4th of July Events, Asheville & Western NC

The entire week of July 4th features many Independence Day celebrations and firework shows in Asheville and many small towns in the western North Carolina mountains! Below is a big list of events and festivals - more than 30!

Downtown Asheville Independence Day Celebration 2022: Join in the fun in Pack Square Park on Monday, July 4th! Watch dogs compete for the longest jump at the Ultimate Air Dogs event happening at 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM. Food and beverage vendors open at 5 PM and include local breweries and cideries, as well as a variety of food trucks. Enjoy live music from Ricky Gunter and Lyric on the Pack Square stage from 5:45-9:30 PM. Fireworks at 9:30 PM can be best seen from the park (buildings will block the view in other parts of downtown). Bring your chair or blanket to picnic. Dogs must be leashed, but please consider leaving your pet at home since fireworks frighten pets. 121 College St.

South Asheville Fireworks: At Lake Julian, the fireworks show starts at dark (9-9:30 PM) on the 4th, but come early. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and find a spot along the lake. Enjoy food trucks and live music throughout the afternoon and into the evening. The park offers picnic tables, grills, a sand volleyball court, two horseshoe pits, boat rental, and a playground. Bring a picnic! Park at William W. Estes Elementary School (275 Overlook Road) across from the lake. Free. Daytime shuttle 8 AM-6 PM. No pets please due to crowds. No alcohol or tobacco products. From Asheville take I-26 East to Exit #37. Turn left at the light onto Long Shoals Road. Address: 406 Overlook Extension Arden.

4th of July Celebrations & Fireworks near Asheville in Western North Carolina Towns

Bryson City Freedom Fest: On Monday, July 4 the fun begins at 10 AM with all-day events featuring arts, crafts, food, and live music starting at 6 PM. Enjoy Fourth of July food favorites – funnel cakes, shaved ice, Philly cheese-steak sandwiches, BBQ, kettle corn, and more. Also explore Bryson City shops, galleries, and museums. Dine-in or outdoors at restaurants or take food truck treats to one of many picnic tables or pavilion nearby. The fireworks show starts at 10 PM. Go rafting or tubing nearby! (See our Bryson City guide)

Photo: Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska: Visit just for the day on July 3rd with music, barbecue, and fun. Live music starts at 7 PM and fireworks at 9:30 PM. Or stay with one of their overnight packages that include lodging, a lake cruise on the Cherokee IV, and a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard rental. Go to their website for more details.

Sylva: On the 4th, enjoy live music starting at 6:30 PM, followed by fireworks at dark (generally around 9:45 PM) in the picturesque "all-American" small town nestled in the mountains. Stroll Main Street is filled with shops, restaurants, and breweries. Go to their website for more details.

Marion: On Saturday, July 2 enjoy a downtown parade at 6 PM and fireworks at 9:45 PM.  Go to their website.

Montreat: Montreat will host the all-American small-town parade on Monday, July 4 at 10:30 AM. It's a longtime local favorite. Get there early to see the short-but-fun parade. See photos and video.

Lake Glenville: Watch fireworks from land or the lake on Saturday, July 3 around 9:30 PM. Rent a pontoon boat at Signal Ridge Marina! Located near Cashiers.

Lake Lure: On July 4th, watch fireworks at dusk over the lake from Morse Park (2948 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure). Bring your picnic and chairs. No alcoholic beverages are allowed. Also watch from the beach, opening at 8 PM. On the 4th, fireworks will be at Rumbling Bald Resort for their guests, but others enjoy from boats on the lake. Expect traffic bottlenecks after fireworks since there's just one road out!

Banner Elk: Iconic small-town parade begins at 11 AM on July 4th and celebrates our nation with star-spangled vehicles, people, and animals parading down Main Street and ending in Tate-Evans Town Park. At 12 PM following the parade is the annual Duck Race & Party in the Park. Enjoy old-fashioned games, food vendors, and inflatables. Try your luck in the famed duck race, with hundreds of rubber ducks floating toward the finish line!  Go to their website.

Beech Mountain: On July 2nd, 6 PM. Celebrate with an American-style cookout, inflatable-style games for all ages, and live music. Fireworks at dark. Bring your own camp chairs and/or blankets. Free Admission. The Beech Mountain Resort will be open 10 AM-6 PM for downhill mountain biking, scenic lift rides, Mile High Yoga, and more.

Hendersonville: July 4th festivities start at 6 PM with a Special Fireworks Celebration Concert at 201 South Main (Visitor's Center). Fireworks will begin at 9:30 PM and launch from South Grove Street. Look for the giant red balloon to signify the visibility of the fireworks show. If you can see the balloon, you can see the fireworks from your location. Bring chairs and blankets. Go to their website.

Waynesville: The Stars and Stripes daytime celebration happens Monday, July 4th from 10 AM to 3 PM along Main Street with music and sidewalk sales. Children's parade at 11. No fireworks in downtown Waynesville, but see them nearby in Maggie Valley and Lake Junaluska. Go to their website.

Maggie Valley: Backyard Fourth, gates open on July 4 at 6 PM and fireworks at dark. Free admission. Alcohol-free. Festival Grounds, 3374 Soco Road Maggie Valley. 

Robbinsville: Graham County Heritage Festival begins Saturday, July 2nd at 10 AM. Enjoy crafters, food, games, music, and fireworks at 10 PM.  Go to their website.

Columbus: Their Fabulous 4th Festival is happening on Monday, July 4th featuring food, music, entertainment, family games, and a variety of vendors 10 AM-10 PM, with fireworks concluding the day.

Cashiers: July 4th fireworks on the Village Green with festival, food, music, and dancing. 6:30-10 PM. 

Valdese: On Friday, July 1st see fireworks in conjunction with their Valdese Summer Concert Series. See details.

Cherokee: Pow Wow on July 1-3  with authentic Indian dancing, drumming, and tribal regalia. Fireworks July 3rd at 10 PM. Read more about Cherokee Pow Wow.

Reminder: Fireworks are illegal in National Forests
Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited on all national grassland and national forest lands year-round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Regulations are enforced, and violation is punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.

For events throughout the year, see our list of seasonal calendars.