Best Fourth of July Celebrations

America's Annual Birthday Party, Fireworks Included

Jun 23, 2007 Evelyn Kanter

Just about every city and town, large and small, celebrates the day in 1776 when 13 scrappy colonies declared their independence from the world's then-superpower.

From the Atlantic to the Pacific, everything is just terrific on the Fouth of July, with parades, food festivals, concerts, backyard barbecues and fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks.

Live from New York City, it's the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks. This is the nation’s largest, with more than 120,000 bursts of shape and color and movement reaching as high as 1,000 feet into the air, all timed to a riveting soundtrack. There also are live performances. This year they include Anika Noni Rose from the movie Dreamgirls, Lea Salonga, who is the singing voice of the Disney characters Jasmine in Aladdin and Mulan, and one of Broadway’s Jersey Boys, John Lloyd Young. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m., launched from barges in the East River. The fireworks show is televised nationally on NBC.

It’s an all-day festival in Washington, D.C., starting before noon with America’s National Independence Day Parade along Constitution Avenue, past national monuments including the Washington Monument. Many of the bands are in Revolutionary Era dress, marching to the beat of fifes and drums. After the parade, there’s a National Folklife Festival on the Mall, celebrating the many cultures of the U.S. A. In the evening the celebration moves to the Capitol Building, for a musical celebration by the National Symphony Orchestra, and fireworks that light up the sky. This party is broadcast by PBS.

New Orleans is filled with music year-round, and here the Go 4th on the River celebrations have a touch of Mardi Gras. The music starts before noon with concerts and events at various spots around the riverfront, from the French Market and to the Riverwalk Marketplace. At 7:30pm, there’s a concert by the New Orleans Concert Band overlooking the Mississippi River, followed by a Dueling Barges Fireworks Display.

Nashville is another city filled with music year-round, and the Fourth of July here is centered around country music. The theme of this year's celebration is Let Freedom Ring. The music starts at 3pm at Riverfront Park and continues through a concert by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and fireworks at 8pm.

Boston and July Fourth mean a concert by The Boston Pops orchestra, on the Esplanade along the Charles River. Beantown starts its party the day before, with a concert on July 3rd. The one on the Fourth is one with fireworks, plus a performance by rock 'n' roll icon John Mellancamp.

If you are an expat living overseas, see this related Suite 101 article for information on where the celebrations are.

So, go forth and enjoy July Fourth

The copyright of the article Best Fourth of July Celebrations in Volunteer & Eco Adventures is owned by Evelyn Kanter. Permission to republish Best Fourth of July Celebrations in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

July Fourth Fireworks	Strike Up the Band	Bagpipes on Parade on July Fourth
Celebrating the Fourth of July	July Fourth in the Big Easy