Best July 4th Fireworks

Falmouth, MA

Where better to look skyward on the Fourth of July than from the shores of summertime idyll Cape Cod? Conceived in 1980 and funded solely by the community, these fireworks draw some 50,000 spectators a year—one-and-a-half times the town’s year-round population. This year the event is dedicated to the 150th birthday of Katharine Lee Bates, the composer of “America the Beautiful,” who was born in Falmouth. If it’s raining, the party happens the following day.

Where to View: Stake out a spot along the six miles of Falmouth beaches, or head to Martha’s Vineyard’s north shore for a wider panorama.