4th of July 2025 Events Newsletter
The Revolutionary Rumble
Special Independence Day Edition
The 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is THIS FRIDAY and Virginia’s museums, historic sites, and communities have arranged for special celebrations across the Commonwealth with festivals, fireworks, readings of the declaration, and more. See below for Independence Day events happening near you as we kick-off the big year ahead!
America. Made in Virginia.
July 4 | Hampton, VA
Join us for the start of America’s 250th year in the place that made it possible.
An all-day 4th of July event featuring the largest Fort Monroe family-friendly fireworks show to date!
This event is free to attend, but please register to receive event updates, including inclement weather notices, via text message and email.
JULY 3
Albemarle County
The American Revolution: An Evening with Ken Burns
Join Monticello and VPM off the mountain for a special program with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns and his co-director Sarah Botstein. Guests will enjoy a sneak peek of the forthcoming The American Revolution series, premiering on PBS on November 16.
Alleghany County
Stars & Stripes Fourth of July Celebration
Join Clifton Forge Main Street on Friday, July 3rd at the C&O Heritage Center Grounds for our Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks!
City of Lexington
On July 3, Main Street in downtown Lexington is converted into a community street and music festival featuring live music, beer/wine sales, desserts, and tasty July 4th picnic-style fare. This fundraiser pairs local celebrity chefs and restaurants with area non-profits in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.
City of Roanoke
Bring the whole family to celebrate during Independence weekend at River’s Edge Park: North. This FREE Festival will have inflatables, trampolines, and more! Hang out and enjoy FREE Music until 9:30 PM with beer & wine for sale from 5 Points Music Foundation and a variety of food truck options all day. The FUN Zone will be open from 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM. After enjoy a FREE 20-minute fireworks show starting at 9:30 PM.
Alleghany County
Stars & Stripes Fourth of July Celebration
Join Alleghany County on Friday, July 3rd at the C&O Heritage Center Grounds for our Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks!
City of Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg: Lighting of the Cressets
Join Colonial Williamsburg on the historic Duke of Gloucester Street for a fan-favorite tradition, the Lighting of the Cressets, as we bring our 18th-century streets to life at night with strolling musicians.
Lancaster County
Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Patriotic celebration and reading of the Declaration of Independence inside Historic Christ Church with the Cobbs Hall Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Richard Henry Lee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
🎆 JULY 4 🎆
Fairfax County
Independence Day Fireworks at Mount Vernon
Watch the dazzling fireworks soar over the Potomac River at George Washington’s estate.
An American Celebration at Mount Vernon
Celebrate our nation’s founding at the home of America’s first president! Hear former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger deliver a keynote address at a naturalization ceremony, where people from across the globe take the oath to become U.S. citizens.
City of Fairfax
Independence Day Parade: “Freedom, Flip Flops and Fireworks”
The parade has all the requisite ingredients for the Fourth of July: marching bands, floats, Shriners’ little cars and big motorcycles, old fire engines, clowns, the scorching sun, and it all kicks off with a flyover by the Flying Circus Aerodrome!
Enjoy lemonade, birthday cupcakes, and family activities as we celebrate the birthday of the USA and the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center!
Independence Day Tours of Ratcliffe-Allison-Pozer House
Take a brief tour through the oldest residence in Old Town Fairfax following the fabulous Fourth of July parade.
Enjoy Children’s activities on fire safety and education, including using a real fire hose!
City of Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg: Here Every Presence is Warlike
In the summer of 1775, Virginia forged a new path toward independence. Two regiments are to be raised for the defense of Virginia, and hardy, resolute, and invincible patriots are needed to join the cause. Recruits are to report to Market Square Green, where officers of Virginias new army, accompanied by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums, will begin their training.
Colonial Williamsburg: Salute to the States
Set to the pomp and pageantry of the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums, join the Virginia State Garrison Regiment as they present canon salutes to the original thirteen states of the Union.
Colonial Williamsburg: A Patriotic Celebration
Many events led up to our nations independence, and music told the story as it was happening. Hear a story told by members of the Governors Musick, using voice, flute, violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord.
Colonial Williamsburg: Lights of Freedom
As the prelude to the thrilling Fourth of July Fireworks display, our holiday programming concludes with a celebration of the words and music of the American Revolution.
Colonial Williamsburg: Noon Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Join residents of the 18th-century Williamsburg community as they read the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Courthouse and surrounding area.
Colonial Williamsburg: Declaration of Independence Reading
Thomas Jefferson begins a day of pageantry, celebration, and reflection.
Colonial Williamsburg: Pursuing Happiness
On the evening before Thomas Jefferson turns his draft of the Declaration of Independence over to a committee, he is visited by three inspiring voices. Witness a series of imagined conversations between Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, and King George III to discover the ghosts behind Jeffersons drafts of the Declaration of Independence and gain a new perspective on the document we celebrate on the Fourth of July.
Henry County
The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society will host “Patriots on the Square” to celebrate Independence Day, from 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 4. It will feature historical reenactments, free music, and the sale of food and drink.
City of Bristol
Marching bands, community groups, dance teams, those that love the red, white, and blue!
Live music, children’s games, a salute to veterans and more will converge at Anderson Park on Friday, July 4, as the City of Bristol, Tennessee, presents a “2025 Stars and Stripes Celebration” that will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display.
City of Lexington
The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society will host “Patriots on the Square” to celebrate Independence Day, from 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 4. It will feature historical reenactments, free music, and the sale of food and drink.
City of Suffolk
Stars and Stripes Spectacular!
Join Suffolk on the Fourth of July for our Stars and Stripes Spectacular with food, drinks, bounce houses, games, and fireworks to celebrate our nation’s independence.
Alleghany County
Stars & Stripes Fourth of July Parade
Join Alleghany County for the annual Fourth of July parade with a local Farmers Market, Stars & Stripes parade, and Veterans’ Ceremony.
Join Alleghany County to celebrate Independence Day at the Jackson River Sports Complex – Covington, VA!!! There will be Live music, food and beverages for sale, playgrounds and kids activities, & of course a great firework show!
Frederick County
Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Join the Col. James Wood II Chapter, SAR, and the Fort Loudoun ,DAR, to read the
Declaration of Independence
Loudoun County
Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
The public is invited to join in an oral reading of the Declaration of Independence at Aldie Mill Historic Park.
Stafford County
A Star-Spangled Fourth in Stafford!
Get ready for a day of fun in south Stafford! The trolley will pick up people in downtown Fredericksburg, Eagle’s Lodge Parking Lot, George Washington’s Ferry Farm and the Patawomeck Museum and Cultural Center, so you can check out all the area has to offer for July 4 and go from place to place with ease.
What could be more patriotic than spending July 4th on the grounds of George Washington’s Boyhood Home? Celebrate Independence Day the Revolutionary Way with acres of activities for all ages!
York County
Liberty Celebration at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
This Fourth of July holiday, salute the 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence during Liberty Celebration at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown with indoor galleries or outdoor living history.
Break out the red, white, and blue, and join us this Independence Day for a free, family-friendly celebration featuring a full day of events before the big fireworks finale!
Henrico County
Celebrate independence in style at Red, White, & Lights. This family-friendly event promises an evening of fun, music, food, and history— with a dazzling laser light show finale.
City of Richmond
July 4th Naturalization Ceremony
The naturalization ceremony is held in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Liberty or Death Reenactment: the Fourth of July 2025
Witness Patrick Henry Convince his Fellow Delegates to Take Up Arms Against the King!
Revolutionary Richmond Bus Tour
Celebrate Independence Day and kick off #VA250 with the Valentine! Learn about Richmond’s role in the American Revolution, from Patrick Henry’s speech to Benedict Arnold’s raid on the city and explore how the legacy of the Revolution has been preserved and contested by generations of Richmonders.
Fairfax County
An American Celebration at Mount Vernon
Celebrate our nation’s founding at the home of America’s first president! Hear former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger deliver a keynote address at a naturalization ceremony, where people from across the globe take the oath to become U.S. citizens.
Reading of the Declaration of Independence at Historic Pohick Church
As part of the Virginia 250th Anniversary Celebration, the community is invited on Friday, July 4 to a free public reading of the Declaration of Independence in the church by historical re-enactor, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Costa, portraying the Rev. Mr. Massey, the Rector of Pohick Church in 1776.
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Albemarle County
Celebrate July 4th at Monticello, the home of the author of the Declaration of Independence! For over 60 years on July 4th, Monticello’s West Lawn has transformed into an outdoor courtroom, where dozens of new citizens take the Oath of Citizenship to become Americans.
Craig County
Craig County Independence Day Parade
Join us in a true small-town patriotic celebration of our nation’s Independence! Local citizens come together each year decked out in red, white and blue to cheer passing floats, antique and classic cars, kids on bikes and trikes, and even a tractor or two.
Bedford County
Bring your family and friends out to Poplar Forest, his Bedford County retreat, to celebrate the 249th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in historic style.
Charlotte County
Independence Day at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
Would you like to experience Independence Day at the final home of Virginia’s first governor? Come spend this July 4th at the “garden spot of the world” Patrick Henry’s Red Hill!
City of Chesapeake
Join the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation as we celebrate America’s Independence on July 4th. Enjoy crafts, reenactors, an encampment, and readings of the Declaration of Independence. All activities included with museum admission.
Westmoreland County
Join us in commemorating the Fourth of July at the historic home of the only two brothers who signed the Declaration of Independence, Stratford Hall.
JULY 5
City of Charlottesville
Anthems from America & Abroad – A Heifetz Holiday Celebration
On Saturday, July 5th, Highland will host the Heifetz International Music Institute for a free concert from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A classically-inspired ensemble from Heifetz will bring a uniquely innovative and expressive concert that will appeal to all ages.
City of Staunton
Let the Frontier Culture Museum provide you and your family with an opportunity to find good humor and joy with our pay-what-you-will Independence Day celebration! Starting at 9 am and lasting all day, we’ll have apple pie making, games of all kinds, an audience participation required 19th century Civics Bee, and of course, a reading of the Declaration of Independence!
City of Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg: An Evening with the Presidents
The United States was as politically divided in its infancy as it is today. Nation Builders will explore how their presidential administrations navigated party, faction, and the vast differences that challenged America during their times.
Colonial Williamsburg: Public Auction
Listen for the bell and take part in an exciting auction! Bid on select items from the Colonial Williamsburg stores and auction-exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else. The assortment of merchandise changes for each auction.
City of Alexandria
Carlyle House Family Fun Day – July 4th Jamboree
From 12-3, you can sit in on story time that starts at the top of the hour and participate in crafts and other activities that relate to the theme of the month. This program is for all ages, though some of the crafts might be challenging for guests under 4.
