Fourth of July 2021 fireworks, music and parades in and around Washington, DC

Have a safe and fun Independence Day celebrating in the most perfect place; the Nation’s Capital if you are in town! Before planning your patriotic weekend, make sure to decorate your home, yard and have on hand fun supplies, party favors, tattoos and flags for the Bambinos.

All weekend-

4th of July Weekend Celebration in Annapolis
Celebrate all weekend long as the City of Annapolis welcomes back residents and visitors for three days (July 2-4) of citywide events. From live music and salsa dancing to historic tours and fireworks – the City is reopening with a bang!
Saturday, July 3, 10:30 a.m.– 4th of July Parade in Historic Annapolis
Sunday, July 4, 9:15 p.m.– 4th of July Fireworks in Historic Annapolis

Play ball-

Grab some Washington Nationals tickets and cheer for the home as they play at Nats Park home July 1-4:
Freedom Fireworks – July 3
Patriotic Series Independence Day – July 4

Fredericksburg Nationals are hosting Salem Thursday-Sunday with fireworks on Friday.

Bethesda Big Train has a game on Friday & Saturday. Cheer for the home team!

July 4-

9:00am-5:00pm: An American Celebration at Mount Vernon
Celebrate our nation’s independence at the home of the father of our country. Meet George Washington, watch made-for-daytime fireworks, observe a moving ceremony in which candidates from across the world become U.S. citizens, listen to 18th-century music in the upper garden and watch and learn about flying hot air balloons in the 18th century. Lastly, watch a musical performance by the National Concert Band.

9:00am-5:00pm: July 4th at National Archives
The National Archives marks the 245th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence with its traditional Fourth of July program both online and in person! Highlights include welcoming remarks by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero, a variety of educational and family-friendly interactive programs with historical figures and Archives educators, and a lively, patriotic reading ceremony emceed by journalist Soledad O’Brien. All July 4th activities are free and open to the public. The full schedule can be found here.

9:45am-11:00am: Kensington’s 26th Annual Fourth of July Bike Parade
Decorate your bikes, scooters, wagons, anything & join the parade or watch it go by.

10:00am: Capitol Hill Community Parade
The 19th annual Capitol Hill Community 4th of July Parade is a local tradition that is considered one of Washington, DC’s best events. For 2021, the traditional parade will be on Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row. Get your groups together and join in on the fun! Register your group here. For both groups and spectators, we are encouraging following all updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. 

10:00am: Leesburg Independence Day Parade
Start the holiday by showing your patriotic spirit at the annual Independence Day Parade, held through Historic Downtown Leesburg beginning at 10:00 am. The parade will start at Ida Lee Park, travel down King Street and conclude at Fairfax Street. Put on your patriotic best and join your friends and neighbors to celebrate the birthday of the United States! This year’s parade will also feature the 13th annual Patriot’s Cup Competition, sponsored by the Loudoun Now newspaper.

12:00pm-4:30pm: Takoma Park Parade of Houses & Live Music
Takoma Park’s Fourth of July Parade is coming home this year. Make your home or business a part of it. Watch the site for a map of registered houses and businesses. Come July, tour the streets and see the pride. Register and decorate your house or business to be eligible for a prize! There will be live music throughout the day at the gazebo.

12:00pm: Palisades Parade
The annual Palisades Community Association’s Fourth of July parade has taken place every year since 1966 – except for last year, when our community faced the onslaught of COVID-19.  We are delighted to announce that this year we will resume our annual tradition! The parade is on Sunday, July 4th at noon. It starts at the corner of Whitehaven Pkwy and MacArthur Blvd NW and ends at the Palisades Rec Center. Click here for more information. Walk with the Mayor.

3:00pm-10:00pm: Historic Manassas Celebrates America
Celebrate America this Independence Day with one of the largest fireworks displays in Northern Virginia! Before all the celebration starts, the Stars and Stripes Yard Contest will take place.  Decorate your yard in the Americana Theme and you could win a prize. For full details visit here. The Harris Pavilion will feature photos from the community house decorating contests from 3 pm – 5 pm. There will be a Bicycle Decorating Contest for the kids starting at 3:30 pm. (Please arrive by 3:00 pm if you wish to participate in the Bicycle Decorating Contest) The rest of the fun, including food concessions and novelty vendors  will begin at 4 pm in the streets and parking lots surrounding the Manassas Visitor’s Center and the Harris Pavilion.Be sure to bring your lawn chairs and blankets and come early to get the best seats on the Manassas Museum Lawn for the firework display at 9:15 pm!

4:00pm-Dusk: Frederick’s 4th of July
As of May 20, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention continues to recommend against hosting large gatherings and events where physical distancing cannot be maintained.  Based on this guidance, the traditional Frederick’s 4th activities in Baker Park will not take place in 2021.  Celebrate Frederick is excited to be hosting an alternate event to celebrate Independence Day at the Frederick Fairgrounds, including a Parking Lot Party with 99.9 WFRE and a FREE fireworks display where the community can view the show from the safety of their vehicles.  Click here for more details!

4:00pm-9:00pm: 9th Annual July Fourth Celebration at Armed Forces Retirement Home
Enjoy children’s activities, entertainment, food trucks and fireworks!

6:00pm: Falls Church Declaration Celebration
Spend your Independence Day with the Recreation and Parks Department! Take the Declaration Celebration Scavenger Hunt to find thirteen Historical Markers throughout Falls Church and explore The Little City’s history. This is a single-day Scavenger Hunt that you can complete at your own pace between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Turn in your completed Scavenger Hunt form in Cherry Hill Park by 6:30 p.m. and you’ll receive a free Declaration Celebration t-shirt! Following the Scavenger Hunt, enjoy free live music in Cherry Hill Park by Sudden M Pac Band from 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Due to construction at Meridian High School (formerly George Mason High School), the July 4 event will not include fireworks this year. 

6:00pm: Concert and Fireworks at Ida Lee Park
Celebrate America’s big day at Ida Lee Park and enjoy a great night of music, food, fireworks, and fun! Gates open at 6:00 pm and music starts at 6:30 pm, so be sure to arrive early and grab a spot for a full night of celebration. This year’s band will be named soon, so be sure to check back. A full food court will be onsite with funnel cakes, ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, and so much more. The biggest bang of the evening begins at 9:30 pm when the largest fireworks show in the region will light up the sky. Choreographed to patriotic music, this light show is not to be missed. 

7:00pm (gates open at 5:30pm): Star-Spangled 4th Of July Concert & Fireworks Spectacular at Prince George’s Stadium
This special event will feature a live concert by DC Fusion and a post-concert Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular! The concert will feature all your favorite musical hits from the 60’s through today and include many different styles and genres of music. There will be something for everyone during DC Fusion’s two-hour set! After the concert, the sky over Prince George’s Stadium will explode with a Fireworks Spectacular that will bring you to your feet!

7:00pm-10:00pm: Fourth at The Wharf: VIP Fireworks Viewing Experience
Savor summer’s biggest holiday in our nation’s capital. Celebrate the Fourth of July at The Wharf with a private firework viewing experience presented by Smirnoff Red White and Berry. The celebration will include exclusive access to the Dockmaster Building at the tip of District Pier, with food and drinks, a DJ, and spectacular views of the National Park Service’s firework display.  Tickets are $40 and include two drink tickets, plus a cash bar.

7:30pm-10:30pm: July 4th Cruise Fireworks Watch Party
Celebrate America’s birthday in a grand style, on a cruise ship, unbeatable fireworks watch position on the Potomac River and a three-hour TOP SHELF free flowing Open Bar. Join for an enchanting July 4th filled with breathtaking views along the Potomac river, lively entertainment, dancing, and many more. 

8:00pm-9:30pm: A Capitol Fourth Concert
A Capitol Fourth to be a pre-recorded show due to the pandemic with a live fireworks presentation, in lieu of the traditional live concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Capping off the concert broadcast will be live coverage of the fireworks display over our nation’s iconic skyline captured by multiple cameras stationed around the city. The 41st annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth airs on PBS Sunday, July 4, 2021 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET.

9:09pm: Fireworks
The National Park Service will once again host the annual Independence Day fireworks celebration on the National Mall, the nation’s most important civic space and home to more than a dozen memorials that commemorate great Americans and significant events in our nation’s history. The 17-minute display will be held on Sunday, July 4, starting at 9:09 p.m. and will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Other viewing areas for the Mall fireworks–

U.S. Capitol
Lincoln Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The White House Ellipse
West Potomac Park
East Potomac Park
Anacostia Park
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Watch from the water on a cruise: Embark DC Boat Tours, City Cruises and Monumental Boat Tours
Grab a rooftop reservation at POV Rooftop Lounge at the W Hotel and Top of the Gate at the Watergate Hotel are a few!
Hop on a bike and head to Mt. Vernon Trail, Hains Point or Cardoza High School.

National Independence Day Parade: Cancelled this year

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Disclaimer: This road trip list full of essentials and games and contains affiliate links, which means that should you click any of the links and make a purchase I may get a small commission at absolutely no cost to you.