With the 4th of July only a few days away, millions of Americans are preparing to celebrate the nation’s birthday with spectacular fireworks displays. Whether you are in a big metropolitan city or a rural town, there are numerous ways to locate the best fireworks displays near you on July 4th.
Finding fireworks near you
Online event websites are the best way of finding fireworks displays in your vicinity. Eventbrite is now a standard website for Fourth of July events, spanning from free public displays to high-end cruise events. Such websites allow searching by type of event, location, and date, making free public displays as well as special ticketed events easy to find.
Monitor local news sources
Local TV stations and newspapers traditionally compile complete lists of Fourth of July celebrations in their coverage areas. Media sources usually provide detailed guides that include not just fireworks times and locations, but also information on accompanying festivals, food vendors, and entertainment. News sources often publish these guides in print and online during the week leading up to July 4th.
Use social media and community groups
Social media sites and neighborhood apps can also be excellent resources for discovering smaller fireworks shows staged by communities that won’t be highly publicized. Facebook groups for the local community, Nextdoor neighborhoods, and social media pages for municipalities have a tendency to announce casual meetups and last-minute gatherings.
Best places to see fireworks in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers several incredible locations for Fourth of July celebration, but the finest is the Hollywood Bowl. The bowl offers a three-night celebration this year featuring Earth, Wind & Fire on July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, with fireworks following each performance. The Hollywood Bowl is located high above and provides incredible views of the fireworks backdrop on the Hollywood Hills.
Marina del Rey provides another excellent option with its 20-minute fireworks display over the water, scheduled for 9:00 PM to 9:20 PM. The pyrotechnics are fired from a barge on the Main Channel, providing excellent water reflections and viewing from nearly anywhere in Marina del Rey, in addition to Venice Pier, Playa Vista, and Dockweiler Beach. Holiday parking rates are $11 to $20 at various public lots throughout the marina.
Other Los Angeles highlights include Universal Studios, Dodger Stadium, and Hollywood Forever Cemetery, each offering a unique experience for families and fireworks enthusiasts.
Miami’s spectacular waterfront celebrations
Miami’s downtown waterfront is the backdrop for several Fourth of July festivities, with Bayfront Park celebrating its own centennial anniversary in conjunction with Independence Day. The festivities are from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and include live music, interactive activities, and end with a fireworks display over Biscayne Bay.
For a more luxurious experience, Miami offers premium fireworks cruises aboard mega yachts like the South Beach Lady. The four-hour cruises offer premium open bars, four-course dinner buffets, multiple entertainment decks, and great viewing points for the 30-minute 9:00 PM fireworks display. The cruises typically run from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM and provide guests with unobstructed views of the fireworks displaying off the water of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline.
North Miami hosts its own “Celebration by the Bay” at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus featuring DJ entertainment, food trucks, and a 9:00 PM fireworks display. Over 2,000 residents and visitors are welcome to this community-focused celebration.
New York City’s iconic Macy’s display
New York City’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show remains one of the nation’s most impressive displays, celebrating its 49th year in 2025. This year’s display will be fired from four barges on the East River in the Seaport District, as well as the Brooklyn Bridge itself. The display features 80,000 shells with 11 new effects and 30 colors, beginning at 8:00 PM.
The best locations for viewing are along FDR Drive, with entrances at Montgomery Street and Madison Street, Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place and Brooklyn Bridge On/Off Ramp, and Broad Street and Water Street. The show has an audience of approximately three million viewers, with some occupying their spots as early as 11:00 AM for good viewing spots.
For a more upscale experience, there are a number of cruise departures from various piers in Manhattan that offer an unobstructed view of the fireworks from the water. These range from party cruises to more luxurious dinner cruises and cost anywhere from approximately $100 to several hundred dollars for VIP experiences.
The fireworks can be viewed best from Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO in Brooklyn, which provide excellent views of the pyrotechnics with the city skyline serving as a backdrop. The show typically lasts 25 minutes and includes some of the world’s most high-tech fireworks.
Tips for finding and enjoying fireworks
Start your search early in the week leading up to July 4th, as many events are advertised or updated with final details during this time. Be prepared for the fact that weather conditions, particularly in beach areas, may affect fireworks displays, and have some alternatives on hand.
Arrive early for popular displays, especially in major metropolitan areas where crowds can number in the hundreds of thousands. Many successful fireworks viewers recommend arriving 2-3 hours before showtime to secure good viewing spots and navigate parking challenges.
Check for associated events like concerts, food festivals, and family activities that often accompany fireworks displays. These can enhance your overall experience and provide entertainment while waiting for the main event.
Arrange transportation ahead of time because the majority of locations restrict automobile access or high holiday parking charges are in effect. Public transportation, ride-sharing services, or walking to nearby areas are often more practical than driving to popular fireworks venues.
This Fourth of July, Americans have more options than ever to celebrate Independence Day with spectacular fireworks displays. Whether your taste runs to a big city spectacle or a small-town bash, the key is advance planning and knowing where to look for the latest information on what’s taking place in your area.
