4th of July Events, Asheville & Western NC

The entire week of July 4th features Independence Day celebrations and firework shows in Asheville and many small towns in Western North Carolina mountains! 

South Asheville Fireworks, 2024: At Lake Julian, the fireworks show starts at dark (approximately 9:15 pm) on Saturday, June 29, 2024, but show up early. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and find a spot along the lake. The park offers picnic tables, grills, a sand volleyball court, two horseshoe pits, boat rental, and a playground. Bring a picnic! Park at William W. Estes Elementary School (275 Overlook Road) across from the lake. Free. Daytime shuttle 8 AM-6 PM. No pets, please, due to crowds. No alcohol or tobacco products. From Asheville, take I-26 East to Exit #37. Turn left at the light onto Long Shoals Road. Address: 406 Overlook Extension in Arden.

Downtown Asheville Independence Day Celebration 2024, Noon - 10 pm: Join in the fun on Thursday, July Fourth at the Ingles Independence Day Block Party, presented by Ingles. It will be held in the vibrant South Slope area, specifically on Coxe Avenue and Buxton Avenue in Downtown Asheville. 
Family-friendly festivities kick off at noon with a performance by the Ultimate Airdogs. All day, you’ll also find local food and beverage vendors, local marketplace vendors, kids' activities, and live music for all ages.  
At 4:30 PM, the main stage opens with Asheville’s very own Secret Agent 23 Skidoo as the emcee, followed by performances from DJ Badonkey Kong and The Legendary Tuesday Night Funk Jam House Band. The night will feature a headline performance by The Pink Stones.
Don’t miss the grand finale – a dazzling fireworks display set to light up the night sky at 9:30 PM.  
See more details.

2024 Fourth of July Celebrations & Fireworks Near Asheville in Western North Carolina Towns

Cherokee: Pow Wow on Friday, July 5 - 7 with authentic Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian dancing, drumming, and tribal regalia. Fireworks will occur on Saturday, July 6 at 10 PM. 1441 Acquoni Rd., Cherokee. Read more about Cherokee Pow Wow.

Bryson City Freedom Fest: On Thursday, July 4, the festival fun begins at 10 AM with all-day events featuring arts, crafts, food, and live music starting at 6 PM. Enjoy Fourth of July food favorites – funnel cakes, shaved ice, Philly cheese-steak sandwiches, BBQ, kettle corn, and more. Also, explore Bryson City shops, galleries, and museums. Dine in or outdoors at restaurants or take food truck treats to one of many picnic tables or the pavilion nearby. The fireworks show starts at 10 PM. Go rafting or tubing nearby! (See our Bryson City guide)

Photo: Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska: Visit just for the day or stay with an overnight package! On Wednesday, July 3, enjoy music and fireworks. Live music starts at 6 PM with a ticketed concert at Historic Stuart Auditorium. Fireworks follow the concert at 9:30 PM. Or stay with one of their overnight packages that include lodging, a lake cruise on the Cherokee IV, and a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard rental. Go to their website for more details.

Sylva: On Thursday, July 4, enjoy live music starting at 6:30 PM at Bridge Park in Sylva, followed by fireworks at dark (generally around 9:45 PM) in the picturesque "all-American" small town nestled in the mountains. Stroll Main Street’s shops, restaurants, and breweries. Go to their website for more details.

Lake Glenville: Watch fireworks from land or the lake on Friday, July 5, around 9:30 PM. Rent a pontoon boat at Signal Ridge Marina! Located near Cashiers.

Cashiers: Celebrate Independence Day on the Village Green with live music, and dancing. July 3, 2024, 6:30-10 PM. 

Marion: On July 4, enjoy a downtown parade at 6 PM, street dance at 7PM, and fireworks at 9:45 PM. Go to their website.

Photo: Sylva Fireworks by Nick Breedlove

Lake Lure: On Saturday, July 6, watch fireworks at dusk over the lake from Lake Lure Beach (2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure). Enjoy live music and a Southern cook-out banquet with a cash bar. Bring your beach blankets and chairs. Tickets can be purchased in advance or as walk-on tickets when you arrive. On July 4th at 9:30, fireworks will be at Rumbling Bald Resort for their guests, but others enjoy from boats on the lake. Expect traffic bottlenecks after the fireworks since there's just one road out!

Banner Elk: conic small-town parade begins at 11 AM on Thursday, July 4, and celebrates with star-spangled vehicles, people, and animals parading down Main Street and ending in Tate-Evans Town Park. At 12 PM following the parade is the annual Duck Race & Party in the Park. Enjoy old-fashioned games, food vendors, and inflatables. Try your luck in the famed duck race, with hundreds of rubber ducks floating toward the finish line! Catch fireworks at the Sugar Mountain Resort around 9:15 PM on July 4.

Boone & Blowing Rock: Enjoy the Fireworks Extravaganza at Tweetsie Railroad—a top fireworks show in the High Country! The Wild West theme park will be open for extended hours on July 4 from 10 AM to 9 PM. Fireworks are at 9:30 PM.

Brevard: On July 4, the celebration kicks off at 4 PM on Main Street with a flag-raising ceremony and reading of the Declaration of Independence. Festivities include live music, food trucks, shopping, and end with a fireworks extravaganza between 9:20-9:40 PM launched from Brevard College’s campus. Suggested viewing spots: Brevard College’s Campus and Jailhouse Hill (Broad St. from E. Main St. to French Broad St.).



Photo Credit: Tweetsie Railroad

Hendersonville: Independence Day festivities start at 10:30 AM with a parade on Thursday, July 4. The parade route is on Main Street, from Caswell Street to 6th Avenue. At 5 PM, enjoy live music on two stages, food trucks, and a kids’ zone. The evening will be capped off with a fireworks display shortly after dark that can be seen from either concert area. 

Waynesville: The Stars and Stripes daytime celebration happens on Thursday, July 4, starting at 11 am with a kids parade on Main St.at Historic County Courthouse (registration begins at 10 am). The parade ends at First Baptist Church with an ice cream social and carnival games. At 2pm, catch a patriotic concert by the Haywood Community Band at the Historic County Courthouse lawn. No fireworks are scheduled for downtown Waynesville, but you can see them nearby in Maggie Valley and Lake Junaluska. 

Maggie Valley: Backyard Fourth, gates open on July 4 at 6 PM, and fireworks at dark. Free admission. Alcohol-free. The event will be held at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds at 3374 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. 

Robbinsville: Graham County Heritage Festival happens on July 4 and 5 at 86 Knight St. in Robbinsville. The two-day festival will have craft vendors, food, games, music, and fireworks on Friday, July 5 at dusk. Go to their website.

Columbus: Their Fabulous 4th Festival is happening on Thursday, July 4, featuring food, music, entertainment, family games, and a variety of vendors 10 AM-10 PM, with fireworks concluding the day.

Valdese: On Friday, June 28, 2024, see fireworks in conjunction with the Valdese Summer Concert Series on Main St., with a live band starting at 7 PM and fireworks at dusk. See details.

Reminder: Fireworks are illegal in National Forests.
Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited on all national grassland and national forest lands year-round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Regulations are enforced, and violation is punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

For events throughout the year, see our list of seasonal calendars.