Best July 4th Fireworks

New Orleans: Go 4th on the River

A New Orleans–style party on the waterfront culminates in the fireworks show dubbed the Dueling Barges, two waterborne platforms doing their best to outdo each other with red, white, and blue magic. This year’s show will also celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, who spent much of his childhood upriver in Perry County, IN, and will be streamed live to U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

Where to View: Reserve seats on the paddle wheeler Creole Queen or the steamboat Natchez to watch the show from the Mississippi.