The United States marks its 249th birthday this weekend. While many Americans are on edge and wondering if our democratic experiment will make it to its 250th next year, millions out there are just excited to blow off steam and blow shit up over the coming days.
South Florida's about to get lit for the Fourth of July, so you might as well know where best to look up after the sun goes down.
From beachside blowouts and symphonic serenades to good ol' fashioned family fun and star-studded throwback concerts, this year’s celebrations promise enough fireworks to outshine your cousin’s backyard sparkler-a-thon.
South Florida's about to get lit for the Fourth of July, so you might as well know where best to look up after the sun goes down.
From beachside blowouts and symphonic serenades to good ol' fashioned family fun and star-studded throwback concerts, this year’s celebrations promise enough fireworks to outshine your cousin’s backyard sparkler-a-thon.
Here’s your spark-studded guide to the biggest and brightest Fourth of July fireworks celebrations, from Hialeah to Homestead and everywhere the stars and stripes fly in between. (Are you more the partying kind? Check out our list of July Fourth Weekend Parties here!)
Will it rain on our fireworks displays? Here's what we know.
Oh, and for God's sake, don't shoot your gun in the air.
Where to See Fourth of July Fireworks in Miami and South Florida
Coconut Grove
If there's any place that could turn a day at the park into a ritzy affair, it's the Grove. The Miami Symphony Orchestra will take the stage at Peacock Park for its annual Independence Day celebration. Patriotic anthems the likes of Frank Von Suppé's "Light Cavalry Overture" and John Philip Sousa's iconic "The Stars and Stripes Forever" are sure to sweep you off your feet as a themed drone show soars above you. You're encouraged to bring your own picnic blanket or lawn chair. Festivities open at 3 p.m.; concert commences at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove; themiso.org; Admission is free.Coral Gables
The historic Biltmore Hotel will open its golf course grounds for its signature Fourth of July celebration in partnership with the City of Coral Gables. A pre-show headlined by the Navy Band Southeast starts at 5 p.m. before the Greater Miami Symphonic Band joins at 7 p.m. for a pre-fireworks concert. By 9 p.m., you can count on a lit-up Coral Gables sky. 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at the Biltmore, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables; coralgables.com; Admission is free.Cutler Bay
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a U.S. Air Force flyover happening only at Cutler Bay's 55th annual Fourth of July Celebration! Head over to Whispering Pines Park for an impressive aerobatic show coupled with a golf cart parade, cookout, music, inflatables, and more. As no American holiday is complete without blowing stuff up, feel free to follow the festivities up with one of the multiple evening fireworks shows listed in this guide. 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 4, at Whispering Pines Park, 8800 Ridgeland Dr., Cutler Bay; cutlerbay-fl.gov. Admission is free.Doral
Doral’s Central Park will transform into a red, white, and blue playground with live music, inflatables, food vendors, and a fireworks finale that lasts a solid 25 minutes. The fireworks are set to blast off at 9:20 p.m., but parking logistics are crucial — on-site passes cost $15 in advance, while free off-site parking and trolleys are your budget-friendly Plan B. 5 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Doral Central Park, 3000 NW 87th Ave., Doral; cityofdoral.com. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com.Downtown Miami
A fireworks show with front-row seats to Biscayne Bay? Count us in. Bayfront Park’s long-standing Fourth of July Festival is pulling out all the stops this year with live music from DJ MDOT, Orlando Mendez, Higher Ground, and the U.S. Navy Band. You'll also watch a hot dog eating contest and classic car showcase, and the Kids' Zone will keep the little ones busy. The event doubles as Bayfront Park's centennial celebration this year, so expect an epic pyrotechnic display over the water. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; bayfrontparkmiami.com. Admission is free.
Miami-Dade and Broward offer multiple Fourth of July celebrations, complete with fireworks displays, drone shows, live music, and more.
Photo by Elisha Terada