We figured out pretty quickly after we moved to Raleigh that July 4th is the biggest day of the year. It’s a day for celebration with those you love, coming together to eat hot dogs, have a few drinks, play some corn hole, wave a few flags, maybe watch a game of baseball, listen to music, and enjoy some fireworks!
This year, 4th July, or Independence Day, is on a Friday and we have the grace of a long weekend and shorter working week!
If you’re wondering how to celebrate 4th July in Raleigh, this guide has all the events and ways you can celebrate this iconic day in the City of Oaks.
For this list of Raleigh 4 th of July events, we’re including special events and celebrations , where you can find the fireworks in all areas of the Triangle, not just Raleigh, and a few ideas for enjoying perhaps a more peaceful day.
I’ve shared a few events in the nearby cities and towns of Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Holly Springs, Wake Forest, Clayton, Wendell, Roseville, Fuquay-Varina, and Carborro.
NOTE: Be mindful of the dates as some events won’t actually be on July 4th, but on the days surrounding it. Click here to see more events in July.
-
Where to watch the fireworks in Raleigh and Wake County?
- Fireworks Celebration at Dix Park, July 4, 2024
- Town of Cary Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks, July 4, 2024
- Apex Fireworks Frenzy, July 3, 2024
- Fuquay Varina Independence Day Celebration, July 1, 2024
- Garner Independence Day Celebration, July 3, 2024
- Morrisville Family Fun Festival, July 3, 2024
- Wake Forest Independence Day Celebration, July 3 & 42024
- Knightdale, Fourth on First Ave, July 4, 2024
- Rolesville Fourth, July 4, 2024
- Holly Springs, July 5, 2024
- Wendell Fireworks Show, July 2, 2024
- Mudcats for America Fireworks, Zebulon, July 4 – 6, 2024
- City of Durham Fireworks, July 4, 2024
-
July 4th Events in the Triangle
- State Capitol Family Celebration
- Festival for the Eno / EnoFest, July 4 & 6, 2024
- Independence Day Open House, Joel Lane Museum, July 4th
- Old Fashioned Fourth of July, Apex, Jul 4, 2024
- Carrboro 4th July Celebration (with reading of Frederick Douglass' essay)
- Brier Creek Commons Star Spangled Block Party, July 4, 2024
- July 3rd Celebration, Downtown Cary Park
-
Ideas for celebrating July 4th
-
Durham Bulls Baseball Game
- Fireworks hosted by the City of Durham
-
Carolina Mudcats Baseball Game, Zebulon, July 4, 2024
- Mudcats for America Fireworks
- Go Fishing
- Go Camping / Enjoy the Lakes
- Hike, Bike, or Paddle followed by a Raleigh Brewery
- Cookout and Chill
-
Durham Bulls Baseball Game
- Check each website / or town social media accounts for updated changes due to weather .
- Most firework celebrations allow you to bring chairs, blankets, coolers, and picnics (but check first).
- Only the Koka Booth fireworks show allows you to bring alcohol . Most others are alcohol free.
- All fireworks shows are free . Plan to get there just before sundown so you don’t miss it. Most displays will be between 9pm-9:30pm
- Some will have food trucks and other activities, so bring cash.
- Where: Lenovo Center and Carter-Finley Stadium
- When: Gates at 6:00pm / Fireworks @ 9:30 pm
- Website : raleighnc.gov/fireworks
- Where : Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- When: Gates at 3:30pm | fireworks at 9:30pm
- Website : www.boothamphitheatre.com
- Where : Hunter Street Park 1250 Ambergate Station, Apex
- When : 5pm – 10pm
- Website: www.apexnc.org
- Where: South Park, 900 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina
- When: Gates open at 6:00pm | Fireworks 9:15pm
- Website: www.fuquay-varina.org
- Where : Lake Benson
- When : 5:00pm
- Website : www.garnernc.gov
- Where : Town Hall Drive
- When : 5:00pm-9:00pm
- Website: www.townofmorrisville.org
- Where: Husky Stadium, Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Rd., Wake Forest
- When: Gates open 5:30pm | fireworks at 9:30pm
- Website: www.wakeforestnc.gov
- Where : Knightdale Station Park, 810 N. First Ave., Knightdale
- When : 9:00am – 9:15pm
- Website: www.knightdalenc.gov
- Where: Redford Place Park
- When: 5:00pm – 9:15pm
- Website: www.rolesvillenc.gov
- Where : Sugg Farm at Bass Lake
- When: 6:00pm – 9:30pm
- Website: www.hollyspringsnc.us/
- Where: 601 W. Third Street, Wendell Community Park
- When : 6:00pm / Fireworks at 9pm
- Website : https://www.townofwendellnc.gov/
- Where : Durham Bulls Athletic Park
- When : approx 9:15pm
- Where : NC State Capitol
- When: 11:00am – 3:00pm, July 4th
- Where : West Point on the Eno River City Park
- When: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Website: www.enofest.org
- Tickets : $35 per day or $65 for a 2 day pass
- Where: 160 South Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh
- When : 11:00am-3:00pm, July 4th
- Website : www.joellane.org
- Where : Downtown Apex
- When: 9:00am – 1:00pm
- Website: www.apexnc.org
- Food trucks include Bobasaur, Cream & Sugar, D & J Concessions, and Stick Happens
- Where: Carrboro Town Commons
- When: 9:30am-4:00pm
- Website: www.carrborojuly4th.com
- Where : Brier Creek Commons Shopping Center
- When: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
- Website: www.shopbriercreekcommons.com/events
- Where : Downtown Cary Park
- When: 4:00pm – 10:00pm
- Website: https://downtowncarypark.com/
- Where : Lucky B’s, 609 Tucker Street Raleigh, NC 27603 United States
- When: 5:00pm – 8:00pm
- Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/
- Where: Five County Stadium, Zebulon
- When : 6:30pm
- Website : www.milb.com/carolina-mudcats
- Jordan Lake
- Kerr Lake
- Lake Gaston
- Falls Lake
- Tucker Lake
- Hiking trails
- Biking trails
- Lakes in Raleigh
- best places to paddleboard in Raleigh
Where to watch the fireworks in Raleigh and Wake County?
The following places are some of the most iconic places where you can watch fireworks and celebrate the 4th of July in Raleigh and throughout the Triangle.
But be sure to make note of the following before you go:
Fireworks Celebration at Lenovo Center and Carter-Finley Stadium, July 4, 2025
Last year, the City of Raleigh held their annual fireworks display at the beautiful city park, Dorothea Dix Park, but this year it will be held at the stadium complex of Lenovo Center and Carter-Finley Stadium.
There will be no stage, it’s all about the fireworks. Last year there were games and activities like skeeball, but there will be none of that this year.
It might only be about the fireworks, but it’s a free event so who can complain about that?!
There will be no shuttle services this year, but there’s ample free parking at the Lenovo Center lots, as well as North Carolina State Fairgrounds Bunn Field lots and and Carter-Finley lots.
Here are hotels near the Lenovo Center if you are visiting Raleigh for July 4th fireworks.
Town of Cary Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks, July 4, 2025
The very popular Town of Cary’s family-friendly fireworks-focused celebration on July 4th includes an acoustic performance by Emma Rae and Story Charlemagne, as well as the North Carolina Symphony.
Doors open at 3:30pm, but at 7:30pm, the North Carolina Symphony will take the stage and then the fireworks over Symphony Lake at 9:30pm
Food vendors will also be outside the gate, but you can bring your own picnic with you.
We don’t think the food inside is very good and they have NO gluten free options. General Admission lawn is FREE and does not require a ticket. A limited number of Reserved Table Seats (with parking) are available.
I have heard from many previous attendees this is a fantastic experience to have at least once. However, parking and traffic is meant to be a nightmare, so plan accordingly and perhaps park outside and walk in.
Here is all you need to know before attending an event at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary.
Apex Fireworks Frenzy, July 3, 2025
Apex is coming out strong for Independence Day in 2024. They’ll kick off festivities at 5pm on Thursday 3rd July, a day before. What’s special about this year is there will be a drone light show as well as fireworks!
This year’s event will see food trucks and activities along Hunter Street from Salem Street to Mason Street / Laura Duncan Road.
The event will also have food trucks, bounce houses, and music! Bring your own chairs. No alcohol allowed. There is also a Kids Zone with inflatables and games.
Food trucks available: Cream & Sugar, BareBaked Pizza, Smash Masters, Two Roosters Ice Cream, Stick Happens, Sodabox, Sassool Mediterranean Café, Mr. A’s Beignets, D& J Concessions, and Golden K Dog.
Fuquay Varina Independence Day Celebration, July 1, 2025
Kicking off the July 4th weekend in Fuquay-Varina will be a community celebration of food vendors, live music, a splash pad, and fireworks.
Bring a blanket or chair! Coolers allowed but it’s an alcohol-free event.
Garner Independence Day Celebration, July 3, 2025
Beautiful Lake Benson Park is the perfect spot for a community gathering for Independence Weekend in Garner on July 3rd .
There’ll be a special Kids Zone with activities, and live music with a headlining performance by the North Carolina Symphony. A firework show will finish the evening. Bring your own chairs, coolers, and picnics – no alcohol allowed.
Parking on site is free on a first-come, first-served basis. A free shuttle service from South Garner High School will be provided
Red, White & BOOM! Morrisville, July 3, 2025
Morrisville’s Independence Day celebration event, Red, White & BOOM!, will include live entertainment, food trucks, face painters, family-friendly games, and roving entertainment. And of course, fireworks to finish the evening.
Live music is by DJ George Salmi, The Phoebes, and Electric Carnival.
Parking will be available at Cedar Fork District Park , located at 808 and 909 Aviation Pkwy. Shuttle buses will transport participants to and from the event.
Wake Forest Independence Day Celebration, July 3rd, 2025
Bring blankets and chairs or sit in the bleachers for this firework show on the football field, which is now in its 52nd year! You can bring picnic baskets and coolers, but no alcohol.
The Wake Forest Fireworks Spectacular will be on July 3 with live music and fireworks at 9:30pm.
On July 4th, there is a children’s parade in downtown Wake Forest at 10:30am followed by an art market at 11:00am at the Wake Forest Community House. Read our guide to Downtown Wake Forest.
Knightdale, Fourth on First Ave, July 4, 2025
Expect a full day of festival activities in Knightsdale this July 4th!
Start the day with a bike parade at 9:00am, then watch live music from Liquid Pleasure, and just like last year, there will be n evening of inflatable fun, food trucks, cornhole and axe throwing, followed by fireworks display at 9:15pm.
Rolesville Fourth, July 4, 2025
It’s all happening in Rolesville with their Independence Day Party on July 4th.
Yard games, inflatables, food trucks and Beer and Wine (one of the few offerings!)
The live music show is live performance is The Embers, featuring Craig Woolard, and the fireworks go off with a bang at 9:15pm.
Holly Springs, July 5, 2025
Enjoying July 4th Celebrations so much you want to keep partying? Holly Springs has a late celebration on the 5th with live entertainment, food, and fireworks.
Fireworks kick off at 9:15pm.
Wendell Fireworks Show, July 2, 2025
Are you ready for Wendell for your first 4th of July fireworks Show? Doors will open at 6pm for the party that includes American music and food trucks.
Activities at the Fireworks Show will include Americana music and many different food trucks! Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and activities for their families to enjoy.
Please refrain from bringing coolers, pets, or personal fireworks including sparklers, so we can keep this a safe event for everyone!
Note: Use Landing View Drive to get to the park, as W. Third Street and Martin Street will be closed to all vehicle traffic during the event.
City of Durham Fireworks, July 4, 2025
The City of Durham will host their fireworks display at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park after the Durham Bulls play against the Norfolk Tide game.
We highly recommend attending the baseball game on July 4th . It’s a lot of fun. Then you are already in place for the fireworks.
We had loads of fun at the Durham Bulls Game for July 4th. A baseball game here is one of our favorites in the country (so far). It just has that warm, welcoming, fun, and vibrant spirit that we love so much in the Triangle.
Those not attending the game can still enjoy the fireworks. Gates will open for general admission at the end of the 7th inning based on availability for those that would like to view the fireworks show from inside the ballpark.
The game will start at 6:35 p.m.
For prime viewing sites outside of the ballpark, check out the grassy area behind Diamond View 3, the North Deck at Burt’s Bees, Tobacco Road Sports Café or Ponysaurus Brewing .
July 4th Events in the Triangle
Independence Day Celebration at the State Capitol
The NC State Capitol hosts a free, fun-filled family event that offers musical performances and several hands-on activities for children to enjoy.
The event will include a ceremony, which will have a reading from the Declaration of Independence, a wreath laying at the George Washington monument by the Sons of the American Revolution, an outdoor naturalization ceremony for new citizens, and a performance by the Raleigh Concert Band.
The band will perform from 11:30am – 12:00pm before the ceremony begins on the east grounds.
Festival for the Eno / EnoFest, July 4th-5th, 2025
The legendary annual Eno Fest , held on the banks of the beautiful Eno River on Independence Day is a Triangle festival not to miss!
Held annually since 1980, the Festival for the Eno is considered to be one of the premier folk and arts festivals in North Carolina and the Southeast.
It is an immersive experience featuring dozens of musical acts from gospel to roots (over 60 artists across four stages), local artisans, a juried craft show, water activities, and an international food court. Bring your swimmers as you can wade in the river!
This is a festival enveloped in good juju and an important mission : to conserve and protect the natural environment, culture, and history of the Eno River basin. Proceeds support the association’s work in the upkeep of the river and the purchase of land within its watershed.
The headlining acts appearing at the 2025 festival are Dom Flemons, Empire Strikes Brass, Dr. Bacon, and Shirlette Ammons.
Independence Day Open House, Joel Lane Museum, July 4th
Watch re-enactors, listen to music, and enjoy arts and crafts and activities grounds of the Joel Lane Museum House, the oldest extant home in Wake County and in Raleigh.
The bottom floor of the historic house will be open to walk through, with docents in each room.
Free refreshments will be available as long as supplies last. This is a free event.
Olde Fashioned Fourth of July, Apex, July 4th
A long-standing celebration in Apex. Starting with the flag raising and a speech from the mayor, it will be followed by games and inflatables, and a Parade of Wheels. Kids are invited to decorate any non-motorized vehicles in the red, white, and blue!
The fire department will then cool you down with a hose splash! This year’s event features inflatables, a giant slide, face painting, a karaoke contest, carnival games and more.
READ MORE: Things to do in Downtown Apex
Carrboro 4th July Celebration
There is a half day of events happening in Carrboro for July 4 th . The experience begins at Weaver St Market Lawn with a Costume Contest. You are then encouraged to decorate your bike/wagon and join in the traditional Weaver Street parade!
The People’s Parade will follow (10:30am) from Weaver Street Market to the Main Event at Carrboro Town Commons.
There will then be a reading of the Frederick Douglass Essay “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” at the Carrboro Century Center from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
Brier Creek Commons Star Spangled Block Party, July 4th
Face painting, 360 photo booths (they are fun) and a dance party with DJ Mark McNally and the Raleigh Rockers.
Fireworks will happen just after 9pm, bring your own lawn chairs and picnic blankets!
Independence Day Celebrations, Downtown Cary Park, July 3rd
Head to downtown Cary on July 3rd for a star-spangled extravaganza featuring a movie screening of Top Gun (PG-13), family-friendly activities, and a mouthwatering lineup of food trucks.
It’s the perfect occasion to gather your loved ones and enjoy some pre-Independence Day fun!
This event is free, open to the public, and is suitable for all ages. The movie will begin at 8:30pm, but there will be air plane and rocket crafting stations for kids throughout the day.
Raleigh Red White and Brew Bar Crawl
If you want to enjoy Raleigh’s thriving nightlife scene, experience Independence Day on a Red, White, and Brew Bar Crawl!
On the Friday, July 4th, get tickets for the bar crawl, which gives you free entry to participating venues, and gives you a wristband that allows you discounts at various bars.
You also get entrance to a free Fourth of July after party.
Ideas for celebrating July 4 th
While there are several events in Raleigh for July 4th, you may just want to celebrate it with a fun activity or time with friends and the whole family. Here are a few ideas for that.
Is there anything more American than baseball and fireworks? Let’s start with the baseball games in the Triangle!
Carolina Mudcats Baseball Game, Zebulon, July 3rd, 2025
We have another great opportunity for celebrating Independence Day with baseball and fireworks in Wake County.
The Carolina Mudcats are the officially licensed Carolina League, Class-A, affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
First established in 1991, the Mudcats have provided affordable Wake County family fun for over 30 years at the 6,500 seat Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C.
Mudcats for America Fireworks
The annual Mudcats for America fireworks series returns to Five County Stadium for Independence Day on July 3rd, after the match against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
Go Fishing
Reel it in fisherfolk. Did you know every 4 th of July is a FREE Fishing day in North Carolina?
All ages can fish for free in public waters without having to purchase a license. Grab a pole, cast a line, and relax on the banks of one of our state’s many beautiful rivers and lakes.
Bond Park Boathouse will have an Independence Day Fishing Tournament at Bond Park! Anglers of all ages are welcome. Registration starts at 7 a.m., and the tournament begins at 8 a.m.
Here is a post sharing the best best places to go fly fishing in North Carolina !
Go Camping / Enjoy the Lakes
Is there a better way to celebrate Independence Day than camping with those you love in a pine forest by the side of the lake?
Make it a three-day weekend of boating, paddling, swimming, lazing around, eating burgers and hot dogs on the grill, enjoying sunset drinks while playing cards, and then sitting around the campfire roasting s’mores at night.
We enjoyed our three-da y camping trip at Lake Gaston doing all of the above and it was fantastic. A few great camping areas near Raleigh (We hope you can book in a spot.)
You don’t even have to camp to enjoy these beautiful lakes. Why not just head out to the lake for the day?
Check out these other places near Raleigh to go swimming?
Hike, Bike, or Paddle followed by a Raleigh Brewery
Make your Independence Day celebration simply about getting out in nature. With our greenways and lakes, we’re spoiled for choice. The trails will probably be quiet and serene as so many people will be doing other things.
For paddling, we paddled on the Robertson Millpond Preserve , which was fantastic. We also love Lake Raleigh and Lake Johnson .
We also like hiking a few trails in Umstead Park and love the Loblolly Trail the most. See more:
When you’re finished, relax with a pint at your favorite local brewery. They may even have live music or a party event on for you. Here is a list of Raleigh breweries !
Cookout and Chill
You don’t have to go out and do anything for Independence Day. We all know gas prices are ridiculous at the moment.
Stay at home. Fire up the grill. Spend time with your family and friends. Swing in a hammock up in the backyard. Do nothing but chillax.
Cancel all my plans, this is what I now want to do!
What are your plans for July 4th in Raleigh? Share in the comments below.
