Local Independence Day Celebrations 2024

Check out the local celebrations in coastal North Carolina. These are in order by date of occurrence.

NC 4th of July Festival | Southport & Oak Island

Friday, June 28 – Tuesday, July 2, 2024
See detailed scheduled for locations

The official North Carolina 4th of July Festival is held annually in the City of Southport with many events also held in Oak Island.  The festivities kick off with a Welcoming Ceremony on June 28 at 6:00 pm on the Fort Johnston lawn in Southport. Oak Island will hold its Welcoming Ceremony at 5:30 pm on July 1 at Middleton Park Extension followed by a free concert.  July 1 also includes traditional Oak Island Beach Day activities such as games, inflatables, sandcastle contests, live music, food, vendors and fireworks.  Other festival events in Southport include: Reading of the Declaration of Independence, Flag Raising Ceremony, Naturalization Ceremony, Parade, Arts and Crafts Market, Music and Entertainment, Freedom Flotilla and more fireworks. 

A Brief History:

The history of Southport’s Fourth of July Festival celebration was first recorded in a newspaper in 1795. Now the event has grown to attract more than 50,000 visitors each year. Through the years, the festival has evolved to encompass various American celebration traditions because of the efforts of civic groups and citizens. And what could be more American than a Naturalization Ceremony, which was incorporated into the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival in 1996 and administered by what is now the United States Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship & Immigration
Services (USCIS). Holding true to its mission of promoting patriotism, the festival also holds a Veterans Recognition Ceremony, Flag Retirement Ceremony, and Flag Raising Ceremony.

Locals Tips:
We’ve have been to Southport for the parade and fireworks in years past. If you do plan to attend, I recommend going earlier in the day, take a fan, lots of frozen waters in a cooler and plan to sit in traffic. If possible, I would actually park outside of Southport and bike into town as there is only one way in and one way out. (We did this one year and it was the easiest way to leave when we were ready to go)

Carolina Beach Independence Day Celebration by the Sea & Boardwalk Blast

Wednesday, July 3 | Music: 6:30 PM | Fireworks: 9:00 PM | Event ends: 9:30 PM
Band: Port City Shakedown
Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Presented by Carolina Beach Parks and Recreation is free for spectators. Enjoy music until fireworks at 9:00 PM.

Surf City Independence Day Celebration

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 | 6:00 PM – 9:25 PM
Soundside Park – 517 Roland Ave., Surf City, NC
Free Band + Food Trucks + Fireworks at 9PM
Parking details here

City of Wilmington 4th of July Celebration

Thursday, July 4, 2024 | 5:00 PM – 8:45 PM (rain or shine)
Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St., Wilmington, NC
Free | Food & Drinks available for purchase (no cash)
This City of Wilmington’s family friendly event will include music featuring the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, other entertainment, kids activities, food, fireworks & more!

Stage Schedule:
5:00 p.m. – Gates Open
5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. – Opening Act (TBD)
7:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
9:05 p.m. – Firework Display (best seen on the riverwalk)

**Fireworks will be shot from a barge located at the convergence of the Cape Fear & Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, just north of the USS Battleship North Carolina, and will be viewable anywhere along the downtown riverfront. 

 *Please note the following: There will be a boating safety zone for 30 minutes after the fireworks around the launch site. No thru boating traffic will be allowed.*

Food
Food and beverages (soft drinks, beer & wine) will be sold at the park. *No outside food or drink can be brought inside the park with the exception of water up to 1 gallon in a factory sealed or empty bottle.*

Parking 

• City decks located at 929 N. Front St., 115 Market St., 114 N. 2nd St, 14 Grace St, the Wilmington Convention Center deck at 515 Nutt St., and the County deck at 212 N. 2nd St. will charge a $10.00 event fee (after 4 p.m.)
• On-street metered parking is free.
• The City of Wilmington has marked accessible parking at all of its managed downtown public parking lots and parking decks. Patrons with a valid accessible parking license plate or permit / hang tag may also park for free at any on-street metered or un-metered space for an unlimited time.
• Parking Website Information

Cashless Payments
This is a cashless event – no cash accepted. All food and beverage sales will ONLY accept debit, credit or mobile pay (Apple Pay or Google Pay).

Seating for Lawn Area
Beach chairs (with legs no longer than 9 inches) and blankets will be allowed in the Great Lawn.

Animals
No animals allowed inside the venue with the exception of registered, working service animals.

Locals Tips:
We’ve attended in years past and it gets very busy. I’d anticipate that this year may be busier than we have ever seen. Be sure to bring stroller fans, plenty of sunscreen and ice packs or frozen water bottles to keep those kids hydrated.
Parking can also get wild, so I recommend parking farther away from the riverwalk and walk to your parked car. This will allow you to have an easier exit strategy as well.

Burgaw 4th of July Parade

Thursday, July 4, 2023 | 10:00 AM
The Town of Burgaw will be hosting its annual 4th of July Parade on Thursday, July 4th beginning at 10 AM in downtown Burgaw. Golf carts, bikes, rollerskates, pedestrians, and any other non-powered wheeled device are welcome to participate. We encourage participants and spectators to dress and decorate with red, white and blue, of course. This year, there will be a new parade route, so be sure to share with your friends and family so they can join us. Click here for the parade route. We are excited to announce that town staff and members of the Beautification Committee will be giving out free popsicles and water following the parade on the depot dock. Burgaw Fire Department will also be participating by setting up the ladder fire truck on site to spray water for the kids to enjoy! Be sure to join us as we celebrate Independence Day together in Burgaw!

Bald Head Island 4th of July Parade

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 | 9 AM – 12 PM
Golf Cart Parade

As always, if you attend any of these events, feel free to tag me on social media! Share tips before folks go or send updates to share.