Being in a big city has a lot of perks: trendy stores, great food and a diverse group of people. But what’s the best part of being in a big city? Celebrations are just as big, and no summer party will be bigger this summer than the 4th of July.
Everyone knows that July 4, 1776, is the day the U.S. adopted the Declaration of Independence. But as many of you are on your own in cities this summer, either for internships or for school, July 4th is a great day to celebrate your independence, too! We’ve got the best celebrations in seven big cities that won’t leave you with an empty wallet.
New York City
Boston
Philadelphia
Chicago
Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles
San Francisco
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What to do in New York City …
9th Annual Nighttime Walking Tour of Revolutionary War New York
Time: 2am – 6am
Cost: $20 per person (tickets in advance are required)
Sure, this event is ridiculously early in the morning (or, for some of you, late at night). But it will make for a memorable Fourth of July. This tour, led by a veteran walking tour guide, tells you little-known stories of Revolutionary War heroes. The best part, though, is watching the sun rise over ‘the city that never sleeps’ from beautiful Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan.
Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest
Time: Noon
Cost: Free
Ready for lunch? Well, you might not want to eat after watching Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, but the entertainment will surely be worth it. Watch as 20 contestants compete for the coveted Mustard Belt by eating as many hot dogs as they can in 12 minutes. Be sure to arrive at the Coney Island restaurant around 10 or 11 a.m. to beat the crowds (which have been known to reach 50,000 people) for the best viewing spot.
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
Time: 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
What’s the Fourth of July without fireworks? In its 35th year, Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks celebration promises to be a great way to end the day. This year’s event, titled “Gift of Freedom,” will show more than 40,000 fireworks synchronized to a 25-minute score of pop favorites and older American standards. The show can be seen from any place with a view of the sky over the Hudson River, but you can click ‘Where to Watch
here to find the best places to see the fireworks. Make sure to arrive early because you are definitely not the only one who wants to see this show!
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What to do in Boston …
Footloose on the Freedom Trail
Time: 9 a.m. – Noon
Cost: $20 per person
Experience Boston’s historic Freedom Trail like never before. This 2.5-mile tour takes you from the Boston Common and Massachusetts State House to the U.S.S. Constitution. Along the way, you will see 16 historic sites, take part in various celebratory events and learn about 300 years of history. Not only is the tour a great way to have fun and learn, but it is also gives you a chance to burn some calories!
McAlister Drive in Concert
Time: 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Do you like Jet, Tom Petty and/or Arcade Fire? Then make sure to check out Boston’s very own McAlister Drive, a band who describe themselves as a mix of the three, on the Plaza at City Hall. The band is a blend of folk, soul and pop (with a rock edge,) so it will appeal to many music lovers who are looking for a break during the day’s festivities.
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Time: 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Cost: Free
If you are in Boston, there is no way you can miss the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which calls itself the “premier Independence Day celebration in the nation.” The event features the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra’s annual Fourth of July concert, but the main event is the fireworks show that starts at 10:30 p.m. Join the hundreds of thousands of people that gather along the Charles River to have a fun and memorable Fourth of July! If you go to the concert, keep in mind that you can’t bring any alcohol to the event.
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What to do in Philadelphia …
Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival
Time: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: $7 per person
Who doesn’t love ice cream? An even better question: Who doesn’t love unlimited ice cream? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then grab a spoon and come to the Super Scooper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival at Penn’s Landing. You will have your pick of ice cream from such vendors as Haägen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry’s, Turkey Hill, Good Humor-Breyers and Bassetts. All proceeds from the event will go to the Joshua Kahan Fund to fight pediatric leukemia.
Party on the Parkway
Time: Noon – 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
This festival will give you plenty to do, as it spans the seven blocks of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between the Franklin Institute and the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (aka. the RockySteps.) Take part in a wide range of fun activities, games, entertaining and, of course, food!
Fourth of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks
Time: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Cost: Free
The best way to end your day is with Philadelphia’s Fourth of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks. The musical acts will appeal to people of different tastes, as performers include The Roots, Earth, Wind and Fire, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, Michael McDonald, DJ Jazzy Jeff and more. Stay for the fireworks or move to an even better location to watch the show. For the best places to watch the display, click here.
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What to do in Chicago …
The Lombard Jaycee’s Taste of Lombard
Time: Noon – 11 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person
Come out to the Lombard Jaycee’s Taste of Lombard for some old-fashioned fun. Listen to the various musical acts, eat the great burgers and even play a game of bingo. There will also be beer tents, so make sure to bring a little extra money if you want a drink. If you can get to the festival a day early, buy a $20 unlimited ride ticket for the carnival, which is only offered from June 30th to July 3rd.
Downtown Sound: Seefeel + Cave
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Head on over to Millennium Park for another installment of its music series Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays. On July Fourth, the bands Seefeel and Cave will perform. Seefeel is a British techno ‘dream pop’ group, while Cave is a Chicago-based rock/electronica band. Sit back, relax and enjoy the dinner you packed, as food and wine are allowed in the venue. If you love discovering new or non-mainstream bands, then this is the event for you!
Fireworks at Navy Pier
Time: 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
For the main event of your night, stop by Navy Pier for its fireworks show. Make sure to get there early, as police had to stop people from coming to the event at Navy Pier last year because it filled up so quickly (two hours before the show started). If the pier is blocked off, go to the area around the pier, which includes Oak Street Beach, because it has a larger capacity.
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What to do in Washington, D.C. …
Washington, D.C.’s Independence Day Parade
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Cost: Free
This parade, which takes place on Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, usually has an audience of hundreds of thousands of people. Watch as bands, floats, celebrities, VIPs, military and specialty units and much more walk past and represent all parts of the U.S. Make sure to grab your flag and get there before the crowds do!
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Time: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Free Admission
Check out this unique festival, which has different themes each year. This year, the themes are Colombia, Peace Corps and Rhythm and Blues. The themes set out to promote learning and understand from our cultural similarities and differences. Watch the music and dance performances, learn from the cooking and crafts demonstrations, and listen to the stories and discussions of cultural issues. Make sure to eat lunch or dinner before you leave because the food represents the themes and is supposedly great.
A Capitol Fourth Concert
Time: 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Admittance begins at 3 p.m.)
Cost: Free
Bring a blanket or chair and take a seat on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for this Fourth of July tradition. You’ll be treated to a live concert by the National Symphony Orchestra and performances by various pop artists. After the show, watch the best fireworks display in the nation with the Washington Monument as a backdrop. Make sure to record the event on PBS – you may just see yourself on TV! Keep in mind that even if you are 21 years old or older, alcohol is not allowed at this event.
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What to do in Los Angeles …
Anaheim Hills 4th of July Festival & Parade
Time: Pancake breakfast/8-10:30 a.m., Dog Show/10:30 a.m., Parade/4 p.m., Festival/12:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., Fireworks/9 p.m.
Cost: Free admittance, fee for breakfast
This event, held in Peralta Park, promises to be a good time. Get there early for the pancake breakfast and dog show, and stay for the food, festival games and entertainment. It may be old-school entertainment, but it is sure to make you feel like a kid again. Feel free to check out the parade and fireworks, but we think you may want to do the other adventures below, instead.
Old Glory Boat Parade
Time: 1 – 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
While you may find your fair share of parades on the Fourth of July, you will probably not find many like the Old Glory Boat Parade. Located at Balboa Beach, this parade is California’s biggest and one of the nation’s most well-established patriotic boat parades. Stand by as 100 decorated boats pass by.
4th of July Americafest at the Rose Bowl
Time: Food court/2 p.m., Stadium/6 p.m., Drum and Bugle Performances/7 p.m., Fireworks/9:05 p.m.
Cost: $13 per person, cash only at the stadium.
Don’t miss out on “the biggest and best fireworks show in Southern California” (no offense to Anaheim Hills). Enjoy the live entertainment before the fireworks, featuring acts by Dean Torrence, Mariachi Divas, DCI Phantom Regiment, and Ives Brothers FMX motorcycle. Even though you may not be in Boston, Washington D.C. or Philadelphia, the celebration will make you feel as though you aren’t missing out.
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What to do in San Francisco …
Fourth of July at Berkeley Marina
Time: Noon – 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Feel like a kid again by going to the Fourth of July celebration at Berkeley Marina. There, you will find entertainment ranging from face painting and a dunk tank to jugglers and circus art performers. Also enjoy the massages and free sailboat rides (from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.). It will be a fun and relaxing way to start off your Fourth of July. This is an alcohol-free event.
Baseball Game: San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres
Time: 2:05 p.m.
Cost: Tickets starting at $10
What’s more American than baseball? Not much, which is why the Fourth of July is the perfect day to go to a baseball game. Luckily, the San Francisco Giants are playing at their home field, AT&T Park, so grab your mitt (or your boyfriend’s), buy a hotdog, and get ready to have some fun! No alcohol is allowed into the ballpark, but alcoholic beverages can be bought once inside.
Pier 39 Fireworks
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Even though you may not make Pier 39’s festivities throughout the day (there is dancing and live entertainment from noon to 9:30 p.m.,) make sure not to miss its fireworks show. With the San Francisco Bay as a backdrop, it will be a memorable and beautiful sight (and also a great place to bring a date!)
If you’re 21 or older and want to enjoy a drink or two during the festivities, we suggest that you don’t bring alcohol to the events. Many events don’t allow outside alcohol, and some don’t permit alcohol at all. For the events that don’t allow alcohol to be brought in, many sell alcohol, so make sure to bring some extra cash with you.
Most importantly, make sure to have a safe and fun Fourth of July as you celebrate your and the nation’s independence!
Where will you be spending your 4th of July? Let us know with a comment!
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