American Independence Day celebrations on July 4 are a mix of parades, cookouts, food and fireworks. It marks the Second Continental Congress’s unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776—a document which formalised the American colonies' separation from the United Kingdom. The day fetes all things American and evokes pride and patriotism in people’s national identity.
No matter where you go, the Fourth of July is celebrated with pomp and show. Here are just six cities for you to enjoy unforgettable Fourth of July celebrations.
The home of Hollywood has a range of Fourth of July celebrations taking place this year. Visitors can attend a block party hosted at the Gloria Molina Grand Park from 4PM-9:30PM on the day, and partake in festivities spanning sports games, live music and dance. There will be dozens of food trucks and DJs spinning genres from hip-hop to reggaeton and more.
For cinema lovers, the Rooftop Cinema Club is offering an outdoor movie experience in Downtown LA with a screening of the 1996 movie “Independence Day” starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum. Doors open at 6:40PM. Guests can enjoy drinks at a rooftop bar and a live acoustic set of Americana music.
Later, the “4th of July Fireworks Show” will greet spectators at Marina del Rey, Venice Pier, Playa Vista and Dockweiler Beach with a 20-minute display that starts at 9PM.
Music City, USA will host a spectacular “Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th” concert in Downtown Nashville. It will be headlined by Chris Young and have performances by YOLA, Girl Named Tom and American gospel singer Blessing Offor, to name a few. Afterwards, a firework extravaganza will be synchronised to a live performance by the Nashville Symphony who will play classics like “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
You can’t leave the nation’s capital out of the reckoning for amazing Fourth of July celebrations. The “National Independence Day Parade” begins at 11:45AM and will march along Constitution Avenue. There will be floats, bands, drill teams, giant balloons and maybe even a few celebrities.
On the West Lawn of Capitol Hill, the annual “A Capitol Fourth” concert will begin at 8PM and feature musicians and celebrities like Smokey Robinson, Fantasia, Chloe Flower, Sister Sledge featuring Sledgendary, Loren Allred and more. There will also be performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the US Army Chorus, among others.
The National Mall is the place to be for the fireworks display. Book a cruise on the Potomac River or lounge at a rooftop bar to see it unfold after 9PM.
If you are hungry for a Wild West celebration then look no further than Jackson Hole. The “Fourth of July Parade” kicks off at 10AM in Town Square. Expect celebrations of small-town culture, ranching history and community. There will be riders on horseback, roller skaters, dancers, performers and much more. To add to the fun, judges award the top three floats with prizes at the end of the event.
At 6PM visitors can catch a lively reenactment of frontier justice in the Town Square in what is the longest, continuously running shootout show in the country. At 8PM, the “Jackson Hole Rodeo” will showcase old-school rodeo. There is nothing better than watching the sun set behind the Grand Tetons' white-capped peaks during this time.
Finally, at 10PM, there will be fireworks at the Teton Village and Snow King Mountain.
The historic district of Colonial Williamsburg will take you back in time to the 18th century. Visitors can listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence by reenactment actors playing Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, observe a special militia muster, and play 18th-century games at the Market House. Then, you can watch a cannon salute to the original 13 states, accompanied by fife and drum corps music. You can also take the “Freedom's Paradox” tour to investigate the contradiction of American liberation and slavery.
At 8PM, join the crowds at the Palace Green for a “Lights of Freedom” concert featuring American marching music, a patriotic sing-along and a grand fireworks display at 9:30PM above the Governor's Palace.
For those averse to the intensity of pyrotechnic displays, consider visiting the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota for a unique Fourth of July experience. Reenactors will be on hand portraying the four presidents on the sculpture—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. There will even be a press conference hosted by the four presidents on July 3. You can chat with the former presidents and get their autographs, too.
On both nights at 9PM, visitors will be able to enjoy the traditional sculpture lighting ceremony from the park's amphitheatre, accompanied by music and performances.