Did you hear that Virginia was the most patriotic state? No surprise to us! How could you not be patriotic when you hear jets flying over daily and see ships on our waterways.
Looking for ways to celebrate your freedom this holiday weekend? Here is a list of events courtesy of The Virginia-Pilot.
July 1, Friday
Shore Thing Concert and Independence Day Celebration, with band Coolin’ Out. 6 p.m. Ocean View Beach Park, 100 W. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. 757-441-2345. www.festevents.org.
July 3, Sunday
Celebrate Freedom, games, family entertainment, activities, concessions, demos, concert by the U.S. Army TRADOC Band. Fireworks start around 9:15 p.m. Bring your own chairs or blanket (pop-up tents not permitted). 5 p.m. Chesapeake City Park, 900 City Park Drive. $5 onsite parking. 757-382-6411. www.cityofchesapeake.net/PRTevents.
Liberty Celebration, music, interpretive programs, military drills and artillery demonstrations, live music, re-enactments, exhibits, family activities. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Yorktown Victory Center, 200 Water St. $9.75 adults; $5.50, ages 6-12. 757-253-4838. www.historyisfun.org/yorktown-victory-center/liberty-celebration.
July 4, Monday
34th annual Fourth of July Great American Picnic and Fireworks, food, live entertainment, music. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. 5-10 p.m. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 757-441-2345. www.festevents.org.
July Fourth Celebration, music, food; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. 4-10 p.m. Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach. $5 parking. www.vbgov.com.
Stars & Stripes Explosion, live music; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m. (24th and 31st streets) and 8 p.m. (17th Street) at Virginia Beach Oceanfront. www.beachstreetusa.com.
Fourth at the Fort, family activities in Wherry Quarter, 6-8:30 p.m. “Music by the Bay” Summer Concert at Wherry Quarter, 6:30 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Fort Monroe, Hampton. www.fmauthority.com.
Stars & Stripes Spectacular, music, food vendors; fireworks at 9 p.m. 5:30 -9:30 p.m. Constant’s Wharf Park and Marina, 110 E. Constance Road, Suffolk. Children’s area, $5. www.suffolkva.us/parks/special-events.
Historic Cradock’s 98th Patriotic Salute, old-fashioned July Fourth celebration. Registration for children’s bike parade at Afton Parkway and George Washington Highway, Portsmouth, starts at 8:30 a.m.; parade proceeds to 45 Afton Pkwy. at 9:30 a.m.; ceremony, 10 a.m.; refreshments at 11 a.m. provided by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 41 Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 993 Auxiliary. Dottie Wyatt, 757-839-7700; dottiewyatt@juno.com.
Stars in the Sky, begins at 7 p.m. with children’s rides and other entertainment. Victory Landing Park, Newport News. Right On Band will perform from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks over the James River, by Pyrotecnico and Newport News Shipbuilding, will follow. Food vendors will be on site. Admission is free.
Annual July Fourth Parade and Celebration, parade at 10 a.m.; paddle boat rides, family activities. 10 a.m-4 p.m. Lakeside Park, 1441 Bainbridge Blvd., Chesapeake. 757-839-0383. www.snjuly4.com or www.southnorfolkcivicleague.com.
Liberty Celebration, music, interpretive programs, military drills and artillery demonstrations, live music, re-enactments, exhibits, family activities. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Yorktown Victory Center, 200 Water St. $9.75 adults; $5.50, ages 6-12. 757-253-4838. www.historyisfun.org/yorktown-victory-center/liberty-celebration.
2016 Yorktown Fourth of July, day begins at 8 a.m. with 8K run/5K walk at York High School; followed by 9 a.m. parade on Water and Main streets; bell-ringing ceremony and live music, Riverwalk Landing Stage, at 7 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m. over York River. 757-890-3500. www.yorkcounty.gov/tourism/Events/July4th.aspx.