Alamy

Boston

True to its legacy as the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston has two major fireworks displays: one on July 2, the other on July 4. The 15-minute Boston Harborfest show will start at 9:15 p.m. on July 2 over the city’s inner harbor. On Independence Day, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will feature performances by Darlene Love, Broadway star Kelli O’Hara, The Mavericks and the Singing Sergeants from the U.S. Air Force Band. Of course, the Boston Pops orchestra will also perform favorites such as Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as fireworks explode over the Charles River. The concert starts at 8 p.m., and the fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m.

spinner image Fireworks explode over san diego.
Fireworks explode over San Diego Bay during the Big Bay Boom.
Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

San Diego

What makes the Big Bay Boom fireworks so impressive? The shells are launched from four barges at locations in the San Diego Bay, and they are “impeccably choreographed,” according to the event’s organizers. The result: a wide-in-the-sky display that extends across the bay, accompanied by a glowing reflection as lovely as the flares above. Popular watch spots include the Coronado Ferry Landing, Harbor Island, the Marina District, North Embarcadero and Shelter Island. The 18-minute show starts at 9:00 p.m.

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spinner image Fireworks explode at miami beach.
Miami Beach Fire on the Fourth Festival celebrates with fireworks.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Getty Images

Miami

The Miami Beach Fire on the Fourth Festival gets rolling at the city’s Altos Del Mar Park at 3 p.m. with family-friendly games and food trucks, followed by live music at 5:00. The beachfront fireworks show starts at 9 p.m., when you’ll also see drones flying in formation to create words and other visuals such as the American flag. Other all-American festivities are planned at the city’s Bayfront Park, including a performance by the U.S. Navy Band, a hot dog eating contest (the winner gets $200) and, of course, a fireworks display. The party starts at 4:00 p.m.

spinner image People watch fireworks.
Spectators watch a fireworks display over Addison, Texas.
Jon Freilich/AP

Addison, Texas

Big cities don’t have a monopoly on world-class fireworks displays. Small-town Addison, Texas, around 15 miles north of Dallas, has about 17,000 residents, yet its July 3 Kaboom Town! fireworks show draws more than 500,000 people annually. The spectacle in the skies begins at 7:30 p.m. with an air show, starring stunt pilots, skydivers and flights from classic planes (such as a B-25 and a P-51 Mustang). The 25-minute fireworks extravaganza starts at 9:30 p.m.

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