Charlotte’s biggest 4th of July celebrations are back in 2021! Here’s a list of fireworks displays, plus parades, celebrations and more. Notably, WBT SkyShow is back! Not to mention the U.S. National Whitewater Center 4th of July Celebration, Carowinds’ Celebrate America Fireworks Show, Birkdale Village’s fire department wet down and many more! Read on for details of all of the celebrations, including the celebrations in many smaller towns in the Charlotte area.

We will be updating this page continuously in the days leading up to Independence Day, so please keep checking back.

Please make sure to check the date of each event, as some take place the weekend before the 4th of July, or other times. Also, make sure to follow all the links. Sometimes details change for events, and we might not be notified.

4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations in the Charlotte Area

Throughout North Carolina

young boy fishing — Photo: PixelRockstar

July 4th, 2021, is Free Fishing Day in North Carolina. Fish in any public body of water without a license. Other regulations, such as size limitations and lure restrictions, still apply. If you don’t have fishing equipment, many facilities operate a tackle loan program.

4th of July Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center

Photo courtesy of U.S. National Whitewater Center

U.S. National Whitewater Center 4th of July Celebration
Saturday, July 3rd, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 4th, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214
Free admission, free yoga. Parking is $6. Center activities are regular price.

The Whitewater Center’s 4th of July Celebration is back! It features two days of yoga and live music. Both nights close with fireworks. As far as bands, Con Brio has been announced for Saturday, and Moon Taxi has been announced for Sunday.

WBT SkyShow: Fireworks after Charlotte Knights Game

WBT SkyShow is returning to Charlotte! The fireworks show will take place after the Charlotte Knights game against Norfolk on Sunday, July 4th, 2021. The game starts at 6:05 p.m. Follow the above link for tickets. They might go quickly. By the way, check their schedule, because they have fireworks after a lot of games! If you can’t get tickets to the Knights game, no worries! You can watch the fireworks from Romare Bearden Park!

Optimist Hall’s Star Spangled Saturday

Celebrate Independence Day at Optimist Hall, 115 N. Brevard Street, on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021. The celebrate features live music by HC Oakes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and then fireworks at 9:20 p.m.

Carowinds Celebrate America Fireworks Show

Carowinds will put on a fireworks show on Saturday, July 3rd, and Sunday, July 4th, 2021, at 8:45 p.m., for guests to enjoy. We have discounted tickets available for Carowinds.

Charlotte Symphony’s Celebrate America! Concerts, with Fireworks

Charlotte Symphony is offering at least three chances to experience a rousing, patriotic-themed concert, followed by spectacular fireworks.

These are the performances we know about so far. The performance at Truist Field, of course, will be in the heart of Charlotte, and you’ll get to see the fireworks against the backdrop of the Charlotte skyline. But if the $25/person price tag is too high, there will also be a FREE concerts, followed by fireworks, in Kannapolis and Cornelius. If we learn about more, we’ll add them.

Symphony in the Park & Fireworks in Cornelius
Saturday, June 19th, 2021
6 p.m.
Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius
Free

Charlotte Symphony at Truist Field
Friday, June 25th, 2021
8:30 p.m.
Truist Field, 324 South Mint Street, Charlotte
$25 (you can also watch the fireworks from Romare Bearden Park; no cost)

Charlotte Symphony at Kannapolis’s Summer Concert Series
Wednesday, June 30th, 2021
7 p.m.
Village Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis
Free

Lowes YMCA

Lowes YMCA, 170 Joe V. Knox Ave, in Mooresville, will present its annual fireworks display on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021. This year, the celebration will include a field of 600 flags, and live music by Rockie Lynne. This event is free, and you don’t need to be a YMCA member to attend.

Laser Show at Queen Charlotte Fair

Queen Charlotte Fair will be at Route 29 Pavilion from July 1st to 11th, and on July 3rd and 4th, there will be a 4th of July laser show when it gets dark. The laser show (and other shows, including a magic show and a motorcycle show) is included in the price of admission, which is $12 for adults, $7 for kids age 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under.

Town of Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration

Harrisburg’s 4th of July Celebration
Saturday, July 3rd, and Sunday, July 4th, 2021
Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg, NC 28075
Free

The Town of Harrisburg will be firming up its plans as State guidance is released, but the plans call for a 4th of July parade on Saturday at 9 a.m., and a two-day festival at Harrisburg Park, with fireworks each night. The headlining band on Sunday will be Grand Funk Railroad at 8 p.m.

Fort Mill Independence Day Celebration

The Fort Mill Independence Day Celebration takes place Saturday, July 3rd, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., on Main Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The celebration features live music, kids’ activities, games, the annual firing of the town’s cannon, and fireworks.

Gastonia Honey Hunters

The Gastonia Honey Hunters, the Charlotte area’s newest baseball team, is celebrating Independence Day at their games on Sunday, July 4th, and Monday, July 5th, 2021.

July 4th: American flag giveaway, and U.S. Air Force flyover
July 5th: Fireworks extravaganza, and American flag enamel pin giveaway

Tickets start at $7. Purchase single-game tickets.

Red, White & BOOM!

Red, White & BOOM!, Old Town Rock Hill’s very popular 4th of July celebration is back for 2021! On Saturday, July 3rd, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., head to Old Town Rock Hill for live music with Groove Machine and Kids in America, free inflatables for the kids, food trucks, beer and wine, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Birkdale Village’s 4th of July Celebration

Birkdale Village’s 4th of July celebration
Sunday, July 4th, 2021
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Birkdale Village, 8712 Lindholm Street, Huntersville
Free

Birkdale Village’s 4th of July family celebration is back for 2021. This daytime celebration includes bike decorating, a bike parade, and a block party with a DJ, face painters, stilt walkers, magicians and more. After the parade, participate in the Huntersville Fire Department’s wet down to cool off! This is a free event.

Indian Trail Parade

Indian Trail July 3rd Parade
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021
11:30 a.m.
Free

Celebrate Independence Day at Indian Trail’s parade. It will start at Post Office Drive, proceed down Indian Trail Road South, and end at Old Monroe Road.

4th of July Dog Parade

4th of July Dog Parade
Saturday, June 26th, 2021
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Pineville Lake Park, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville

Celebrate America and your best friend at the 4th of July Dog Parade. At 4 p.m. there will be a Patriotic Dog Costume Contest, which costs $5 to enter. Following the contest there will be a dog parade, which is free to participate in or to watch. There will also be a microchip check, vendors, and a photo booth with a festive backdrop and props. Please bring a small bag of dog or cat food, or treats, to donate to Pineville Neighbor’s place. The event also benefits Charlotte Black Dogs.

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

There will be fireworks following the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers’ game against the Charleston River Dogs on Sunday, July 4th, 2021, at Atrium Health Ballpark in downtown Kannapolis. Tickets are $11 to $17. Purchase here.

Hound’s Drive-In

Hound’s Drive-In, at 114 Raven Circle, Kings Mountain, is holding their 6th annual Fireworks and Movies Celebration on Saturday, June 26th, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fireworks start at dark, and the movies will start after the fireworks. $20 per carload. Check back soon for a list of movies.

City of Gastonia 4th of July Celebration

City of Gastonia Fourth of July Celebration
Sunday, July 4th, 2021
4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Rotary Centennial Pavilion
111 N. South Street, Gastonia

Gastonia’s July 4th celebration will feature vendors, food trucks, live music and fireworks. The bands performing are Thirsty Horses and The Diamond River Band.

Mount Holly 4th of July Celebration

City of Mount Holly 4th of July Celebration
Thursday, July 1st, 2021
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Downtown Mt. Holly

The City of Mount Holly’s 4th of July celebration includes live music from Coming Up Brass, followed by a fireworks celebration.

Dallas 4th of July Celebration

Dallas 4th of July Celebration
Sunday, July 4th, 2021
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cloninger Park, Dallas

Enjoy live music from Almost Vintage, followed by a fireworks show at dusk.

Kings Mountain Red, White and Boom!

Kings Mountain Red White and Boom
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021
Time 6:30 p.m. at Patriots Park, 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain
Or 9:45 p.m., at Deal Park Walking Track, 211 North Cleveland Avenue, Kings Mountain

The City of Kings Mountain is offering two choices, as part of Red, White, and Boom!

Bring the family to Patriots Park, 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be food trucks, inflatables, and live music from Cleveland County’s own ACE Party Band from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Then, at 9:45 p.m., there will be a patriotic laser show.

Also, City of Kings Mountain will present their fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. from the Deal Park Walking Trail, 211 North Cleveland Avenue, Kings Mountain (behind the YMCA.)

Red, White & Belmont

Red, White & Belmont
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021
6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
South Main Street, Belmont

This celebration features live music by The Breakfast Club, starting at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks at 10 p.m.

Denver 4th of July

Denver’s 4th of July Celebration
Saturday, June 26th, 2021
4 p.m.
East Lincoln High School, 6471 Hwy 73, Denver

This event features live music, with headliner Craig Campbell, vendors and fireworks.

Freedom House

Freedom House, 2638 State Road 2469, Charlotte, is presenting a 4th of July celebration on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021. At 5 p.m., there will be food trucks, bounce houses, and a DJ. At 9 p.m., enjoy a fireworks show. This is a free event.

Tega Cay

Tega Cay is celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks (July 4th), a ski show (July 2nd), a concert (July 3rd) and a land parade (July 3rd.) Find all the details about Tega Cay’s 4th of July celebration here.

Town of Waxhaw

The Town of Waxhaw is hosting an Independence Day Celebration at the Waxhaw Community Center, under the Water Tower, on July 4th, at 12 p.m. There will be live music by Gump Fiction, and a food truck rodeo.

Baxter Village July 4th Parade

Baxter Village in Fort Mill, South Carolina, is hosting a July 4th parade. It will start at 9:30 a.m. If you want to be in the parade, just meet in the parking lots behind Killington’s Restaurant in Baxter Village Town Center, 900 Market Street, Fort Mill, SC.

Lake Wylie Fireworks Display

The annual Lake Wylie fireworks will be shot off from Lake Wylie by the Buster Boyd Bridge, S.C. Hwy 49. It will take place Sunday, July 4th, 2021, around 9:30 p.m. There are several good viewing areas, mainly from the decks of lakefront restaurants. Find more information on the Lake Wylie Fireworks Display here.

Cramerton Independence Day Celebration

The Town of Cramerton is holding an Independence Day Celebration at Cramerton Centennial Center, 100 Center Drive, Cramerton, on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be live music by Carolina Soul Band, followed by fireworks.

Charlotte Museum of History

Charlotte Museum of History has reopened and there’s no better way in Charlotte to learn about the roots of our country’s independence. On Saturday, July 3rd, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided tours fo the 1774 Rock House at noon and 2 p.m. Check back soon for ticket prices.

In addition, on Thursday, July 1st, 2021, at 6 p.m., there will be a free virtual Ron Hankins History Talks lecture featuring Sophia Rosenfeld, the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania.

York, SC

Celebrate the 4th of July at York Middle School, 1010 Devinney Road, York, South Carolina, with food trucks, free inflatables, live music by U-Phonik, and fireworks.

Blakeney 4th of July Celebration

Blakeney Shopping Center, at Ardrey Kell and Rea Road, Charlotte, is hosting a 4th of July celebration on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participating retailers will be giving away a small patriotic gift with purchase. There will be acoustic music, plus patriotic stilt walkers and jugglers from 12 pm. to 2 p.m. At 7 p.m., enjoy a concert by Soulwatt, as part of the Summer Concert Series, and take your picture in front of the July 4th themed installation near the Blakeney Plaza Stage.