The Seafair Summer Fourth is an Independence Day bash that concludes with an over-the-top fireworks show that should not be missed. The grand finale fireworks extravaganza features nearly 8,500 pounds of fireworks. More info.
Each year, the Fourth of July brings Americans together to eat hot dogs, drink beer, and thank our forefathers for founding this great country. But no Independence Day celebration is complete without a show of colorful explosions. From sea to shining sea, there are some pretty amazing places to take in an all-American light show over the long July 4 weekend.
Related: The Best Fourth of July Celebrations Across the U.S.
We've compiled the best places to see fireworks regardless of what part of America the Beautiful you find yourself in this Independence Day.
Alabama
If you find yourself in Alabama this Fourth of July, Thunder on the Mountain is one fireworks extravaganza that can’t be missed. Set in Vulcan Park, the fireworks are designed to illuminate the beloved Iron Man statue. Choreographed to a musical soundtrack, the show will last approximately 20 minutes. More info.
Alaska
Anchorage does Fourth of July in a big way, with a pancake breakfast and an Alaskan Baseball League game. Festivities are capped off with a fireworks display at Mulcahy Stadium. More info.
Arizona
While fireworks can be spotted in Flagstaff and other surrounding areas, Sedona brings an alternative to the traditional Independence Day sendoff. Check out the Laser Light Show at Sedona Red Rock High School. This 25-minute, patriotic laser show begins at the top of each hour at the Performing Arts Center. More info.
Arkansas
Hot Springs is celebrating our great nation with scenic lakeside fireworks. The event takes place at Mountain Harbor Resort, overlooking Lake Ouachita. More info.
California
Does anything beat fireworks on the beach? Head to SoCal in order to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of California this Fourth of July. Redondo Beach, with its fireworks and themed music display at the Redondo Beach Pier, is said to be one of the best views in the state. (And nextdoor in Hermosa Beach, the party will be pumping all weekend long.) More info.
Colorado
The city of Denver hosts an all-out extravaganza when it comes to July Fourth celebrations, concluding with fireworks on both July 3 and 4. The annual Independence Eve Celebration in Civic Center Park will feature a free patriotic concert and an innovative light show. The July 4 fireworks show will take place at Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park. More info.
Connecticut
New Britain's Great American Boom celebration begins at 5 p.m. on July 4 at Stanley Quarter Park. In its 25th year, it draws more than 30,000 people annually. More info.
Delaware
Dover, the capital of the first state, will host a major Fourth of July celebration this year, marking its 300th year. The 2017 Dover Fourth of July fireworks show by Serpico Fireworks will be set to music from the Broadway hip-hop phenomenon “Hamilton.” More info.
Florida
Head to Key West to catch the best fireworks in Florida. The Key Lime Festival, one of the biggest food festivals in the state, kicks off on July 1 and concludes with a massive fireworks show over the Casa Marina Resort. More info.
Georgia
To catch one of the largest fireworks shows in the Southeast, head to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. This year, the park has joined up with Lenox Square to create a bigger and better fireworks extravaganza. More info.
Hawaii
Head to the Picnic on the Pier in Oahu and hop aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. The fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. at what has been dubbed “America’s Last Battleship.” More info.
Idaho
The Melaleuca Freedom Celebration pays tribute to those who perished while defending the freedom of the citizens of the U.S. It is one of the largest fireworks shows west of the Mississippi and packs more than 17,550 shells into a spectacular, 31-minute production. More info.
Illinois
At Navy Pier, a patriotic soundtrack blares as fireworks go boom overhead with scenic Lake Michigan as the perfect backdrop. More info.
Indiana
Indianapolis is the place to be in Indiana on the Fourth of July. Head downtown to the Indiana Originals Marketplace for a great view of the city’s fireworks show. More info.
Iowa
Cedar Rapids will host a Freedom Festival on the Fourth of July this year. It's the largest fireworks display in the area, and you can see it from the downtown bridges, or anywhere nearby along the river. More info.
Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas, knwon as “The First City Of Kansas,” will Salute the Union this Fourth of July with an evening festival full of food, fun, and fireworks. More info.
Kentucky
If you missed the stunning Kentucky Derby fireworks this year, make up for lost time at the Old Fashioned Crescent Hill 4th of July Celebration at the historic Peterson-Dumesnil House. More info.
Louisiana
New Orleans' Go 4th on the River is in its 27th year and has been ranked among the top July Fourth celebrations in the U.S. The annual Essence Festival is also held during the holiday weekend, making celebrity sightings another draw. More info.
Maine
One of the best Fourth of July celebrations in Maine, according to locals, is the Bar Harbor fireworks show. Located in downtown Bar Harbor, the fireworks are shot out over the Frenchman Bay. More info.
Maryland
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor fireworks spectacular is one not to miss. Fireworks can be viewed from several locations in downtown and the surrounding areas, including Federal Hill, Fell’s Point, and Harbor East. Live music begins at 7 p.m. at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. More info.
Massachusetts
The traditional fighter jet military flyover in coordination with the “Star Spangled Banner” will open the evening in Boston as the Boston Pops Orchestra leads the televised celebration on the banks of the Charles River. More info.
Michigan
Traverse City’s July 4 show was voted the best in the state in a reader’s choice poll from local media outlet MyNorth.com. Fireworks guru Bruce Tyree coordinates the entire production to a custom soundtrack and uses simulations to see how the show will match up. More info.
Minnesota
The Stone Arch Bridge, a historic site, gives the best views of the city’s fireworks show, dubbed the Red, White and Boom celebration. Can’t get on the bridge? Watch the show from Gold Medal Park. More info.
Mississippi
The biggest fireworks display in Mississippi takes place in Biloxi. It starts at 9 p.m. and the fireworks are shot from Deer Island and explode over the Mississippi Sound. More info.
Missouri
Dubbed "America’s Biggest Birthday Party," St. Louis kicks off several days worth of festivities on July 1. A fireworks spectacular rounds out the events and concerts at 9:35 p.m. More info.
Montana
Named one of the best towns for July 4 in years past by Travel + Leisure, Whitefish has both live music and fireworks over the water. A free event, the fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m. More info.
Nebraska
Taking its role as “Nebraska’s Official Fourth Of July City" seriously, Seward has a giant fireworks salute at Plum Creek Park. More info.
Nevada
While Las Vegas lights up like the Fourth of July every night, there are other places in Nevada that bring the competition on Independence Day. Check out Nevada City’s fireworks display, the largest aerial display of fireworks in Nevada County. More info.
New Hampshire
Lake Winnipesaukee plays host to New Hampshire’s best fireworks show. Boats light up the lake while waiting for the fireworks to begin. While lake houses dot the surrounding area, other patrons can hop aboard a cruise ship to see the lights from the water. More info.
New Jersey
While New York City’s fireworks show is close enough to spot from some parts of New Jersey, the state has some great displays of its own. Boasting one of the largest July 4 celebrations in the country, Atlantic City is expected to draw more than 250,000 people. It takes two ocean barges and a marina platform to light up the sky. More info.
New Mexico
Alamogordo, New Mexico is home to the New Mexico Museum of Space History, a unique backdrop for a fireworks celebration. The 2017 show will be visible throughout the city and choreographed music will be broadcast on KZZX 105.3 FM. More info.
North Carolina
What could possibly be better than watching fireworks over the beach? In Corolla, part of the Outer Banks, the Whalehead Club will be offering this luxury for the 24th year in a row. The fireworks show begins at dusk. More info.
North Dakota
After a full day of patriotic activities, Sertoma will shoot off fireworks over the Red River. More info.
Ohio
Downtown Columbus’s Red, White and BOOM event features the largest fireworks display in all of Ohio. Festivities take place on July 3, and more than 400,000 people are expected to attend, so get there early. More info.
Oklahoma
One of the top 10 July Fourth festivals in America, according to CNN, LibertyFest in Edmond is Oklahoma’s top spot for checking out fireworks. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and promises a grand finale that will knock your socks off. More info.
Oregon
For your choice of stunning Oregon firework displays, head to Portland. The main events will take place at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival and Oaks Amusement Park, along with smaller productions throughout the city. More info.
Pennsylvania
Check out the patriotic fireworks display in Philadephia, home of the Liberty Bell. The show is held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the colorful explosions can be seen all over the city. More info.
Rhode Island
Billed as “America’s Oldest Fourth Of July Celebration,” Bristol hosts Fourth of July fireworks over the Bristol Harbor. More info.
South Carolina
If you find yourself in South Carolina for Independence Day, Patriot’s Point is the place to be to catch a great fireworks show. While watching the fireworks from the shore is fine, you can also catch them from the flight deck of the historic U.S.S. Yorktown, the 10th aircraft carrier to serve in the U.S. Navy. Tickets are $30 and include access to the ship starting at 6 p.m. More info.
South Dakota
South Dakota celebrates the Fourth of July with two days worth of ceremonial activities at Mount Rushmore and concludes with a fireworks display at Lead’s Gold Camp Jubilee over the Homestake open cut. More info.
Tennessee
Nashville doesn’t just take its music seriously – it is also serious about fireworks. The Tennessee city will not only light up the sky on Fourth of July, but it will also choreograph the deployment of the color bombs to the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony's original medley of songs, which will be performed live. More info.
Texas
San Antonio, a city rich in history, will celebrate with an event titled San Antonio Lights Up The 4th. The fireworks, which go off near the Tower of the Americas, is a nod to the city’s four military installations. More info.
Utah
One of the largest fireworks shows in America is the Stadium of Fire, presented by America’s Freedom Festival at Provo. The fireworks show takes place on July 1 at 8 p.m. and is the perfect way to get into the patriotic spirit and kick off the holiday weekend. More info.
Vermont
Head to Burlington for Vermont’s largest fireworks show. Set to take place on July 3, the show will overlook Lake Champlain. The fireworks kick off at 9 p.m. More info.
Virginia
Home to the Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk is an especially patriotic place to celebrate the Fourth of July. The 35th annual waterfront fireworks display starts at 9:30 p.m., but arrive early for a special treat: performances by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band and Jazz Combo. More info.
Washington
The Seafair Summer Fourth is an Independence Day bash that concludes with an over-the-top fireworks show that should not be missed. The grand finale fireworks extravaganza features nearly 8,500 pounds of fireworks. More info.
West Virginia
With more than 500 fireworks shot from two locations, Charleston, West Virginia offers visuals from almost anywhere in the city. More info.
Wisconsin
Said to be the largest fireworks display north of Milwaukee, Fire Over the Fox begins its light show at dusk, after the conclusion of the day-long Independence Day festival. More info.
Wyoming
In Wyoming, Jackson Hole is the place to be for July 4 festivities. A shootout and rodeo are two of the daytime events, but the real treat comes when it gets dark. The town shoots off fireworks at both the base of Snow King Mountain in the town of Jackson and also at the base of the Tetons in Teton Village. More info.
