25+ ways to celebrate 4th of July around Charlotte
Plan your Charlotte area 4th of July 2017 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. Unless I’ve mentioned a price it’s free. And make sure to check the date, because some are not on the 4th.
If you know of a free (or very cheap) 4th of July event, please let me know about it at jody@charlotteonthecheap.com.
And don’t forget that to subscribe to Charlotte on the Cheap’s email list. One more thing: if you’re looking for more stuff to do, you can always check out the Free Events List for the current week.
Friday, June 30th
Charlotte Symphony Concert
Friday, June 30th, 2017, 7-10 p.m.
Village Park in Kannapolis. Followed by Fireworks Free.
Saturday, July 1st
Charlotte Symphony
Charlotte Symphony plays at Symphony Park at SouthPark. It costs $16. Saturday, July 1. Gates open at 5 p.m., prelude performances start at 7 p.m. Charlotte Symphony performs at 8:15 p.m. Fireworks follow.
Matthews People’s Parade
Matthews People’s Parade meets at the Town Hall Green at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 1 for bike and wagon decorating, and the parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Followed by concert by The Entertainers at 7 p.m. at Stumptown Park, along with bounce houses, food trucks, crafts and balloon gifts.
Red White and Blue Lawn Party at The Ballantyne
The Ballantyne is hosting a lawn party on Saturday, July 1, 2017, starting at 5:30 p.m. It’s free to attend and open to everyone. You don’t need to be a guest at the hotel. There will be live music, food trucks, local North Carolina beer and games, followed by fireworks.
Red White and Blue Ribbon Party
Saturday, July 1, 2-7 p.m. Free hamburgers and hot dogs. Three bands. Age 21+. Midwood Country Club, 2123 Central Avenue. Free.
Monday, July 3rd
Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration
Monday, July 3, 4-10:30 p.m., and Tuesday, July 4, 4-11:30 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 Tuesday, the festival is preceded by a parade on Hwy. 49, which starts at 9 a.m. and proceeds to the park.
Fireworks after Charlotte Knights Game
Monday, July 3, there will be Fireworks at BB&T Ballpark after the Charlotte Knights game.
Kannapolis Intimidators’ ballpark
Monday, July 3. A fireworks displays follows the game. Buy tickets here. Also, the Intimidators guarantee that they will win. If they lose, you’ll get a ticket to a future game.
Red, White & Blue Blaze
Monday, July 3, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Blue Blaze Brewing. Live music by Analog Crash, $2 off pitchers all day, free hot dogs off grill. Free.
Red White and Boom
Monday, July 3, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 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 10 p.m.
Carowinds Military Days
Free park admission to any active, inactive, or retired United States Service men and women with a valid military ID on July 3, 4 and 5. Fireworks July 4.
4th of July Festival at US National Whitewater Center
Festival begins on Monday, July 3 and continues to Tuesday, July 4. Includes live music followed by a fireworks display each night. Live music includes Lucero, Banditos, Coddle Creek, Yonder Mountain String Band, more. Admission is free. Parking is $5.
Tuesday, July 4th
4th of July Celebration at BB&T Ballpark
SkyShow Fireworks Spectacular follows the July 4 baseball game between Team USA and Team Cuba. Buy tickets for the game here. If you’re not attending the game, you should be able to see the fireworks from any place adjacent to the ballpark, like Romare Bearden Park. Here’s some more information. There will also be a free street festival from 2-10 p.m. in front of the ballpark. Live music, as well as carnival rides, bounce houses and more. There’s a charge for some activities at the festival.
4th of July Festival at US National Whitewater Center
Festival begins on Monday, July 3 and continues to Tuesday, July 4. Includes live music followed by a fireworks display each night. Live music includes Lucero, Banditos, Coddle Creek, Yonder Mountain String Band, more. Admission is free. Parking is $5.
Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration
Monday, July 3, 4-10:30 p.m., and Tuesday, July 4, 4-11:30 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 Tuesday, the festival is preceded by a parade on Hwy. 49, which starts at 9 a.m. and proceeds to the park.
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, tours, crafts and a scavenger hunt. 3500 Shamrock Drive, Tuesday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $5 (free for members).
Waxhaw 4th of July Celebration
In downtown Waxhaw. Tuesday, July 4. Parade at 10 a.m.; Beach party 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; Fireworks at dusk.
4th of July Festival at Birkdale Village
Activities take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 4. Festival includes stage performances, face painting, balloon art, bounce houses, craft tables, bike decorating & patriotic bike ride, music, roaming entertainment and more! Plus, the annual Huntersville Fire Department water fight at 12:15 p.m.
Tega Cay 4th of July Celebration
Festival begins with a land parade at 9 a.m. July 4, 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. At 9:30 p.m. there will be fireworks.
Lake Wylie Fireworks
Fireworks Tuesday, July 4 will be viewable from near the Buster Boyd Bridge around 9:15 p.m.
16th Annual 4th of July Pig Pickin’ in Plaza Midwood
Tuesday, July 4, from 4-10 p.m. This neighborhood crawl will include barbecue, music and fun at a number of Plaza Midwood businesses, including Soul Gastrolounge, The Diamond, Snug Harbor, twenty-two, Thomas Street Tavern, Whiskey Warehouse, Midwood Smokehouse, Legion Brewing, Moo & Brew, Salon 1226, Midwood Country Club, The Pizza Peel Plaza Midwood, The Workman’s Friend and Elizabeth Billiards.
Davidson Independence Day Celebration
Tuesday, July 4, 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 the band Da Throwback Band will perform at 6 p.m.
Hickory Grove Parade and Celebration
The 48th Annual Hickory Grove Parade and Celebration is the largest block party in East Charlotte. Tuesday, July 4. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Hickory Grove Recreation Center, 6709 Pence Road, and proceeds to The Grove Church, 5735 East W.T. Harris Boulevard, where the celebration continues until 2:30 p.m., with live music, games, pie-eating contests, inflatables, food and more.
4th of July Party at Snug Harbor
Tuesday, July 4, 8 p.m. Live bands: Alternative Champs, Dirty Art Club, TKO Faith Healer, Brut Beat, Fat Face Band, at Snug Harbor in Plaza Midwood. Free.
Charlotte Motor Speedway 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Drivers’ autographs and fireworks follow Bojangles’ Summer Shootout on Tuesday, July 4. The Shootout starts at 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $8. Kids under 13 get in for free.
Baxter Village 4th of July Parade
Tuesday, July 4, 9:30 a.m. Baxter Village in Fort Mill, South Carolina’s annual 4th of July parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at 940 Market Street. It includes Charlotte sports mascots, clowns, stilt walkers and much more.
Gastonia July 4 Festival
Tuesday, July 4, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Features live music, eating contests, free carnival rides and fireworks.
Indian Trail 4th of July Parade
Tuesday, July 4, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 130 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail. At 9:30 a.m. the celebration begins, with flag raising, watermelon eating contest, live music, games and activities. At 11:30 a.m. the parade starts. Free.
Carowinds Military Days
Free park admission to any active, inactive, or retired United States Service men and women with a valid military ID on July 3, 4 and 5. Fireworks July 4.
For more, visit Charlotte on the Cheap.
This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 1:48 AM with the headline "25+ ways to celebrate 4th of July around Charlotte."