4th of July Celebrations

Kids. Fireworks. Parades. Ice cream...

The Fourth of July is a day for family fun. Whether you're taking a trip or looking for fireworks close to home, here's a sample of festivities.

^{(When clicking through to a web site check event details carefully, in case a site hasn't updated for 2009.)}

4th of July 2009

• Philadelphia; Sunoco Welcome America! Festival
  From end of June to July 4th: "eight days of family-oriented entertainment" with concerts, fireworks, barbeque, Day at the Fair, Fiesta on the Parkway, Southwest Airlines July 4th Parade...

• Fourth of July in New York City
  About's Guide for NYC covers many 4th of July events, from Hot Dog Eating Contests to Cruises to Concerts...

• A highlight in NYC is Macy's stupendous Fourth of July Fireworks, set off from several locations from barges in the East River. About's Guide for Manhattan has best spots to view these pyrotechnics.

• Long Island, NY
  Fireworks, parades, festivals, races, more.

• Boston's Fourth of July Harborfest
  "America's Biggest Independence Day Party" is a multi-day bash with hundreds of events -- from historic tours to Children's Day to Chowderfest-- and attracts more than 2.5M visitors. Fourth of July Pops Concert at the Esplanade is a tradition, leading up to fireworks over the Charles River.

• Salem MA - July 4th
  Kids Space with dj, activities, crafts; concerts; National Guard flyover; fireworks...

• Baltimore's Fourth of July Celebration
  Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the place to be: check Calendar for all-day fun, and grand finale fireworks.

• Connecticut Fourth of July Events
  Click on Events and select July 4th for parades, fireworks, etc. Mystic Seaport, for ex., has an 1870s Fourth of July.

• Washington DC: 4th of July
  A giant National Independence Day Parade starts the celebration along Constitution Avenue; in the afternoon, the annual Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife entertains; the National Archives has a Family Day; and in the evening, the National Symphony Orchestra performs while one of the country's largest shows of fireworks lights up the reflecting pool on the National Mall. About's Guide for DC covers Fourth of July Fireworks in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia, and has National Parade photos, and more.

  See also, for DC: Best Places to View Fourth of July Fireworks

• Fourth of July in Colonial Williamsburg
  Colonial Williamsburg is living history: real-life actors in the streets and in historic houses bring to life the days before the American Revolution. Expect fireworks, and the chance to ask a few questions -- ask Thomas Jefferson or Patrick Henry, that is.

• Fourth of July in Orlando
  Expect great fireworks in this town! Find fireworks and celebrations at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, more.

• Other Florida: About.com's Florida for Visitors site covers other Independence Day festivities too.

• July 4th Celebrations in the Southeast
  Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia - About's Guide for Southeast for Visitors covers Independence Day celebrations in all these states.

• Texas: Houston July 4th
  Hours of live entertainment in Eleanor Tinsley Park lead up to "the nation's largest land-based fireworks show" (-NYC's fireworks are on a river-). Other celebrations, too.

• Austin, Texas
  Bring a blanket and picnic basket, for fireworks and music by the Austin Symphony; other venues too.

• New Orleans
  Celebrate Independence Day New Orleans style: Go 4th on the River is a major bash, with live entertainment followed by the "Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza" on the Mississippi River. Other events, too.

• Top Picks for 4th of July in St. Louis
  The Fair St. Louis has a parade that's been rolling for over 130 years, a Family Fun Village, free concerts, and of course fireworks. Other celebrations too in nearby towns.

• Phoenix Independence Day
  About's guide for Phoenix suggests great venues for the 4th of July, with picnics, concerts, rides, etc., leading up to the fireworks.

• Los Angeles: 4th of July Festivities
  Where to celebrate the 4th of July in and around LA: festivals, fireworks, BBQ's, and more, including events in the Valley and Orange County.

• LA July 4th: Americafest at the Rose Bowl
  A standout event for July 4th for families in the LA area: the Rose Bowl stadium, in Pasadena, has a day-long festival with music, field shows, and "world-class fireworks" by a top producer of Fireworks shows.

• Los Angeles: Top Fireworks for Fourth of July
  Ten great spots for Fireworks in LA County; most venues have activities all day.

• San Francisco 4th of July
  The Fourth of July Celebration takes place at Pier 39, part of the popular tourist complex that includes Fisherman's Wharf, the Cannery, and Ghirardelli Square. Free family fun, bands, street performers, marionettes, face-painting, and (do we need to say it?) fireworks.

• Seattle: Fourth of Jul-Ivars
  --this event has been discontinued, in 2009
  Ivars is a big name in Seattle for its seafood restaurants. Some 40 years ago, founder Ivar Haglund was asked to put on a fireworks show for the city. The fireworks have gone off year after year, plus music, kids' activities, food and more.

• Also in Seattle: Family 4th at Lake Union fireworks extravaganza, and Tacoma's Fourth of July Freedom Fair.

July 4th 2009 Celebrations in many more cities:

Not interested in festivities at the places above? Check these sites for events in towns that might suit you better.

• Independence Day / 4th of July at Festivals.com
  Festivals.com is a good place to look for events: but you might have to search for "July 4th", "Fourth of July", and "Independence Day".

• Fourth of July - Multiple Cities
  GoCityKids has detailed calendars with family fun for over a dozen major cities.

* Check for 2009 updates.

^{*thanks for About's Guide for Portland Oregon for Fourth of July photo.}