America's Most Epic Fourth of July Fireworks Displays

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated:: 9:00 AM ET, Tue July 3, 2018

PHOTO: Fireworks over Washington, DC with the Jefferson Memorial in the foreground. (photo via SeanPavonePhoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over Downtown Atlanta. (photo via Yitao/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fourth of July fireworks in Minneapolis. (Photo via RCDIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Fireworks over Boston. (Photo via jorgeantonio/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over Chicago's Navy Pier. (Photo via 400tmax/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Group of friends watching fireworks (Photo via oneinchpunch/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fourth of July fireworks over Downtown Houston. (photo via cheng8/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over Nashville (Photo via Ifistand/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over New York City (Photo via Lady-Photo/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

People watching a fireworks display (Photo via IrisImages/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Fireworks over Independence Hall in Philadelphia. (Photo via trekandshoot / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over San Francisco. (photo via tampatra/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks near the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. (Photo via fotoguy22/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over Washington, DC (Photo via Comstock/Stockbyte)

PHOTO: Downtown Los Angeles fireworks. (photo via MattGush/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

PHOTO: Fireworks over Las Vegas. (Photo via lucky-photographer/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

Enjoy the Show

1/16

Fireworks are synonymous with the Fourth of July but not all displays are on the same level. Visitors to these marquee destinations will experience the ultimate Independence Day fireworks showcases this summer.

Atlanta, Georgia

2/16

Atlanta's famous fireworks showcase is moving from Centennial Olympic Park to International Plaza in 2018 due to construction. Nonetheless, the colorful display promises to measure up to years' past.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

3/16

Minneapolis' Red, White and Boom celebration concludes with one of the nation's most spectacular fireworks displays. The fireworks launch from Water Power Park to illuminate the Mississippi River and surrounding cityscape.

Boston, Massachusetts

4/16

Boston's rich history makes it the perfect destination to celebrate America's 242nd birthday. It also doesn't hurt that the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is arguably the most anticipated Independence Day showcase in the country.

Chicago, Illinois

5/16

Chicago's Navy Pier hosts free fireworks shows all summer long but the annual Independence Day showcase stands alone as it's synced with a score of patriotic music and draws some of the largest crowds in the country.

Miami, Florida

6/16

Visitors to South Florida can enjoy waterfront fireworks at the Black Point Park & Marina's Fourth of July Spectacular or grab a spot anywhere along nearby Aventura's three-mile stretch of Country Club Drive to take in fireworks over the golf course.

Houston, Texas

7/16

Country music star Chris Young will headline this year's Freedom Over Texas celebration at Downtown Houston's Eleanor Tinsley Park. The entertainment will conclude with an epic, patriotic fireworks display.

Nashville, Tennessee

8/16

Nashville's July 4th Fireworks is an event unique to the Music City. The action-packed evening kicks off with a series of concerts and climaxes on the Cumberland Riverfront with a fireworks display synchronized to a live performance by the Nashville Symphony.

New York, New York

9/16

The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks display is as star-studded as they come. This year's event will feature talented musicians such as Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban.

New Orleans, Louisiana

10/16

New Orleans' fireworks show is unlike any other as it features dueling barges on the Mississippi River. Grab a seat somewhere along the riverfront and enjoy the back-and-forth blasts.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11/16

The Independence Day celebration in Philadelphia culminates with a can't-miss fireworks display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The entire street is shut down so stake out a spot and settle in.

San Francisco, California

12/16

Arrive early to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf to secure a prime spot for one of the best Fourth of July fireworks shows on the West Coast. The explosive display over the bay begins around 9:30 p.m.

St Louis, Missouri

13/16

Fair Saint Louis is dubbed America's Biggest Birthday Party and features not one but three nights of fireworks, including Independence Day. The free shows are preceded by notable music acts, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Washington, DC

14/16

There are plenty of places to watch Independence Day fireworks in the nation's capital, whether relaxing on the National Mall, watching from one of the city's many rooftop hangouts or sailing the Potomac River on a sightseeing cruise.

Los Angeles, California

15/16

There's no shortage of pulse-pounding fireworks displays to enjoy in Los Angeles but the pyrotechnics at the AmericaFest Celebration at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena rank high on the list.

Las Vegas, Nevada

16/16

Unsurprisingly, the Entertainment Capital of the World does Fourth of July fireworks better than most. Las Vegas attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors for the summer holiday each year, with many flocking to The Strip to watch the impressive casino fireworks.

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Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher