Author: Debbie Tullos
If you're looking for a special way to celebrate the July 4th holiday, several North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites across the state have events scheduled for July 4, 2022. Whether you're looking for a commemoration of this day in history, or just looking to celebrate summer, there's something in this list for you!
Tryon Palace Glorious 4th
The Tryon Palace Glorious 4th is a free event beginning at 9 a.m. with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. The festivities continue through Noon with Fife and Drum performances and musket firings by the 1st NC Regiment. Representatives from the 1st NC Regiment will be at the military encampment on the Palace grounds for the entire event. Visit the event page for a full schedule of events for the day.
Roanoke Island Festival Park Independence Day Concert
The Town of Manteo and Roanoke Island Festival Park are celebrating the holiday with an Independence Day concert featuring The Deloreans and the 82nd Airborne Division Band & Chorus. The Independence Day concert is free and open to the public at Roanoke Island Festival Park’s scenic waterfront Pavilion. The concert will conclude with the Town of Manteo’s fireworks display over the waterfront at dusk.
Cannon Day at Fort Macon State Park
Fort Macon State Park holds Cannon Days throughout the year to demonstrate some of the different cannons used in the fort and how they function. July 4th is on the schedule! Demonstrations will be held at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, & 3:30, and a different cannon will be fired for almost each session.
Historic Halifax Independence Day Celebration
Historic Halifax was an important location in the Revolution, so celebrating in this historic site has special ties to the holiday. Events planned include musket firing, living-history demonstrations, and a special reading of the Declaration of Independence. Continue the fun that afternoon, with the Town of Halifax’s Independence Day celebration at the county courthouse complex and enjoy the annual fireworks display, at dark on the courthouse lawn.
Celebrate the 4th with the NC State Capitol
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the State Capitol is hosting a free, fun-filled family event that offers musical performances and several hands-on activities for children to enjoy. There will also be supplies available to write letters to support our troops courtesy of the organization A Million Thanks.
The day will host a ceremony that includes a reading from the Declaration of Independence and a wreath laying at the George Washington monument by the Sons of the American Revolution. Raleigh Concert Band will perform. Bring your chairs and a picnic lunch! The ceremony begins outdoors at noon. And to celebrate America’s independence, the Capitol will have birthday cupcakes for visitors at 1 p.m., for as long as supplies last. The Capitol will be open for self-guided tours from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Call (919) 733-4994 for more information.
Mountain Gateway Museum July 4th Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social
The Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center's annual July 4th Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social will feature free ice cream, watermelon slices, and a special presentation by author and veteran David Rozzell on Monday, July 4. Possum Creek, a local bluegrass band that leads a free music jam most Sunday afternoons at Mountain Gateway Museum, will perform on the museum’s front porch from 2 to 4 p.m. After ice cream and watermelon are served, head to the Town of Old Fort's 4th of July parade.
North Carolina Transportation Museum Special Hours
The North Carolina Transportation Museum is usually closed on Mondays, but will be open for special hours on Monday, July 4, 2022. The N.C. Transportation Museum is a historic site, once home to Southern Railway’s largest steam locomotive repair facility in the southeast, and a museum featuring all types of transportation history – railroading, automotive, aviation, and more. Visit the museum page for more information about exhibits and the train schedule.