Charlotte fireworks, 4th of July parades, festivals, more for 2019-Updated

Searching for Charlotte fireworks? Plan your Charlotte area 4th of July 2019 festivities with this list of free and cheap July 4th events. These events include fireworks, parades, live music, historical presentations, water fun and much more. Follow each link to find the important details that you will need. Make sure to check the date, because some are not on the 4th.

We’ve put “fireworks” in red so you can find those Charlotte fireworks easily. This is a growing list, so bookmark it and keep checking back! If you know of a free (or very cheap) 4th of July event, please let me know about it. jody@charlotteonthecheap.com.

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Disclaimer: Always click on the links and verify information with the venue or organization’s page. Information can change. Typos are sometimes made.

Saturday, June 22nd

Gaston All American Fair
For early fireworks check out Gaston All American Fair, outside Eastridge Mall in Gastonia. The fair will be going on from Friday, June 14th, to Sunday, June 23rd, with fireworks taking place Saturday, June 22nd. Admission is free, and there will be live music, contests and more. Rides and carnival games will require tickets. Free admission.

Charlotte Symphony Community Concert
Saturday, June 22nd, at Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius. The Charlotte Symphony performs at 8:15 p.m. in a free show, followed by fireworks.

Thursday, June 27th

Mt. Holly Fireworks
Thursday, June 27th, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. South Main Street, Mount Holly. Live music by “Coming Up Brass”, food trucks, kids’ zone and Fireworks. Free.

Saturday, June 29th

Red, White & Brew Fest
Saturday, June 29th, 2019, at Sycamore Brewing, 2161 Hawkins Street. Free admission. Food for sale, live music on two stage, and Fireworks. Free.

Carowinds Military Days
Free park admission to any active, inactive, or retired United States Service men and women with a valid military ID from Saturday, June 29th, to Sunday, July 7th.

Fireworks at Hounds Drive-In
Before the movies on Saturday, June 29th, 2019, there will be live music and fireworks. Ticket booth opens at 5 p.m. Live music starts at 5 p.m. Fireworks start after 9 p.m., and the movies start after 9 p.m. $20 a car. (On other nights it’s $15/car.) Cash only. 114 Raven Circle, Kings Mountain.

Tuesday, July 2nd

Charlotte Motor Speedway 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Drivers’ autographs and fireworks follow Bojangles’ Summer Shootout on Tuesday, July 2nd. The Shootout starts at 5 p.m. Adult tickets are $8. Kids under 13 get in for free.

Wednesday, July 3rd

Charlotte Symphony
Charlotte Symphony plays at Symphony Park at SouthPark on Wednesday, July 3rd. It costs $18 in advance, $20 the day of. Youth tickets are $5 in advance, $7 the day of. Children 12 and under are free, but do require a ticket. The Alan Barrington Band plays at 7 p.m. Charlotte Symphony performs at 8:15 p.m. Fireworks follow.

Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration
2 day celebration at Harrisburg Park.
Wednesday, July 3rd, 4 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Thursday, July 4th, 4 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Harrisburg celebrates with a two day festival at Harrisburg Park, with live music, amusements and lots more. Both days end with Fireworks displays. On Thursday morning there’s a parade on Hwy. 49, which starts at 9 a.m. Free, but there’s a cost for some activities. Follow above link for details.

Red White and Boom
Wednesday, July 3rd, 5:30 p.m., in Old Town in Rock Hill, South Carolina. There’s a kids’ zone (there’s a fee for this) a free concert and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Free.

4th of July Festival at US National Whitewater Center
Festival begins on Wednesday, July 3rd and picks up again on Thursday, July 4th. Includes live music followed by a fireworks display each night. Live music on Wednesday by Los Colognes and Rayland Baxter. Admission is free. Parking is $6.

Igniting Brighter Possibilities
Wednesday, July 3rd, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Lowes YMCA, 170 Joe V. Knox Ave, in Mooresville. This annual celebration, which is open to the community, features live music, kids’ activities and fireworks. Bring a blanket or chairs. Arrive early. Free.

Kannapolis Intimidators’ ballpark
Wednesday, July 3rd. A fireworks display follows the game against the Rome Braves. Buy tickets here.

Fort Mill Independence Day Celebration
Wednesday, July 3rd, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Main Street at the Bandstand, 183 Main Street, Fort Mill. 6 p.m.: Cookout. 8:15 p.m.: Independence Day Ceremony. 8:45 p.m.: Firing of the cannons. 9 p.m.: Fireworks. Free.

Thursday, July 4th

Free Fishing Day
Thursday, July 4th
On July 4th, 2019, you can fish for free, with no fishing license, at any public body of water in the state of North Carolina. Many locations offer free loaner equipment.

4th of July Festival at US National Whitewater Center
Festival begins on Wednesday, July 3rd and picks up again on Thursday, July 4th. Includes live music followed by a fireworks display each night. Live music on Thursday by Smooth Hound Slim and North Mississippi Allstars. Admission is free. Parking is $6.

SkyShow at BB&T Ballpark
SkyShow Fireworks Spectacular follows the July 4th 7:05 p.m. baseball game between the Charlotte Knights and the Norfolk Tides. Tickets for the game have sold out, except for standing room only areas, but if you’re not attending the game, you can sill see the fireworks from Romare Bearden Park. Here’s some more information. Check back soon for information on the daytime festival.

4th of July Celebration at Charlotte Museum of History
Charlotte Museum of History’s annual 4th of July celebration includes a naturalization ceremony for new citizens, crafts, a lecture, and the ringing of the American Freedom Bell. 3500 Shamrock Drive, Thursday, July 4th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.

19th Annual 4th of July Plaza Midwood Pig Pickin’
Thursday, July 4th, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Festivities will be all over Plaza Midwood. There will be live music out and about, including three bands on the stage outside The Diamond, 1901 Commonwealth Avenue. The Diamond will also be roasting a whole hog, and selling pulled pork plates and sandwiches, as well as hot dogs. Outside entertainment is free. Check on individual businesses to see what they’ve got going on.

There will be lots of live music throughout the neighborhood. The band schedule for the Diamond is Female Gibson (5:30 p.m.), Mannish Boys (7 p.m.), Lipstick on a Pig (8:30 p.m.)

Fun Family 4th of July in Matthews, with the People’s Parade
Matthews People’s Parade meets at the Town Hall Green at 5:00 pm Thursday, July 4th for bike and wagon decorating, and the parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Followed by concert by Too Much Sylvia at 7 p.m. at Stumptown Park, along with bounce houses, food trucks, crafts and balloon gifts. Free.

51st Annual Hickory Grove Parade and Celebration
Thursday, July 4th, 2019. The parade starts at Lawrence Orr Elementary School, 4853 Shamrock Drive, and follows Shamrock Drive to CastleRock Drive. The celebration takes place at Aldersgate, 3800 Shamrock Drive. The parade starts at 10 a.m., and the celebration goes from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Baxter Village 4th of July Parade
The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 4th, on 940 Market Street, Fort Mill, South Carolina, and proceeds 10 blocks south down Market Street. There’s plenty of free parking in Baxter Town Center. Charlotte sports mascots, bands, stilt walkers and much more. Free

Tega Cay 4th of July Celebration
Festival begins with a land parade at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 4th, followed by a canoe joust, a boat parade, the Carolina Ski Show Team’s performance, the Splish ‘n’ Splash Summer Bash (At Golf Course Pavilion Area, featuring water inflatables, DJ and face painting) and a fish fry. There may be a cost for some of the activities. At 9:30 p.m. there will be fireworks.

Lake Wylie Fireworks
Fireworks Thursday July 4th will be viewable from near the Buster Boyd Bridge around 9:15 p.m., if past years events are any indication. More details will be available soon. Free.

Davidson Independence Day Celebration
Thursday, July 4th, there will be a parade for all to participate in, starting at McEver Field on South Street at 5:15 p.m., proceeding to the town Green, where Da Throwback Band will perform at 6:00 p.m. as part of the Concerts on the Green concert series. Free.

Kings Mountain Revolutionary Fourth
The City of Kings Mountain, NC celebrates Independence Day on Thursday, July 4th, at the Revolutionary Fourth celebration, starting at 6 p.m., at Deal Park Walking Track, 211 N. Cleveland Avenue, Kings Mountain. Festivities include live music by Bounce, a free kids zone, food vendors, and a scene performed from “Liberty Mountain – The Revolutionary Drama about the Battle of Kings Mountain,” written by Bob Inman. The evening concludes with a fireworks show. Free.

Red White and Belmont
Belmont’s 4th of July celebration will take place in Downtown Belmont (at Stowe Park and Main Street) on Thursday, July 4th, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Festivities include inflatable and water amusements, face painting, balloon twisting, a pie eating contest, a patriotic stilt walker, a parade of patriotic pups, and a parade of patriotic bikes, trikes, and wagons with decorating contests for parade participants. The festival will end with a concert by Java Band, and then fireworks. Free (but costs for some activities.)

Waxhaw Independence Day Parade
The Town of Waxhaw is not setting off fireworks this year. There will be a parade starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 4th, in Downtown Waxhaw. Afterwards, maybe you’d like to go to the 4th of July Block Party at DreamChasers Brewery.

Indian Trail 4th of July Parade
Thursday, July 4th, 2019, 11:30 a.m. in Downtown Indian Trail. The parade will travel from Post office Drive along Indian Trail Road all the way to the Food Lion shopping center on Old Monroe Road.