The best small towns to celebrate July 4th around D.C.
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The Palisades July 4th parade. Photo courtesy of Alejandro Maldonado
Looking for July Fourth fun? We've got a great list of small towns you can visit for fireworks, parades, and nostalgic festivities.
Why it matters: D.C. crowds can be a lot, plus many of these family-friendly celebrations are free and full of local flavor.
🥧 The intrigue: You don't have to leave the big city for a small-town experience. The annual July 4th Palisades Parade, now in its 59th year, makes for a nostalgic celebration starting with a hoedown in Palisades Park on July 3 filled with free ice cream, pie, and live music.
- The parade starts at 11am on July 4 — kids, classic cars, dance troupes, and local politicians galore. It's followed by a picnic in the park (hot dogs! dunk tanks!), and everyone is welcome.
Get out of town
🎶 Downtown Manassas | 50 minutes
- The historic city center offers one of the best fireworks displays in Northern Virginia, and throws a free, family-friendly party. It starts at 3pm on July 4 with rides and face painting for kids, street vendors, live music, and an outdoor sip-and-stroll.
🦀 Annapolis | 1 hour
- Maryland's capital city isn't tiny, but there's plenty of small-town, historic charm — especially around July 4th with multiple days of festivities planned, including an open-air festival, parade, and two nights of fireworks.
🍺 Frederick | 1 hour 15 minutes
- Though it's more of a small city in Maryland, Frederick has tons of rural-town charm thanks to its wealth of breweries, wineries, and mountain views. The July 4th celebrations are just as robust, featuring live music, kid's rides and bounce houses, tons of food and drink vendors, and a fireworks display.
⛵ Eastern Shore | 1 hour 20+ minutes
- Across the Bay Bridge, historic Eastern Shore towns St. Michaels, Oxford, and Easton offer parades, fireworks, and other events on and around July 4th. They're all roughly 15-20 minutes apart, so you can make a weekend of it (here's the full lineup).
- Most festivities are free, but tickets are required for the Big Band Night (July 5) at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum — a highlight of the holiday ($12 adults, $5 kids).
🎇 Sperryville | 1 hour 25 minutes
- Rappahannock County's annual July 4th celebration, held at 1800s Ben Venue Farm, offers a glimpse of history alongside celebrations that include live bluegrass, antique tractor displays, kids activities, food and fireworks. Tickets ($30 per vehicle) benefit the volunteer fire department.
- If you're making it a Shenandoah weekend, there's a free "Celebrate America" concert in nearby Washington, Virginia, on July 5 with big-deal musicians — cue the former conductor of the U.S. Marine Band.
👻 Shepherdstown | 1 hour 40 minutes
- One of the oldest towns in West Virginia is among its most charming —and haunted! On July 4th, locals get in the spirit with an 11am parade followed by a picnic with family activities and live music.