A Festive Fourth
The Fourth of July in America means freedom, fireworks and copious amounts of fried food. That’s the perfect recipe for a holiday weekend. For anyone looking to fill up their long weekend with local festivities, you’ve come to the right place. Right in your backyard, neighboring Chatham County towns and communities are celebrating their American pride all weekend long.
Fireworks and Community Celebration:
The Town of Chapel Hill Fourth of July Fireworks & Southern Village Community Celebration is a new annual tradition for North Carolina! Hosted at the Southern Village and Southern Community Park in Chapel Hill, enjoy all of the holiday action in two different locations.
At Southern Community Park, the fireworks will take off from Mary Scroggs Elementary School at 9:15 p.m. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy a free fireworks extravaganza.
Before the spectacular, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., visit Southern Village Green for food, face painting and live music. Free to attend, the celebration will be hosted on Market Street and the Village Green. For those UNC fans, you’ll want to stop by the UNC Athletics Zone!
Pittsboro Summer Fest:
Already booked for the Fourth of July? Not a problem, the 2019 Pittsboro Summer Fest takes place on Sunday, July 7th from 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in downtown Pittsboro. Presented by the Pittsboro Business Association, experience patriotism at its finest with waterslides, a bicycle/tricycle/wagon parade and various life-sized activities.
Located on Hillsboro Street, you’ll find fairy hair, craft tables, a beer garden, a pie throwing contest and chicken bingo. Want to know what chicken bingo is? You’ll have to attend to find out!
The event will feature two concerts throughout the day as well as the Imagine Circus with their spirited performance.
Olde Fashioned Fourth of July in Apex:
Just a short drive away, the Olde Fashioned Fourth of July celebration in Apex will take place from 9 a.m. – 1p.m. on Thursday, July 4th in historic downtown Apex.
The Parade of Wheels will start from the corner of Salem and Chatham Streets at noon. Children 12 years old and under are invited to decorate their bikes, scooters, wagons or any other non-motorized to join in on the parade.
Instead of traditional fireworks, the event will end with the Apex Fire Department’s Splash Down immediately following the parade.
Fireworks Extravaganza in Banner Elk:
A mere three hour drive from Pittsboro is worth it for the High Country’s most popular fireworks display at the Tweetsie Railroad. Located at 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane in Blowing Rock, the park will stay open until 9 p.m. with the fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m.
If you’re spending the day in Banner Elk, you won’t want to miss out on the Fourth of July Parade on Main Street in downtown Banner Elk. Starting at 11 a.m., the parade is one of the most well-known Fourth of July parades in the state. From star-spangled vehicles, to alpacas to drum and bugle corps, there’s a lot to take in!
Following the parade is the Family Fun Fourth Celebration from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., giving you just enough time for dinner before the fireworks at the Tweetsie Railroad!
Fourth of July with the Durham Bulls:
Now, what’s better than a beer, nachos and a fireworks show? Not much! Following the Thursday, July 4th baseball game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, catch a fireworks show lighting up the baseball diamond. The game starts at 6:05 p.m. and will feature USA Baseball; however, you do not have to attend the game to see the fireworks!
Based on availability, fireworks spectators will be admitted free entrance! They strongly encourage buying a ticket to the game to secure your spot. Play ball!