It’s easy to find fireworks on the Fourth, but not all shows are created equal. We’re here to help you separate the sedate sparklers from the super-charged blowouts with this list of dazzling pyrotechnic displays across the west. (All events are on July 4, unless otherwise noted.)
Lights on the Lake, South Lake Tahoe, California
See Lake Tahoe’s famously clear-blue waters lit up in a rainbow of spectacular colors on the south shore during Lights on the Lake. The popular display lasts 25 minutes and can be paired with simulcast music on local radio station KRLT–FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490. While good viewing spots include Timber Cove Marina, the Tallac Historic Site, and Lakeview Commons/El Dorado Beach, you can also get out on the water on a private boat or public viewing cruise. Wherever you choose to watch, bring warm jackets and blankets to stay cozy in the crisp mountain air that often envelops the show. Starts at 9:45 p.m.
Marin County Fair, San Rafael, California
Hedge your bets against the summer fog and head north to the Marin County Fair, which hosts nightly fireworks over Lagoon Park for the event’s 5-day duration, including on the Fourth. Classic county fair fun—farm animals, carnival rides, fried food, live music—offers plenty of distraction leading up to the show over the lagoon. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.
Multiple Shows, Las Vegas, Nevada
The bright lights of Las Vegas will become even more bedazzling on the Fourth, when the city’s night sky illuminates with a bevy of firework displays, from Fremont Street to nearby Henderson. This year’s only show on the Strip takes place at Caesars Palace, and it’s sure to be a stunner. You can catch it from the resort’s front fountains, Roman Square, and Spanish Steps. Downtown’s Plaza Hotel & Casino will be hosting a pyrotechnic performance, complete with a rooftop barbecue and pool party. A bit further afield, America’s Party—which takes place at Henderson’s Heritage Park—is a full-blown family affair. Expect live bands, food vendors, and activities such as water blaster tag and face painting in addition to the fireworks. All shows start at 9 p.m.
Arizona Celebration of Freedom, Mesa, Arizona
Arizona’s largest free Fourth of July celebration draws tens of thousands of people each year, with an evening chock-full of activities. Catch a stunt show featuring professional BMX riders, and welcome new U.S. citizens at the annual naturalization ceremony. Enjoy historical reenactments, laser lights set to patriot music, and a live performance by Southern rock group, The Bayou Bandits. There’s even a display of American flags from throughout the country’s history. The night concludes with a brilliant fireworks production over the Mesa Amphitheatre, in which color and sound collide for the ultimate evening finale. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.
4th of July Hootenanny, Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls pulls out all the stops for its annual Fourth of July downtown shindig. Activities begin with a morning parade, followed by a free outdoor concert with country singer and songwriter, Rodney Atkins. Show off your best dance moves at the all-day street festival, which also includes food trucks. Fireworks follow the 7 p.m. baseball game at Great Falls’ Voyager Stadium, or you can settle in at Elk’s Riverside Park for some of the best views of the People’s Park and Recreation Foundation community fireworks—a luminous performance that’s been lighting up Great Falls’ skies since 2005. The show starts at 10:15 p.m.
Stadium of Fire, Provo, Utah
The aptly named Stadium of Fire is the highlight of the Freedom Festival, which encompasses dozens of unabashedly patriotic events in Provo. The no-holds-barred extravaganza held in Brigham Young University’s LaVell Edwards stadium is kicked off by big acts—pop-rock group the Jonas Brothers and the 300-member Las Vegas-based Zion’s Youth Symphony & Chorus will join dancers, skydivers, and a military flyover this year—and ends with the largest stadium fireworks show in the U.S. You need tickets to see the stadium entertainment, but the pyrotechnics can be seen outside the arena and atop nearby Y Mountain. The event is broadcast live across the world to U.S. troops and their families on American Forces TV. There’s also a family friendly street party after the fireworks show. Concert begins at 8:00 p.m., with fireworks following the show.
Freedom has a Birthday, Laramie, Wyoming
Celebrate independence with a day of good, ol’ fashioned Americana. This annual, alcohol-free event brings families together with multiple music stages, loads of sweet treats, and a bevy of kids’ activities, including face-painting and inflatable slides. The evening caps off with “Fire in the Sky,” a massive firework display that’s visible from city parks such as Harbon, LaPrele, and Kiowa. Fireworks begin at 10:00 p.m.
4th of July Events, Anchorage, Alaska
Along with a pancake breakfast and a parade, Anchorage’s holiday festivities include everything from carnival games and rides to craft vendors. The city’s Delaney Park Strip hosts the all-day celebration, though the evening’s main fireworks spectacular takes place at Mulcahy Stadium, right after the annual doubleheader between the Glacier Pilots and the Bucs. For an early start to your Fourth, the city’s Eagle River Lions Club hosts an event on July 3, complete with sky divers and a fireworks display at 12 a.m., right over the Eagle River and in the glow of the midnight sun.