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Top 10+ Places to Celebrate July 4  
BESTS 

Tags: Travel, Independence, Day, July, 4, Fourth, fireworks, places

With its day-long beach parties, afternoon parades, nightly concerts, and dazzling fireworks, July 4th isn't your everyday holiday – it's the birthday of the good ol’ US of A, and everyone's invited to the countrywide party. Whether you're into paying tribute to American history or just enjoying traditional American summer pastimes, our list of top places to celebrate July 4 has got you covered.

1.	Washington, DC - Several exciting events lead up to the culmination of the July 4th festivities, one of which is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where everything American, from food, crafts, concerts, and more, is showcased along the National Mall. Discover all things American at this free festival, which typically lasts for about a week from late June through July 4, and strives to capture the varying customs and cultures found within all fifty United States. Next up is Constitution Avenue, where the massive National Independence Day Parade incorporates a stream of lavish floats, bands, giant balloons, and military groups and makes for an impressive spectacle against the backdrop of imposing national monuments. Finally, as night falls on July 4, the free A Capitol Fourth concert kicks off on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building, with special guest performances accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra. As a grand finale, the concert is followed by one of the nation’s largest
2.	Boston - More than 200 events make up a fun-filled week-long calendar during the annual Boston Harborfest, including the Boston Chowderfest, during which some 12,000 participants chow down to select the best chowder from Boston-area restaurants; the annual turnaround of the USS Constitution; and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House; and the free Boston Pops Concert and Fireworks Display; arrive early with beach chairs or blankets to guarantee good seats.
3.	Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard - Events include: the barbecue at the Old Whaling Church in Martha's Vineyard (4-8pm; July 4; Edgartown), where you'll get a taste of New England cooking and a dose of nostalgia for the country's old maritime days; the Hyannis Boat Parade in Cape Cod (1pm; Hyannis harbor), a veritable fleet of patriotically decorated boats and yachts (with awards given to the best "dressed"); and Nantucket’s Independence Day Celebration on Jetties Beach, with good family fun like three-legged races and a tug-of-war by day and fireworks come nightfall.
4.	Chicago - The most elaborate display of fireworks in Chicago is set to patriotic music and lights up the sky over the Navy Pier, a superb location with sweeping skyline views along Lake Michigan.
5.	Mount Rushmore - After visiting the tribute to our nation's most venerated leaders, follow the Avenue of Flags from the Concession Building to the Presidential Trail – a half-mile path that’ll get you up close to the mountain carvings. You can also head to the Grandview Terrace above the Lincoln Borglum Museum or the memorial’s amphitheater. July 3rd is the day to be there, as a slew of commemorative events are scheduled – including a military flyover by day and a firework display that night (at 9pm).
6.	Philadelphia - Start off your visit to the city of Brotherly Love by visiting its most iconic symbol of freedom, the Liberty Bell; it, and the historic sites in Independence Mall will have extended viewing hours over the holiday. Once you’re done with the history, it’s all about music and fun: expect a free concert at Penn’s Landing followed by fireworks over the Delaware River; a separate gospel concert; and yet more free performances in front of Independence Hall. The culmination of events is July 4 itself, when top bands perform at the Sweet Sounds of Liberty Concert in anticipation of the city's annual, thunderous, fireworks display that sends flashes and booms into the night sky.
7.	Queen Mary 2 - One of the best place to watch fireworks light up the sky on July 4 is from the decks of the illustrious Queen Mary 2, the Cunard line’s newest prestige cruise ship. The talk of the cruise world since her debut in 2004, this breathtaking mega-liner is the definition of luxury cruising, and the line's five-day Independence Day Sampler is an excellent excuse to sample her bounty. Departing from New York on July 3, you'll sail up the coast to Boston, where you'll be able to grab a spot on the deck, get a glass of champagne, and have a toast to America’s birthday as fireworks light up the sky over the Atlantic.
8.	San Diego - Plenty of oh-so-American activities will keep you occupied both on and around the holiday – like carnivals complete with Ferris wheels, the Freedom Days Parade, and San Diego County Fair on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, to name a few. But the real action starts after dark, when a no-holds-bar pyrotechnics show lights up the sky before fizzling into the ocean. You’ll hear the explosions all night long but the largest show is the Big Bay celebration that starts at 9pm.
9.	San Juan Islands - You’ll find the aptly named Fourth of July Beach along Griffin Bay; claim your spot along the sand, and spend your day swimming, playing softball, and roasting marshmallows on bonfires below the tide line. Also don’t miss the annual Pig War Picnic, named for the so-called “Pig War” waged on the island between Brits and Americans in 1859. The commemorative picnic takes place on nearby Price Street, following the Fourth of July parade, and serves up equal parts burgers and hot dogs with good old-fashioned fun, like egg tosses, hay scrambles, pony rides, and musical entertainment.
10.	US Virgin Islands - St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John are the only American-owned islands in the Caribbean and they pull out all the stops with two celebratory holidays: their own Emancipation Day, on July 3rd (to commemorate the end of the slave trade), and Independence Day, on July 4 (since joining the US in 1917), culminating with a parade on St. John, the tiniest, and, arguably, prettiest, of the islands.
11.	Columbus, OH - The annual "Red, White, and Boom! Celebration" takes place on the streets of downtown Columbus, where you can find fairs, festivals, bars and parties on every sidewalk and street corner. The firework display is one of the biggest in the eastern part of teh United States.

Lister: ListAfterList Wiki Contributors
Source: Sherman's Travel - MSNBC.com

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