And the highlight of many of those celebrations? An awe-inspiring display of fireworks, of course. Those who can’t make the trips to enjoy the shows in person can catch many of them on live streams and TV broadcasts.
Addison, Texas
Addison, a small town in the Dallas metro area, has a big fireworks show.
Courtesy Town of Addison
Saturday, July 3 | Addison Kaboom Town! This Dallas County town has a population of about 15,300, but it puts on a show that is supposed to impress any “bigger is better” Texan.
Birmingham, Alabama
Sunday, July 4 | Thunder on the Mountain: Alabama’s biggest city puts on a memorable fireworks display against the backdrop of the colossal Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue.
Boston
Boston has one of the most anticipated July 4th fireworks shows in the country.
Kyle Klein
Sunday, July 4 | Fireworks and Pops Concert: This annual event is beloved not only in Boston but across New England. In 2021, the fireworks and the concert will be held in different locations.
Clear Lake, Iowa
Sunday, July 4 | Celebrating American Independence: People from Minneapolis and Des Moines who want some small-town Independence Day charm without giving up a big show can head to little Clear Lake.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sunday, July 4 | 4th of July Spectacular: Wouldn’t it be nice to listen to the Beach Boys before watching fireworks shot over balmy ocean waters? People in Fort Lauderdale will be able to do both this year.
Las Vegas
Sunday, July 4 | Las Vegas Strip Fireworks: So much of Vegas is literally a gamble, but it’s a pretty safe bet that Vegas will put on a dazzling fireworks show.
Nashville, Tennessee
Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Cumberland River in 2016.
Mark Humphrey/AP
Sunday, July 4 | Let Freedom Sing! The capital of Tennessee and of country music aims to deliver big in 2021: Country superstars and the largest fireworks show in the booming city’s history.
Brad Paisley is the headliner for the musical festivities. The entertainment starts at 4 p.m., and Paisley is set to take stage a little after 8 p.m.
New York City
The Empire State Building (left) and the Chrysler Building can be seen in the background during the Macy’s 2017 fireworks show from Queens.
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP/Getty Images
Sunday, July 4 | Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular: The folks at Macy’s don’t rest their laurels on the Thanksgiving Parade. For summer, they put on the largest fireworks show in the nation.
Pasadena, California
Sunday, July 4 | AmericaFest: Held at the iconic Rose Bowl, the in-person show is back after going virtual last year. The theme for 2021 is “Celebrating America’s Perseverance.”
Philadelphia
Sunday, July 4 | Wawa Welcome America: The city where the whole independence thing was made official goes large for this holiday, with 16 days of events that started on Juneteenth.
San Diego
San Diego’s Big Bay Boom is a popular favorite in Southern California.
Frank Duenzl/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Sunday, July 4 | Big Bay Boom: Southern Californians have good options for fireworks shows. Those around San Diego get the treat of Big Bay Boom, during which fireworks are set off from four barges in San Diego Bay.
St. Louis
Fireworks light up the night sky over the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse as part of an Independence Day celebration in 2019.
Jeff Roberson/AP
Sunday, July 4 | Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular: Missouri’s largest city has an enviable backdrop for a fireworks show: the Gateway Arch and the mighty Mississippi River.
Washington, DC
Sunday, July 4 | A Capitol Fourth and July 4th Fireworks: No roundup of July 4th celebrations and fireworks shows is complete without an entry from the nation’s capital.
The 41st annual Capitol Fourth concert, hosted by Vanessa Williams, will be broadcast on PBS, though it will be recorded this year out of pandemic precautions. It starts at 8 p.m.
Canceled celebrations
While the show is back on in many cities across the nation, some popular favorites have been canceled for 2021.
Top image: Spectators watch Fourth of July fireworks from the Stratosphere hotel and casino in Las Vegas in 2015. (AP Photo/John Locher)