The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary as a nation this year.
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Raging political tensions aside, the nation will come together to ring in Independence Day with more gusto and fanfare than ever before. During the last major landmark date, in 1976, when the US celebrated its bicentennial, there were huge celebrations nationwide.
Some highlights from 50 years ago include a nautical parade in NYC with ships from 22 nations, a public presidential signing of the Bicentennial Day Declaration in Philadelphia, and a spontaneous rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at a massive fireworks show in Washington DC.
In short, prepare for a spectacle if you’re visiting a large city over the Fourth of July. If you’re looking for the biggest Fourth of July parties, here’s where to go for the US’s 250th Independence Day.
Biggest Fourth of July parties for the US’s 250th
Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s Independence Day celebrations have already started. The city rolled out its 52 Weeks of Firsts in early January. The program highlights landmarks around the city where inventions and other ‘firsts’ made their mark.
Official celebrations for the Fourth of July haven’t yet been announced—but expect citywide events that will take place over the whole weekend. The biggest will be hosted in Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood.
Washington DC
Authorities in DC are planning a massive Fourth of July event that will take place over the course of the weekend in the National Mall and across Pennsylvania Avenue. On July 4th, you can watch a historical reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, join the National Independence Day Parade, and join the interactive exhibits and workshops across Pennsylvania Avenue.
At the end of the day, a large fireworks show will take place over the National Mall. Check out DC250 to learn more about DC’s Fourth of July celebrations.
Boston
Similar to DC’s DC250, Boston’s Fourth of July celebrations are organized by MA250. That means you can easily explore the long list of events planned for Independence Day. The main event is a massive festival hosted at Charles River Esplanade.
Over one million are expected to attend to watch live performances, musical acts, and a larger-than-life fireworks display. It’s a bit enough affair that CNN will be broadcasting the entire day—in case you want to watch from a distance… in your living room.
New York City
Welcome to the Thunderdome of Fourth of July celebrations. New York City doesn’t just have one main event, or a few to choose from—the city will host multiple high-profile Fourth of July festivities. There’s the Macy’s Golden Mile celebration, which ends with a massive fireworks show over the East River.
There is multiple waterfront events hosted downtown, as well, including family-friendly concerts and activities. There’s even a second ball drop planned for Times Square. Don’t forget about the star of the show, either: an aerial show from the US Navy’s Blue Angels.
Chicago
Chicago’s Navy Pier fireworks show is one of the most well-known Fourth of July celebrations in the US. Aside from a great light display at the pier, the city is also enhancing its other Independence Day fare with the Grant Park Music Festival and a community-led parade and festival in Hyde Park.
The Chicago Cubs will also be playing home games over the Fourth of July weekend—it’s a great time to watch a baseball game at the historic Wrigley Field!
San Diego
Similar to Chicago’s Navy Pier, San Diego’s Big Bay Boom is one of the country’s coolest fireworks shows. The event takes place in the Port of San Diego with fireworks shot over the water from a barge.
This time around, the Big Bay Boom has partnered with Carnival Cruise Line. The cruise line will dock three ships that will host parties with added entertainment—which is a pretty sweet deal if you want to go all out.
Los Angeles
Like New York City, there’s no single Los Angeles event taking place. Instead, July Fourth celebrations will take place across the city. The largest party will take place at the Hollywood Bowl, where performers like The Beach Boys and the local orchestra will take the stage before a grand fireworks show.
But know that the Hollywood Bowl party is just the tip of the iceberg—the city even has its own Official LA 4th of July Bar Crawl.
