CELEBRATE THE 4TH
Here's where you can find fireworks, music, parades to celebrate July 4
Visitors watch a fireworks display at a previous Independence Day celebration in Valdese.
Fourth of July fireworks at a Hickory Crawdads baseball game. This photo is from a 2015 display.
If you are looking for some family fun leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, check out some of these events in McDowell County and surrounding areas.
McDowell County
July 3 and July 4: The Old Fort Pro Rodeo will feature a fireworks show at the end of the event on July 4. The rodeo will have eight professional rodeo events including bull riding. The rodeo is $20 for anyone 6 or older. Tickets are cash only at the gate. Gate opens at 5:30 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. The rodeo will be held at 189 Catawba River Road in Old Fort.
July 3: The Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort will host its first Pioneer Day Festival since Hurricane Helene hit the town in 2024. The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will include Appalachian crafts, games, farm demonstrations, live music and more. Admission is free. The museum is at 24 Water St. in Old Fort.
July 4: Marion's Independence Day Celebration will begin at 6 p.m. in downtown. A parade will begin at 6 p.m. After the parade there will be street dancing with live music from Tanya Road Runnerz. A fireworks show will take place around 9:30 p.m.
July 4: Old Fort will hold its July 4 parade at 4 p.m. The parade will follow a new route, starting at the former Old Fort Finishing plant site.
Catawba County
July 4: The All-America Food, Family & Fireworks Bash will be held at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds. Live music performances will feature Caleb McArthur & The Whiskey Ridge Outlaws, Sigmon Stringers and Nick Mac & The Noise. The gates will open at 2 p.m. Parking fees are $25 for six-passenger vehicles and $35 for vehicles with seven or more passengers. The Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds is at 1 American Legion Ave. in Newton.
July 4: An Independence Day music festival and fireworks show will be held at L.P. Frans Stadium at 5:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to $30. The festival will be headlined by Canadian Christian singer-songwriter Jordan St. Cyr. The bands Scout & The Saints and Boys from Oak Ridge will perform as well. The Hickory Crawdads are playing away games that weekend. L.P. Frans Stadium is at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW in Hickory.
July 4: The town of Maiden will host its annual Edith Pirkle parade at 10:30 a.m. The parade will begin at the Maiden Library, located at 11 S. A Ave., and end at Cornerstone Church.
July 5: Murray's Mill will host a free bluegrass concert for the Independence Day weekend. The concert will be from 2-4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic. Sons of the South will be performing. Murray's Mill is at 1489 Murrays Mill Road in the town of Catawba.
Burke County
July 3: Myra's Red, White and Rumble Festival will begin at 6 p.m. with a cruise-in. Morgan Mills will perform. Myra's Smashburgers and Creamery is at 212 Main St. West in Valdese.
July 4: Valdese 4th of July Celebration will include a classic car show, inflatables for all ages, face painting, the Old Colony Players' "From This Day Forward" drama and a concert by The Tonez. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. A fireworks show will start around 9:30 p.m. The celebration will be held in downtown Valdese.
July 4: The town of Glen Alpine will have an Independence Day parade at 10 a.m. in downtown.
Iredell County
July 3: Field of Flags Summer Celebration will start at 6 p.m. The event will include a performance by Christina and Daniel Eagle. Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:15 p.m. and illuminate 300 American flags at the Lowe's YMCA. The YMCA is at 170 Joe Knox Ave. in Mooresville.
July 3: Troutman Fireworks Celebration will be held at the Iredell County Fairgrounds. There will be bounce houses and live music from KRVE Band and DJ Sheldon. The gates will open at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks will start around 9:30 p.m. Attendees can bring clear bags, chairs, blankets and bottled water. Prohibited items are coolers, glass bottles and containers, fireworks and sparklers, tobacco products, alcohol and tents. Attendees are not allowed to park along Murdock Road or along the greenway in front of the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are at 630 N. Main St. in Troutman.
July 10: Iredell County Parks & Recreation will host an America 250 Summer Splash celebration from 5-8 p.m. Registration is required prior to the event. To register, call 704-878-3103. The event will include a food truck, shaved ice, music and water bouncers. The cost is $3 per person. The event will be at 122 Grannis Lane in Statesville.
July 10: Mooresville's Rock the Park concert series will feature a special patriotic performance with The Legacy Motown Revue. There will be food trucks and local vendors. Vendors will open at 6 p.m. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. in Liberty Park. Seating will be first-come, first-served. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed. Liberty Park is at 225 E. Iredell Ave. in Mooresville.
Caldwell County
June 26: Granite Falls Splash Bash will be held at the town's splash pad. The event will feature a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables, a video game trailer, music and more. The event starts at 5 p.m. and will end with fireworks. The celebration will be held at the William B. Shuford Recreation Center at 55 Pinewood Road in Granite Falls.
July 4: The Tucker's Barn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host an America 250 commemoration at 10:30 a.m. on the square in downtown Lenoir.
July 4: The town of Hudson will host a free fun day and a kids' parade. The parade will begin lining up at 9:30 a.m. Children can decorate bicycles, wagons, scooters, tricycles, battery-operated carts or kids' cars for the parade. The parade will begin at the HUB Station and end at the Hudson Recreation Pool. The Hudson Police Department will host a hot dog lunch, free bicycle helmets will be given away, and a bicycle obstacle course will be set up for the children to ride along. Helmets are required for children ages 12 and younger. The Hub Station is at 145 Cedar Valley Road in Hudson.
Alexander County
July 4: Lake Hickory Scuba & Marina will have a concert featuring the Morganton-based band Grandma's Medicine with fireworks after the show. The concert is at 6 p.m. Lake Hickory Scuba & Marina is at 420 Taylorsville Beach Court in Taylorsville.
July 4: Hidden Creek Family Farm will host its Fourth on the Farm event at 10 a.m. There will be crafts, a farm scavenger quest, cow cuddles and other animal interactions. The event is $5 per person. Hidden Creek Family Farm is at 327 Herman Road in Taylorsville.
July 18: Alexander County's Summer Concert Series will be followed by a fireworks display. The concert, featuring The Extraordinaires, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Alexander County Courthouse Park. Blankets and coolers are allowed. Tents and coolers are prohibited. The park is at 91 W. Main Ave. in Taylorsville.
Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for the Hickory Daily Record.
