The 4th of July is here! And all across the United States, preparations are underway for a grand celebration of Independence Day, one of the nation’s most important holidays. Of course, the traditional fireworks displays won’t be missing, lighting up the skies in various cities. If you want to see the show live, we’ll tell you where and when to watch it.
What time are the 4th of July fireworks?
The times vary by city, but most shows will take place between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Prior to that, several activities will kick off starting at 4:00 p.m.
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Where to watch the 4th of July fireworks?
Here’s a list of locations where fireworks displays will take place, so you can find the one closest to you:
New York
This is the most anticipated show of all! It starts at 9:25 p.m., but entry is only allowed between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The event will take place along the Lower East River.
Access points include:
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Montgomery Street and Madison Street
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Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place and the Brooklyn Bridge on/off ramps
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Broad Street and Water Street
Los Angeles
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City of Irwindale: Rock Quarry, 5008 Allen Drive (9:00 p.m.)
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City of Gardena: Rowley Park, 13220 S. Van Ness Avenue (9:00 p.m.)
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City of Cerritos: Cerritos High School, 12500 E. 183rd Street (9:00 p.m.)
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Universal Studios: Universal Studios, 100 Universal City Plaza (9:00 p.m.)
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City of Santa Clarita: Valencia Town Center, 24101 Valencia Blvd (9:00 p.m.)
Houston
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Freedom Over Texas – Eleanor Tinsley Park: 3600 Allen Parkway & 1000 Bagby St. (4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
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Houston Symphony: Star-Spangled Salute – Miller Outdoor Theatre (8:30 p.m.)
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Celebration at Skylawn – POST Houston (5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
Miami
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Event by the Ocean Drive Association: Ocean Drive & 12th Street (8:30 p.m.)
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South Beach (9:00 p.m.)
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Miami Beach Bandshell; 7275 Collins Ave. (5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
4th of July Fireworks Broadcast
If you can’t make it to see the fireworks in person, don’t worry—they’ll be broadcast on TV. Here are the channels where you can watch:
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CNN (7 p.m. ET): Will broadcast fireworks displays from Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Diego, Seward (Alaska), and Washington, D.C.
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PBS (8 p.m. ET): Will show fireworks from 20 different cameras around the nation’s capital.
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NBC (8 p.m. ET): Will air the fireworks show from New York City.
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Why are fireworks set off on the 4th of July?
Fireworks are a core tradition of Independence Day in the United States. The practice dates back to 1777, when Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a public fireworks show in honor of the original 13 colonies. In the late 19th century, Italian immigrants helped popularize pyrotechnics in the U.S., making fireworks an essential part of July 4th festivities ever since.
History of Independence Day in the United States
The origin of Independence Day in the U.S. dates back to the Revolutionary War, a conflict that marked the birth of the nation. Between 1775 and 1783, the Thirteen British Colonies in North America fought against the Kingdom of Great Britain. The war ended with a decisive American victory at the Battle of Yorktown and the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted to break ties with Britain. However, it was on July 4 that the delegates formally adopted the Declaration of Independence—a historic document mainly authored by Thomas Jefferson—that proclaimed the colonies’ freedom and laid out the founding ideals of the new nation.
Since then, July 4 has been celebrated as the official birth of the United States. In 1941, it was recognized as a federal holiday. While its political significance has diminished over time, Independence Day remains one of the country’s most cherished national holidays, symbolizing patriotism and the founding values of the United States.
