The Fourth of July in Annapolis is always special. So is the third actually. More on that below. But this year with America 250, it’s even better than usual. Here's every Fourth of July 2026 event we could dig up around Annapolis — when it starts, where to stand, and even how to watch from the water if you'd rather skip the parking hunt.
🎆 Long story short
Sherwood Forest fireworks light up the Severn River Friday, July 3 (~9 PM). Downtown Annapolis' big show bursts over Spa Creek Saturday, July 4 at 9:15 PM, right after the 6:30 PM parade. Daytime on the Fourth brings neighborhood parades in West Annapolis (9:30 AM), Eastport (11 AM), and Severna Park (10 AM) postponed to July 11, plus an all-day America 250 festival downtown.
Last updated: July 5, 2026
⛈️ July 4 update — canceled & rescheduled
Severe weather got the last word on the Fourth. Here's where everything stands:
Downtown parade: canceled, not rescheduled. The city called off the Independence Day parade and the USNA Electric Brigade concert about four hours before step-off, citing a 70% chance of lightning and thunderstorms. The 9:15 PM fireworks over Spa Creek went off as planned.
Severna Park parade: rescheduled to Saturday, July 11 at 10 AM. The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber moved the parade one week, and the Decorated Bike Contest still runs 9:15–10 AM.
One Country, Many Cultures storytelling: Saturday, July 11, 1–5 PM at People's Park, indoors at the Stanton Community Center if weather interferes.
🥵 Heat update — what changed
With heat indexes pushing past 110°, the city announced a few changes on July 2:
Shorter parade route.The downtown parade still steps off Saturday at 6:30 PM from Amos Garrett Boulevard, but the route now runs down West Street and turns left onto Calvert Street, ending at St. John’s Street. An air-conditioned cooling bus will be parked near the step-off at Amos Garrett and Constitution Avenue.The city ended up canceling the parade entirely.
People’s Park storytelling rescheduled. The “One Country, Many Cultures: Storytelling & Oral Histories” program moves to Saturday, July 11, 1–5 PM. If the weather interferes again, it shifts indoors to the Stanton Community Center.
Cooling centers are open. Pip Moyer’s cooling area runs through the weekend — Friday 10 AM–6 PM, Saturday noon–5 PM, Sunday 10 AM–6 PM — and the Dunn pool at Truxtun Park opens free in two-hour blocks: Friday 5–7 PM, then Saturday 11 AM–1 PM, 1:30–3:30 PM, and 4–4:45 PM, capacity permitting.
Text “JULY4” to 38276 to get text alerts for the latest updates from the city.
🎆 Two nights, two fireworks shows
Annapolis is fortunate to have not one but two wonderful fireworks shows. That said, you will either need a boat, a friend with a boat, or a friend in one of Annapolis’ most private neighborhoods to watch one of them.
Friday, July 3 — Sherwood Forest over the Severn River. Perhaps the worst-kept secret in Annapolis. Sherwood itself is gated, so most folks watch from the Severn. That means you need a boat or a friend with a boat. Alternatively, if you’ve got friends “in the forest,” now’s the time to text them. Fireworks start around 9 PM.
Naptown Scoop Photo - Fireworks in Sherwood Forest
⚠️ Local’s note: Many, many boats come out for this. It’s also at night because fireworks. And although it’s not smart, much alcohol is consumed. Boating to the Sherwood fireworks is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced boaters. Never drink while you’re the captain and stay vigilant. Want to take the easy route? Watermark’s got a family-friendly cruise.
Saturday, July 4 — Downtown over Spa Creek. The main event caps the city's parade day at 9:15 PM, bursting over Spa Creek. Stake out the Eastport side of the creek, the Spa Creek Bridge, or any waterfront perch with a clear line to the sky. Get there early — downtown packs in tight on the Fourth.
⚠️ Local’s note: The Naval Academy Bridge isn’t a great place to watch. It’s far away and there’s not much room for parking. That said, there’s not much room downtown but you’re much closer to the action.
⛵ Rather watch from the water?
Watermark is running fireworks cruises both nights with a full-service bar on board. They sell out, so book fast.
Want more boats? A couple of local crews run their own fireworks cruises on the Fourth:
Schooner Woodwind — July 4, 6:30 PM. Sail out on the 74-foot wooden schooner and anchor near the harbor for the 9:15 show. Details and booking.
Skipjack Wilma Lee — July 4, 7:30 PM. The Annapolis Maritime Museum's historic skipjack heads out for the fireworks (21+). Details and booking.
Photo: Watermark Journey
Prefer to paddle? Capital SUP runs a 4th of July Fireworks Paddle & Cookout out of its Eastport hub. The 2.5-hour trip guides you through Back Creek by paddleboard or kayak, then anchors for the downtown fireworks — board, kayak, and safety gear included, plus an Annapolis Smokehouse BBQ cookout (vegetarian options available) with all the classic sides. It's family-friendly and open to all skill levels. Check availability and pricing here.
Photo: Capital SUP
🎺 The parades, in order
The Fourth is stacked with parades from morning to evening. The downtown lineup:
Admiral Heights Bike Parade — 9 AM. A laid-back neighborhood ride down Sampson Place — kids and dogs encouraged — that ends with ice cream. Rolls 9 to 11 AM. Details here.
West Annapolis Bike Parade — 9:30 AM. Decorated bikes roll from the top of Melvin Avenue to West Annapolis Elementary. Big on streamers, bigger on small-town charm.
Eastport Parade — 11 AM. Steps off from Eastport Elementary School and winds through the Maritime Republic. Keep an eye out for George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette (reenactors) holding court on Second Street at 11:45 AM, hosted by Jamie Costello.
City of Annapolis Downtown Parade — CANCELED. The city called off the 6:30 PM parade about four hours before step-off due to incoming severe weather. It will not be rescheduled.
Beyond the city limits:
Severna Park Independence Day Parade — rescheduled to Saturday, July 11, 10 AM. Billed as the area's biggest, hosted by the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber. Postponed from July 4 due to severe weather. The famous Decorated Bike Contest runs 9:15–10 AM with prizes for Most Original, Most Beautiful, and Most Patriotic. Winners lead off the parade!
Cape St. Claire 4th of July Parade — 10 AM. The Broadneck peninsula's hometown parade winds through the Cape St. Claire neighborhood.
Naptown Scoop photo - Tomfoolery in the Severna Park parade
🇺🇸 July 4 downtown: an all-day America 250 party
Between the bike parades and main parade, downtown hosts an all-day festival for the nation's 250th. The high points:
Food Festival & Local Vendors — People's Park, noon. Annapolis restaurants and food trucks dishing local and international eats, with a live WRNR broadcast.
One Country, Many Cultures — rescheduled to July 11. The storytelling and oral histories program planned for People’s Park moved to Saturday, July 11, 1–5 PM because of the heat. Weather backup: indoors at the Stanton Community Center.
Historic Annapolis Fourth of July Festival — noon–4 PM. One ticket covers three sites: the William Paca House and Garden, the Hogshead, and the Museum of Historic Annapolis. Catch Nathan Richardson perform Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" on the Paca House steps.
A few more worth circling:
Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers — Maryland Hall, 10 AM.
Children's Storytelling with Dovie Thomason — Chesapeake Children's Museum, 11 AM.
Make a Banner — Hammond-Harwood House, 11 AM–3 PM. Make an American flag to wave at the parade and hear the story of the 1783 flag that still flies at the State House. While supplies last.
Liberty Celebration at the Inns — Governor Calvert House, 58 State Circle. Historic Inns of Annapolis throws an America 250 party with food, drinks, live entertainment, and patriotic hospitality.
Maryland State House 250th Celebration — 2–4 PM. A scavenger hunt for all ages and a display of Maryland's founding documents.
USNA Electric Brigade concert — State House grounds, 7:45 PM. The Naval Academy band's patriotic warm-up before the sky lights up.
For the official, up-to-the-minute schedule, check Annapolis250.net.
🎬 Friday, July 3: the warm-up
The Fourth really starts the night before. In addition to the Sherwood Forest fireworks there’s. . .
Movies Under the Liberty Tree: Hamilton — St. John's College. A free outdoor screening on the lawn, with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet opening at 7:30 PM and the movie after dark. Bring a blanket and a picnic. We don’t know if singing along is acceptable and we don’t really care.
Naturalization Ceremony — William Paca House, morning. New citizens take the Oath of Citizenship on the garden terrace. Free, but seating is limited.
What's Brewing: Mrs. Howard's Coffeehouse — Hogshead. Drop in to meet a colonial coffeehouse proprietress and learn how Annapolis' caffeine dens stirred up a revolution. Free, with a $5 suggested donation.
🥍 Bonus: pro lacrosse takes the stadium
Maryland is the heartland of lacrosse, so it's only right the pros spend the holiday weekend here. The Premier Lacrosse League brings its All-Star Weekend to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and this year the two marquee games headline Sunday, July 5 — back-to-back on ESPN.
Lexus PLL All-Star Game (men's) — 2 PM ET on ESPN. It's East vs. West, and the rosters are set. The East is loaded: faceoff king Trevor Baptiste, attackmen Michael Sowers, Marcus Holman and Cornell product CJ Kirst, with Joey Spallina and Connor Shellenberger coming off the bench. The West counters with Brennan O'Neill, Logan Wisnauskas, Dylan Molloy, faceoff ace TD Ierlan and All-Star goalie Blaze Riorden — plus the Kavanagh brothers, Pat and Chris, in reserve.
WLL All-Star Game (women's) — 5:30 PM ET on ESPN2. The Women's Lacrosse League sends its best to Annapolis right after the men wrap up.
See both full rosters and grab tickets at premierlacrosseleague.com/all-star.
🚧 Know before you go: closures, parking, and the drive home
The fun's all above. Here's the boring stuff that saves your evening: what's closed, where you can't park, and how to actually get out of town once the last firework fizzles.
What's closed
City offices close Friday, July 3.
The Pip Moyer Recreation Center and the Stanton Center close Friday, July 3 — but Pip Moyer’s cooling center area stays open through the weekend (Friday 10 AM–6 PM, Saturday noon–5 PM, Sunday 10 AM–6 PM).
The Dunn pool at Truxtun Park opens free in two-hour blocks: Friday 5–7 PM, then Saturday 11 AM–1 PM, 1:30–3:30 PM, and 4–4:45 PM, capacity permitting.
City refuse and recycling run as usual. No holiday change.
Out in the county? Anne Arundel curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste all run on the normal schedule, Friday pickup included. But the Millersville Landfill and the Northern, Central, and Southern Recycling Centers close July 3 and 4, reopening Monday, July 6. Plan the dump run accordingly.
Transit and the cooling bus
There’s no regular Annapolis Transit service on July 4. The only bus running is a shuttle to and from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and College Avenue (at Bladen), 4:30 PM to midnight. And if the heat gets to you, the city parks a cooling bus at Market Space from 4:30 to 11:30 PM, plus a second one near the parade step-off at Amos Garrett and Constitution. Air conditioning, no fare required.
Where you can't park
From 4 PM until about 10:30 PM, parking is banned and violators get towed from Main Street, Randall Street, Market Space, both sides of Severn Avenue between First and Sixth, and stretches of Chesapeake Avenue in Eastport. So if your car's there, move it before 4.
Downtown also goes Resident Only from 2 PM to midnight on Prince George Street (Craig to Maryland Ave), East Street (Prince George to King George), and Randall Street (Prince George to King George).
Road closures
Main Street and the Spa Creek Bridge close to cars around 5 PM and stay shut until the fireworks wrap up, roughly 10 PM. Road blocks also go up at Church Circle and Main Street, and along Duke of Gloucester Street at Conduit, Green, St. Mary's, and Compromise. The Spa Creek Bridge closes from the Eastport side around 5 PM and from the Duke of Gloucester side around 8 PM.
Getting home
Until 9 PM, one lane of Duke of Gloucester Street flows from Church Circle toward Eastport (not into downtown). After 9 the bridge shuts and the street clears for foot traffic. Once the show ends, Eastport's signals flash yellow and police wave you out. Two routes to know:
From Chesapeake Avenue: follow Chesapeake to Bay Ridge Avenue toward Forest Drive. No right turns onto Tyler/Hilltop. Local move: cut over on Forest Hills Ave to reach Forest Drive.
From Severn Avenue: you'll be rerouted. Left on 6th, right on Bay Ridge, right on Jefferson, left on Brashears, right on Madison, left on President, then out to Tyler/Hilltop and Forest Drive.
💡 A few tips before you go
Park once, walk everywhere. Downtown streets close for the parade and garages fill early. Park and walk if you can. The Calvert Street Garage (19 St. John’s Street) is always free on weekends.
Mind the road closures. Main Street and the Spa Creek Bridge close to traffic around 5 PM and stay closed until the fireworks wrap up (roughly 10 PM). Plan your drive in — and your exit — around them.
Leave the dog at home. Fireworks plus crowds plus heat is a rough trio for pets. Leave them home with the AC humming and a fan for white noise.
Pack for July. Water, sunscreen, and a blanket for sitting. It's a long haul from the 9:30 AM bike parade to the fireworks finale.
📋 At a glance
Event | Date | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
Movies Under the Liberty Tree: Hamilton | Fri, July 3 | 7:30 PM (movie after dark) | St. John's College |
Sherwood Forest fireworks | Fri, July 3 | ~9 PM | Severn River |
Watermark July 3 fireworks cruise | Fri, July 3 | 8–10:30 PM | 1 Prince George St |
Admiral Heights Bike Parade | Sat, July 4 | 9 AM | Sampson Place |
West Annapolis Bike Parade | Sat, July 4 | 9:30 AM | Melvin Ave → West Annapolis Elem. |
Severna Park Parade + Bike Contest | Sat, July 11 (rescheduled) | 10 AM (bike contest @ 9:15 AM) | 1 Holly Ave, Severna Park |
Cape St. Claire 4th of July Parade | Sat, July 4 | 10 AM | Cape St. Claire |
Eastport Parade | Sat, July 4 | 11 AM | Eastport Elementary |
Food Festival + America 250 events | Sat, July 4 | Noon–5 PM | People's Park & downtown |
City of Annapolis Downtown Parade | Sat, July 4 | Canceled (severe weather) | Amos Garrett Blvd → West St → Calvert St → St. John's St |
USNA Electric Brigade concert | Sat, July 4 | Canceled (severe weather) | State House grounds |
Downtown fireworks over Spa Creek | Sat, July 4 | 9:15 PM | Spa Creek / Eastport waterfront |
Watermark July 4 fireworks cruise | Sat, July 4 | 8–10:30 PM | 1 Prince George St |
❓ Frequently asked questions
When and where are the Annapolis fireworks in 2026?
There are two shows. Sherwood Forest sets off fireworks over the Severn River on Friday, July 3, around 9 PM. It’s less accessible but many folks prefer it to the official show. Annapolis’ official show launches over Spa Creek on Saturday, July 4 around 9:15 PM, after the evening parade. Viewing from City Dock won’t be a great option this year (thanks, construction) but anywhere with a view of the sky over the harbor will do just fine.
What's the best place to watch the July 4 fireworks?
Anywhere with a clear view of the sky over the Annapolis harbor. The Choptank, Eastport street end parks, and the Spa Creek Bridge all work. For a front-row seat on the water, book a Watermark fireworks cruise — they leave from The Piers at 1 Prince George Street and tend to sell out. Or join Capital SUP for a more adventurous way to watch from the water.
How can i take my boat to the July 4 fireworks in Annapolis?
First and foremost, do not drink and operate the boat. And check all of your safety equipment before leaving the dock. That means running lights, horn, whistle, spotlight, flashlights, flares (minimum of 3), radio, and PFDs for everyone on board at a minimum.
For Sherwood Forest, set your course for 39°01'56.3"N 76°32'25.1"W. Fireworks are launched from the Sherwood dock with the pavilion. Follow instructions from official boats (Coast Guard, DNR, etc.).
For Annapolis, set your course for 38°58'33.6"N 76°28'54.0"W. Fireworks are launched from a barge in the harbor. Follow instructions from official boats (Coast Guard, DNR, etc.).
A few rules from the city: the Spa Creek Bridge draw span closes to boat traffic from 8:30 to 11 PM, so plan your route around it. Pick your spot early — it gets crowded fast — and stay clear of the 1,000-foot safety zone around the fireworks barge. Questions about boating restrictions? Call the City Harbormaster’s Office at 410-263-7973.
How much are the Watermark fireworks cruises?
The July 3 Sherwood Forest cruise runs $85 per adult and $45 per child. The July 4 Annapolis cruise is $90 per adult and $45 per child. Both sail 8–10:30 PM with a full-service bar on board.
What time do the parades start?
The Severna Park parade was rescheduled to Saturday, July 11 at 10 AM (bike contest 9:15–10 AM). On July 4, the West Annapolis Bike Parade rolled at 9:30 AM and the Eastport parade at 11 AM. The City of Annapolis downtown parade was canceled due to severe weather and will not be rescheduled.
Is there anything to do on July 4 besides the parade and fireworks?
Plenty. People’s Park hosts a noon food festival with a live WRNR broadcast, Historic Annapolis runs an all-day festival across three downtown sites, the Maryland State House holds a 250th celebration from 2–4 PM, and the USNA Electric Brigade plays the State House grounds at 7:45 PM. One heads-up: the One Country, Many Cultures storytelling program moved to Saturday, July 11 because of the heat.
Where should I park downtown?
Parking garages are your best bet. We prefer the Calvert Street Garage (19 St. John’s Street) because it’s free on weekends, but the Mills-Hillman is closest to all the action. Gott’s Court, Knighton, and Park Place are good options too. The free downtown “Magenta” shuttle runs 8 AM to midnight on July 4 and loops all the city garages to downtown and back. And if the garages fill up — they will — the city runs a park-and-ride from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Gate 5): $15 per vehicle (credit card only), with a free shuttle to Lawyers Mall from about 4:30 PM to midnight.
Can I bring my dog?
Better not. Between the fireworks, the crowds, and the July heat, the Fourth is a tough day for pets. Leave them home somewhere cool with a little background noise to muffle the booms.
