July 4th festivities come in all shapes, sizes and spectacles, so if you’re looking to change up your routine this Independence Day, here are 10 destinations that do a bang-up job of celebrating. All are located on islands or along the coast and each delivers a red, white and blue lineup of nostalgic Americana: fun traditions, famous annual contests and, of course, fantastic fireworks. So here are top 10 places to celebrate 4th of july this year.
10 –NEW YORK CITY
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we can’t go without mentioning Macy’s annual show in New York City. It’s the nation’s largest fireworks display with more than 40,000 fireworks and a 38-year record of extraordinary entertainment. Macy’s annual show has been going for 40 years and has featured performances from popular artists like Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Flo Rida, Brad Paisley and Meghan Trainor. You can view the fireworks from anywhere with open views of the sky above the East River. Later, find a spot along the East River in Brooklyn or Manhattan to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks: 30 minutes of sky-high sparkles featuring as many as 40,000 shells.
9 –Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Virginia Beach kicks off free fireworks displays starting July 4th, igniting the night all season long. Sink down into the sand or take a stroll beside the ocean–the explosive light show can be seen anywhere along the boardwalk. Weekly displays are 100% free, fun, and last all summer!
8 –Hapuna Beach, Hawaii
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Fireworks go off at Magic Island on the Fourth of July. There are many beaches in Hawaii worthy of this list, but Hapuna Beach on the Big Island is simply the most spectacular little oasis of all. The half-mile long, 200-foot wide stretch of sand offers perfect conditions for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and bodyboarding almost every single day of the year.
7 –Key West, Florida
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The best-known island in the Florida Keys is the spot to celebrate the 4th if you want to see how the annual Key Lime Festival — five days of culinary fun that includes scavenger hunts, cooking classes, tastings and cocktail strolls — ends with a bang. But first there’s a 10am Key Lime Pie-Eating Contest (of course there is!) before it’s time to find a viewing spot for the Rotary Club of Key West fireworks show at the White Street Pier.
6 –San Francisco
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At approximately 9:30pm, look to the sky for the City & County of San Francisco’s spectacular fireworks display. Events and event activities are weather-permitting and subject to change without notice.
5 –Seattle
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This Pacific Northwest city known as the birthplace of grunge, Starbucks and Costco hosts a free Seafair Summer 4th celebration at Gas Works Park that features food vendors, live music, sack races, pie-eating contests and a beer garden — and offers views of the fireworks choreographed to music over Lake Union at 9:30pm. Neighboring cities Bellevue, Newcastle and Kirkland also celebrate with local parades, food vendors and live music.
4 – Long Beach Peninsula, Washington
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You ain’t seen nothing until you’ve spent the 4th of July on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington. 20+ miles of beach lit up with fireworks for hours!! There, visitors can sit by the shore, hike along the community’s expansive trails, go horseback riding, grab a charter fishing boat and more. And, as the town itself notes, wild berries grow just about anywhere, so go ahead and pick a few and have a free snack on Mother Nature. Just make sure to do it before the sun goes down on Independence Day as the fireworks will go off near Bolstad Avenue beach around 10 p.m. on July 4th.
3 –Narberth, Pennsylvania
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The Pennsylvania Railroad is home to some of the wealthiest communities in the U.S., and they don’t mess around when it comes to Fourth of July celebrations. During the day, families can enjoy a carnival with food and drinks and fun activities like a baby parade, the basketball foul shooting contest, wheelbarrow and three-legged races, as well as an old fashioned pie eating contest. As the sun starts to set, everyone gathers for live music and an extravagant fireworks display to close out the day.
2 –Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
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With more than 10 miles of shoreline and more than 1,000 restaurants, there’s something for everyone in Myrtle Beach. It’s no surprise that people flock to the breathtaking shores each year to soak up the sun and all the fun this beach town has to offer. And while many will likely want to head to the beach for a daytime dip, it’s worth staying well past sunset for the beach’s Fourth of July celebration, which will take place throughout the town in several different locations.
1 – Bristol, Rhode Island
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Bristol is credited with having the oldest Fourth of July celebration in the country, with an astounding 230-year legacy of patriotic festivities. The town’s very first Independence Day celebration was a series of patriotic exercises held in the early 1800s, more than two centuries ago. Today, the town’s Fourth of July celebration is the event of the summer for both visitors and residents. The celebration features a concert series at Independence Park, a performance from the Drum Corps, the Fourth of July Ball, a carnival and parade, and of course, a beautiful fireworks show over the Bristol Harbor.
