Not everyone spends the Fourth of July landlocked. Many trek to one of the area’s nearby beaches to celebrate in the sun. Here’s what some popular beach towns are doing to mark Independence Day.
Bethany Beach. This family-friendly Delaware town fills up each Fourth of July weekend with visitors from up and down the Eastern Seaboard. At dusk on the Fourth, Bethany is hosting a fireworks display on the boardwalk, which is sure to be visible for miles around the Delaware shore. The committee volunteers and locals who assemble the event put together a can’t-miss parade on July 5 with marching bands and other musical events on the boardwalk. 302-539-8011.
Ocean City. Those staying near Bethany who don’t require a strictly family-orientated atmosphere can head to nearby Ocean City, Maryland. Fireworks and concert events will be held at two locations: on the beach at North Division Street and at Northside Park on the bay. The shows begin at 8, the fireworks at 9:30. The party is sure to continue all night. 800-626-2326.
Virginia Beach. Two fireworks shows—one by the ocean, the other on Mount Trashmore—will light up Hampton Roads this Fourth of July. Bands will perform as well, including a Bruce Springsteen tribute group and R&B, jazz, and Latin artists. Multiple stages will be set up at the beach venue, spread out across 17th, 24th, and 31st streets and on the beach at 20th Street. 757-425-3111.
Outer Banks. Roanoke Island, North Carolina, is hosting a monster Fourth of July celebration at its Festival Park, with performances by bands from East Carolina University and plenty of space to lay out a blanket, set down a picnic, and enjoy fireworks as they’re launched over the water. 252-475-1500.
Myrtle Beach. This South Carolina town sets off fireworks every Wednesday, but at Broadway at the Beach—a 350-acre festival marketplace in the heart of Myrtle Beach—music and festivals will mark the holiday, with fireworks on the Fourth at 10. 800-386-4662.
>> Curious to see how July 4th in Washington compares? Click here for our complete guide to Independence Day in the District.
