The best places to see Fourth of July fireworks
Editor's Note
It's time to break out your best red, white and blue duds … and maybe some earplugs.
America's birthday is upon us, and cities across the U.S. are celebrating with patriotic pyrotechnic parties that will light up the night sky.
There's nothing wrong with backyard sparklers and poppers. However, if you want to see the country's biggest, brightest and most spectacular fireworks displays, we've rounded them up for your viewing pleasure.
New Orleans
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9 p.m.
New Orleans' musical roots run deep, so it only makes sense that the city likens its "Go 4th on the River" fireworks spectacular to a dueling piano show. The fireworks shoot from two adjacent barges stationed on the Mississippi River for a unique back-and-forth effect.
Find a spot in Crescent Park to watch the pre-fireworks concerts. Or, reserve a special Independence Day riverboat dinner cruise on the Creole Queen or Steamboat Natchez.
Related: 10 TPG-approved hotels for your next New Orleans stay
Angel Fire, New Mexico
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 8:15 p.m.
In places where fireworks pose a dangerous fire hazard, drone shows have proven to be a safe alternative that are just as exciting to watch. The Angel Fire Resort in Northern New Mexico is hosting a week's worth of Independence Day festivities that will conclude with a colorful drone show above the beautiful southern Rocky Mountains.
The viewing party will begin at 7 p.m. with live music and beverages (BYO blanket or lawn chair), and the drone show will begin at 8:15 p.m.
Boston
When: Tuesday, July 4, from 8-11 p.m.
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular takes place at the historic Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. This year the headliner is the '90s R&B and soul vocal group En Vogue. American country music duo LoCash will also perform.
Related: An insider's guide to Boston's top 16 attractions
The fireworks at this free event are backed by a lineup of patriotic tunes performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra. The display culminates with a powerful rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture while canons fire in the background and hundreds of fireworks illuminate the sky.
St. Louis
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9:15 p.m.
Since 1981, St. Louis has marked the Fourth of July by throwing "America's Biggest Birthday Party." Over the years, celebrations have included performances from legends such as Elton John, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles and The Beach Boys. Family-friendly festivities include the weekend-long St. Charles Riverfest and the "140th America's Birthday Parade" along Market Street. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and features floats, marching bands, live music and local bites.
Framed by the iconic Gateway Arch on the banks of the Mississippi River, the city's fireworks display lights up the sky with nearly 30 minutes of colorful explosions.
Nashville
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m.
It wouldn't be a Music City Fourth of July celebration without live music. Nashville's "Let Freedom Sing!" event will have plenty of it, along with one of the nation's largest fireworks displays.
Related: 10 cool Nashville hotels to consider for your next trip to Music City
The event starts with performances from Brad Paisley, The War and Treaty, Langhorne Slim, and Tiera Kennedy. It ends with a bang as the Nashville Symphony plays a live performance synchronized to fireworks.
Event admission is free, but you can purchase VIP packages, which include a one-night hotel stay.
New York City
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 8 p.m.
This year is the 47th annual showing of Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks celebration, and it will feature thousands of fireworks set to a rousing mix of patriotic and popular music.
Related: Book this, not that: New York City hotels edition
The spectacular pyrotechnic display lasts 25 minutes. The fireworks (some 1,920 shells and effects per minute, according to Macy's) will launch from barges stationed near Midtown Manhattan along the East River. There are various viewing spots, but you'll need to arrive early if you want a good one. Some locations may close to additional guests once they fill up.
If you can't make it in person, you can watch the show live on NBC or streaming on Peacock.
Denver
When: Monday, July 3 at 9:15 p.m.
Denver salutes the Fourth of July with a weekend-long (June 30 to July 4) celebration featuring fireworks, museum exhibitions, food trucks and — true to the city's passion for the great outdoors — plenty of heart-pumping activities.
The spectacular fireworks finale will blast off on Independence Eve at Civic Center Park to the sound of the Colorado Symphony and other local musicians.
Washington, DC
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9:09 p.m.
There aren't many places more appropriate to celebrate our nation's independence than in our nation's capital. Washington, D.C.'s Independence Day fireworks display occurs on the National Mall, surrounded by memorials and monuments that honor important moments and individuals in American history.
The fireworks launch from either side of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and guests can access the National Mall from various points for the best viewing spots.
Related: 8 best things to do in DC for families with kids of different ages
San Diego
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9 p.m.
The fireworks in San Diego's cleverly named "Big Bay Boom" celebration (the largest fireworks display in the state) launch from four different barges on San Diego Bay. Such a widespread display means lots of prime viewing spots, including Harbor Island, Shelter Island, the Embarcadero and Coronado Ferry Landing.
The event is free to the public, but you can purchase special event tickets to watch the show from the San Diego Midway Aircraft Museum, the Maritime Museum of San Diego or aboard a dinner cruise.
Key West, Florida
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9 p.m.
Like the meringue on a slice of key lime pie, Key West's Fourth of July fireworks show is the perfect way to top off five days of fruity fun at the annual Key Lime Festival.
The fireworks take to the sky from Edward B. Knight Pier, but you can party at the pier from the afternoon on with live music, food and more. You can also see the fireworks from Smathers Beach, which is a bit farther away but probably less crowded. For optimal viewing, book a fireworks cruise or go big and enjoy a Champagne celebration onboard a luxury vessel.
Houston
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 9 p.m.
There's much more to Houston's "Freedom Over Texas" celebration than just fireworks. The festivities start at 4 p.m. with family activities and live music. Country singer, songwriter and "Nashville Star" winner Chris Young and Grammy nominee and rising British country star Yol will headline the celebration.
The event occurs at Eleanor Tinsley and Sam Houston parks on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou. Admission is $10 per person, and kids age 5 and under are free.
Los Angeles
When: July 2-4 at 7:30 p.m. nightly.
This year, The Beach Boys will join the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for the city's headline event — a legendary fireworks spectacle marking the culmination of three nights of music, dance, culinary events and fireworks.
In downtown LA, Grand Park will host its signature Fourth of July Block Party from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with free family-friendly activities, entertainment and more fireworks over The Music Center Plaza.
Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl event start at $44 per person, and kids age 12 and under receive a 50% discount.
Santa Claus, Indiana
When: July 3-4 at 9 p.m.
Santa Claus, Indiana's Holiday World theme park, has an entire land dedicated to the Fourth of July. You can celebrate Independence Day every day on rides like Eagles Flight and the Firecracker.
The park's Holidays in the Sky drone and fireworks show pays homage to all holidays — and for Independence Day, the park adds even more fireworks (and 400 drones) to the show. Guests can also pick up a pair of free 3D fireworks glasses and a character mask to see the show in a new light.
Admission to the fireworks show is included with park tickets, which start at $49.99 per person. (Kids age 3 and under are free.)
Philadelphia
When: Tuesday, July 4 at 8 p.m.
Not surprisingly, the city that birthed the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution celebrates the Fourth of July in spectacular fashion.
The city's famous 16-day Wawa Welcome America festival celebrates Juneteenth, Independence Day and all of the diverse ways Americans experience liberty.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the place to be if you are spending America's birthday in America's birthplace. At 8 p.m., visitors congregate from Eakins Oval to Logan Circle for the festival's grand finale with fireworks set to a soundtrack curated by DJ Ghost.
Bottom Line
No matter where you are, there's a good chance you can open your front door on July 4 and see (or at least hear) fireworks. However, if you want to go big, these are the best displays in the country.