Lake Fairfax Park isn’t the only spot in Fairfax County planning an early Fourth of July party this year.
The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Independence Day celebration in Reston will compete tomorrow (Saturday) with festivities in McLean, Lorton and Mount Vernon, where George Washington’s estate will kick off two days of fireworks tonight (Friday).
Falls Church denizens, however, will have to hit the road or rails. The city won’t host a fireworks display this year, since it doesn’t have “a safe, non-flammable location,” per its website. In the past, Falls Church has used Meridian High School, but that site is no longer available due to concerns about maintaining newly installed artificial turf on the school’s baseball diamond, Falls Church News-Press reported.
Still, the area will offer many options for catching fireworks, including several on July 4 for those who prefer to bust out their red, white and blue decor on the holiday’s actual date.
Friday, June 28
- Independence Fireworks at George Washington’s Mount Vernon (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway): Saturday is sold out, but as of press time, tickets are still available for tonight’s event, which begins at 6 p.m. on the Bowling Green. Wreath-laying ceremonies, 18th-century activities and live music will culminate in fireworks above the Potomac River at 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, June 29
- Lake Fairfax Fireworks (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive): Festivities begin at noon with the arrival of food trucks, and there will be live performances before the fireworks go off after 9 p.m. The event is free, but there’s a $20 parking fee, which drops to $15 for those who register in advance.
- Workhouse FireWorks at the Workhouse Arts Center (9518 Workhouse Way): Starting at 6 p.m., enjoy live entertainment, a Fun Zone with a Taylor Swift tribute booth, face painting and other activities, and refreshments, including a sneak preview of Bunnyman Brewing’s upcoming cafe. Parking costs $40 per vehicle in advance or $45 day-of, and there are $120-per-person VIP passes.
- McLean Independence Day Fireworks Celebration at Langley High School (6520 Georgetown Pike): Festivities, including food trucks, giveaways and music by a DJ, start at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks roughly spanning 9:15-9:45 p.m. Parking is free both on-site and from satellite locations with free shuttle buses. Rain date is Sunday, June 30.
Tuesday, July 2
- Vienna’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks at Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW): Fireworks begin at dark, around 9:30 p.m. Until then, there will be live music and food trucks, starting at 6 p.m. No alcohol, sparklers and pets are allowed.
Thursday, July 4
- An American Celebration at George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The festivities continue in Mount Vernon, starting with a Declaration of Independence reading at 9 a.m. and continuing with a naturalization ceremony at 10 a.m. Other activities include live music, historical reenactors and daytime fireworks at 1 p.m. The event is free with admission.
- All Day 4th of July 2024 Festival at Shipgarten (7581 Colshire Drive): The outdoor restaurant and beer garden venue in Tysons will offer a variety of free activities from noon to 6 p.m., incuding a live magic performance, water balloon toss and face painting. There’s also a daytime fireworks show at 3 p.m.
- 4th of July Fireworks at Turner Farm Park (925 Springvale Road): Celebrate Great Falls will host family-friendly festivities, including inflatables, food trucks and a cornhole tournament, starting at 6 p.m. until the fireworks start around 9. No dogs will be allowed at the park during the event.
- Evening Show and Fireworks at Fairfax High School (3501 Lion Run): Fairfax City’s celebration will feature live music from Ocho de Bastos and food trucks, starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. A shuttle bus will transport attendees from Woodson High School. If there’s a rainout, the fireworks will be bumped to 9:30 p.m. on July 5.
- 4th of July at Bready Park (814 Ferndale Avenue): The Town of Herndon will kick off activities, including bingo and other family games, at 6:30 p.m. Live music starts at 7:15 p.m., and the fireworks will launch at 9:30 p.m. from the Herndon Centennial Golf Course.
