Three arrests made, 3 guns seized as 12,000 attend Charlotte fireworks, CMPD says

A massive fireworks display staged Thursday night in uptown Charlotte was largely trouble free, with only three arrests made, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The three suspects ranged in age from 20 to 29, and charges included carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and possession with intent to sell/distribute, CMPD said in a July 4 news release.

“An estimated 12,000 spectators attended SkyShow 2025. ... There were no major incidents during the scheduled holiday festivities in Uptown,” CMPD reported.

“Officers seized three firearms, approximately 14.4 grams of suspected marijuana, approximately $5,000 in U.S. currency and drug paraphernalia.”

SkyShow, celebrating the Fourth of July, is “one of the largest fireworks shows in the Southeast,” the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority says.

The event was centered at Truist Field, following a July 3 Charlotte Knights baseball game.

Multiple uptown streets were blocked during the event, including South Mint Street and West Fourth Street.

CMPD says advanced planning for its “strategic operations plan” included officers visiting the homes of “prior juvenile offenders to discourage criminal behavior.”

This story was originally published July 4, 2025 at 6:01 AM.