A Guide to Richmond-area 4th of July Events

It’s that time of year again where the weather is [usually] perfect and many people spend their holiday grilling out and/or hitting the river or nearest pool. But if you don’t have any plans for the Fourth of the July just yet, don’t worry, because we’ve done the research for you.

Fortunately for you, we found an assortment of other festivities to ensure your Fourth is still patriotic and fun-filled:

• Red, White, and Lights – Join the Henrico County Parks and Recreation for an evening of the Richmond Symphony, a laser-light show, family activities, fireworks and more at the Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park (3400 Mountain Road, Glen Allen). Begins at 4:30 p.m. FREE

• Hardywood’s Independence Day Celebration – Get down to music from Zep Replica, Full Moon Fever, Andrew Leahey & the Homestead, Rikki Shay, Kings and Mikrowaves. Fireworks from The Diamond can be seen from the brewery’s grounds. Food trucks on site. Beer tickets are $6 each. Starts at 3 p.m. FREE

• Ardent Craft Ales– Catch the fireworks from their beer garden as the brewery is open from 2-10 p.m.

• Isley Brewing Company’s Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza – Dance the night away with tunes from DJ Mac Daddy. Get your grub on at Return of the Mac and Hollywood Cheesesteaks food trucks. Fireworks at the Diamond can be seen from their back patio. Bring your lawn chairs. 12-10 p.m. FREE

Buskey Cider’s Red, White and Blue CIDERbration –  From  July 1 to the Fourth, grab this cidery’s patriotic beverages as they’ll be serving red, white, and blue flights, which can be purchased in their taproom. The red cider is a  Black Currant Cider, the white cider is 45 and Trying ( Buskey’s off-dry cider) and the blue is RVA Cider with Spirulina, a collaboration with Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market. According to a statement, Spirulina is an all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free superfood derived from algae – it’s high in protein and other vitamins and tints the cider blue. The hours will be Friday 5pm-10, Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-9pm, and Monday noon until the fireworks at the Diamond end around 10 p.m. Buskey will be serving up free hot dogs on Sunday and Monday.

• Festivities at Dogwood Dell Park – The event features music from the Richmond Concert Band.  Begins at 5:30 p.m. with fireworks at sundown. FREE

• Fourth at the Fort –  Celebrate your independence at Fort Lee’s Williams Stadium with music from “RNPP” and the 392nd Arm Band, food and the KidZone (inflatable rides and games for the kids). KidZone tickets and food are available for purchase. Begins at 5 p.m. and fireworks start around 9:35 p.m. Those entering Fort Lee must present a driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Adult passengers must present a photo ID. For more information, call (804) 734-6008. FREE

• Independence Day Reenactment –  What’s more patriotic than a reading of the Declaration of Independence? Doors open at 11 a.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Patriotic music starts soon after with an 11:30 a.m. reenactment (no admittance after program begins or when church is at capacity.) Reserve seats for $5 per person here. FREE with a suggested $5 donation.

• Fourth of July Celebration at Colonial Williamsburg –  Join Colonial Williamsburg for a special militia muster. Enjoy a salute to the 13 original states, featuring music performed by the Fifes and Drums, flags of each state and the firing of muskets and cannon. Fireworks will be visible from both Market Square and Palace Green. The event is from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Visit their website for even more patriotic activities happening that day.

• The Flying Squirrels v. Fightin’ Phils game – Fireworks hit the skies after the game. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Normal game prices apply. Note: This is NOT a Bark in the Park Monday.

• Kings Dominion’s Star Spangled Celebration – Head there for a day of rides and fun. End your day with fireworks. The patriotic festivities go on all weekend (July 2-4). The park opens each day at 10 a.m. with a performance of the National Anthem. Normal ticket prices apply, except military personnel can qualify for FREE admission.

• Busch Gardens’ Fireworks Spectacular – This event takes place all Fourth of July weekend (July 2-4) with special entertainment and fireworks to end the night. Regular rates apply.

Did you know?

The personal-finance website WalletHub has identified 2016’s Best & Worst Cities for Fourth of July Celebrations. According to WalletHub, they evaluated “how well the 100 largest U.S. cities balance holiday cost and fun, using 16 key metrics such as fireworks-show duration, three-star hotel prices and the weather forecast.”

WalletHub’s top-five ‘Best Cities for Fourth of July Celebrations’ are:

1.Seattle, WA

2. Minneapolis, MN

3. New Orleans, LA

4. Washington, D.C.

5. Portland, OR