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Hampton Roads fireworks, events for July 4th 2021

Nathan Crawford

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — As Virginia continues to reopen following the Coronavirus pandemic, many cities and localities in the area are hosting a variety of events, festivals and firework shows to celebrate the Fourth of July — which falls on a weekend this year!

Check out the events near you…


Chesapeake

Celebrate Freedom – Chesapeake’s annual event will feature the U.S. Fleet Forces Band, as well as roaming entertainment and food vendors. The event is free to the public, however, on-site parking is $5.

Elizabeth City

Independence Day First Friday ArtWalk – As part of Elizabeth City’s monthly art celebration, the Independence Day celebration will include expanded events. Visitors will be able to enjoy the monthly local artwork and live music, as well as food trucks and activities for the kids.

The event begins at 4 p.m. and ends with fireworks shot from Waterfront Park.

Hampton

10 On Your Side will add details about events in Hampton as soon as they are released.

Isle of Wight

Independence Day Celebration Fireworks Show – Isle of Wight will be celebrating the Fourth of July with food vendors and fireworks in Windsor.

The gates open at 5 p.m. ahead of their fireworks show after dark.

Kill Devil Hills

Fourth Fireworks Show – The Town of Kill Devil Hills will host a special fireworks show along the beaches and Avalon Pier.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to find parking before settling down on the beach.

Freedom 5K – Run through the Town of Kill Devil Hills as part of the Freedom 5K. The event includes a 5k, Veteran’s Drive Mile and Fun Run.

The race will begin and end at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall in front of the Town War Memorial.

Registration is required and can be done online.

Manteo

Fourth of July Celebration – The Town of Manteo will celebrate the 4th of July downtown with kids games and activities, music, contests and summer treats. There will be several contests and shows throughout the day.

Fireworks will begin after dark.

Nags Head

Fireworks Spectacular – The Town of Nags Head and Nags Head Fishing Pier will host their annual Fireworks Spectacular along the Nags Head Pier. The event is free and open to the public.

Fireworks begin at 9:25 p.m. are expected to last 20 minutes.

Newport News

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Fun – The City of Newport News is reimagining their Fourth of July celebrations this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are encouraged to explore the 36 parks in the city. Fireworks are expected to return in 2022.

The city is hosting a weeklong resident appreciation event leading up to July 4, running from June 26 – July 3, where residents will be able to pick up outdoor recreation and patriotic-themed activity bags. The bags will include things such as an American flag, picnic blanket, LED ring, patriotic yard sign and directory of City parks.

Bags will be available for pick-up, during normal business hours, at:

In addition, residents and visitors can the following free activities on July 4:

There will also be several food truck vendors, open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the 4th at:

Norfolk

4th of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks – Festevents and the City of Norfolk will host the 38th annual Great American Picnic at Town Point Park in Downtown Norfolk.

Guests will be able to purchase food including hamburgers, BBQ and seafood.

July 4th Bike & Dog Parade – Ghent’s annual tradition returns for the fourth time this year. The parade will include decorated bikes, trikes, dogs and more. All are welcome to attend.

The parade runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

July 4th Fireworks Cruise – American Rover will be hosting a cruise along the Elizabeth River. The cruise will begin with a tour of the Inner Harbor, before moving to allow a better view of the Norfolk fireworks.

The cruise departs at 7:30 p.m.

Portsmouth

102nd Patriotic Salute – “Liberty & Justice for All” will include kids games, activities, DJ, food and patriotic programs. Portsmouth Mayor Shannon E. Glover will attend and address the crowd.

There will also be 40 plus vendors, plus a bike and skateboard parade.

4th of July Fireworks on the Elizabeth – In conjunction with Norfolk, fireworks will light up the sky over the Elizabeth River. Event organizers recommend that guests bring folding lawn chairs to the Portsmouth waterfront.

Fireworks are set to begin at 9:30 p.m.

Children’s Museum of Virginia and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum – Both museums are set to welcome visitors throughout the holiday weekend, including on the 4th of July.

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center – Guests will be welcome to view the 2021 Outdoor Sculptures in the courtyard throughout the holiday weekend, including on the 4th of July.

Suffolk

Suffolk Stars & Stripes – The skies over Suffolk will light up again as part of the city’s annual Fourth of July event. This year, the event will include entertainment, children’s activities, merchandise vendors and a variety of food choices.

Virginia Beach

July 4th Celebration at Mount Trashmore – Residents will once again be able to return to Mount Trashmore for the 4th of July, although the celebrations will be slightly different.

The event will feature a DJ, instead of live music, as well as a limited number of food vendors on site.

Stars & Stripes Celebration at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront – Virginia Beach’s ‘star-spangled’ salute will feature live music and events that culminate in a fireworks show.

Williamsburg

Lights of Freedom at Colonial Williamsburg – The sky over the Governor’s Palace will light up with the annual fireworks show which begins at 9:20 p.m.

Other events throughout the day include a performance by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, a Salute to the States, plus a theater experience about the enslaved population’s perspective on the Declaration.

Summer Nights at Busch Gardens – Busch Gardens is in the midst of their Summer Nights event which features nightly fireworks, including on July 4. The fireworks show, Spark, features an all-new electronic dance mix, pyrotechnics, and a laser light show.

They will have two concerts leading up to the 4th including Carly Pearce on July 2nd and In the Light of Led Zeppelin and Mr. Mojo Risin’ on July 3rd.

Yorktown

Independence Day Celebrations – Yorktown will host a day long series of events to celebrate Independence Day including a 8k run/walk, parade and fireworks.

The days events run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Yorktown 1781! – The Founding Fathers walking tour of the York Battlefield will take visitors along the first and second parallels that Lord Cornwallis would have seen. The walk will continue to Redoubt 10 where George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox were once all present.

The event is $10 for anyone over 12.

Liberty Celebration – The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with immersive gallery exhibits, films, interpretive programs, and artillery demonstrations.

10 On Your Side will continue to add more events and details as they become available. If you notice any missing local 4th of July events, please send us an email with information.