July 4th Events in Hampton Roads 2013

Join the celebration of our nation’s 237th birthday in the Hampton Roads area with parties and pyrotechnics. You’ll find plenty of music, food, games, fireworks and fun out there. However you choose to honor Independence Day, be safe. Here’s a list of some of the region’s festivities in alphabetical order

THURSDAY July 4th-2013

Chesapeake VA 4th of July Celebration, parade, entertainment, games, food and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Lakeside Park, Chesapeake. War Memorial Ceremony at

Gloucester VA- Join us on July 4th for a great day at the beach…Gloucester Point Beach Park – Enjoy a great Fireworks Display at dark, sponsored by Yorktown July 4th Committee Enjoy live music  from 6-9 pm – 1255 Greate Road, Gloucester Point.
East of Coleman Bridge on the York River

Hampton VA -Music by the Bay, features U.S. Fleet Forces Band – Wind Ensemble. 7-8 p.m. Continental Park, Fort Monroe, Hampton. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. 251-2754. www.fmauthority.com.

Hampton •Military Appreciation Day. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. July 4. The Freedom Support Center is hosting a free event for active duty service members, veterans and their families just north of Outlook Beach at Fort Monroe. Special guests include Gov. Bob McDonnell and Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell. Military identification is required to attend. http://fscmilitaryappreciationday.eventbrite.com/ .

Hampton•Paradise Ocean Club. Country music artist Kip Moore performs at 7 p.m. at the Paradise Ocean Club at Fort Monroe. Tickets: $15-$35. http://paradiseoceanclub.com

Mathews VA-MATHEWS 15th ANNUAL FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
Mathews High School
Food Vendors with traditional Independence Day fare
Free Admission. Shuttle buses service from Thomas Hunter at 7pm to MHS. Rain dates are the 5th and 6th. For details call 725-1488 or Charles at 725-3236

New Kent –Racing to the Stars and Stripes at Colonial Downs. 5 p.m. July 4. A holiday celebration with horse racing, fireworks, live patriotic music with the York River Concert Band, a family-themed "after party" with magician Jonathan Austin, Proverbial in concert, free ice cream and more. $5-$30. Colonial Downs. colonialdowns.com.noon on the Holly Avenue side of the park. 382-6411.

Newport News -Classic Cruisers 4th of July Car Show, all makes. Benefits Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. 10 a.m. Cheeseburger in Paradise, 12361 Hornsby Lane, Newport News. 890-9434.www.ccccofva.org.

Newport News –"Spirit of America" in the Abbitt Planetarium, 4th of July laser display mixes patriotic music with America-inspired rock ‘n’ roll and songs that have defined American music. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News. 595-1900.www.thevlm.org/Spirit-of-America.aspx.

Newport News VA -4th of July Stars in the Sky, children’s rides, food vendors, entertainment by United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, fireworks and more. 7-10 p.m. Victory Landing Park, 23rd Street at the James River, Newport News. 926-1400. www.nngov.com.

Norfolk-Fireworks Cruise aboard the American Rover, narrated sail of the Elizabeth River and Hampton Roads Harbor featuring live music by an acoustic guitarist and the Independence Day fireworks show. 7:30-10 p.m. Waterside Festival Marketplace, 333 Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 627-7245.www.americanrover.com.

Norfolk VA -31st annual AT&T Fourth of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks, features traditional all-American fare and patriotic sounds by United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Band, fireworks (9:30 p.m.) and more. 5-10 p.m. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 441-2345. www.festevents.org.

Smithfield-Fireworks in downtown Smithfield take place a day early, 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, from Robert S. Clontz Memorial Park. Fireworks will also be visible from downtown Smithfield and along the Pagan River near downtown. Clontz park is located off North Church Street on the northern banks of the Pagan River. The park is equipped with a gazebo, picnic tables and fishing pier. http://www.co.isle-of-wight.va.us/parks-and-recreation/  or 357-2291.

Suffolk VA -Stars & Stripes Spectacular, music (Hotcakes), food, children’s activities, fireworks (9 p.m.) and more. 6-9:30 p.m. Constant’s Wharf Park and Marina, 110 E. Constance Road, Suffolk. 514-7250.www.suffolkva.us/parks/events.

Suffolk VA-Fourth of July Celebration, 11 a.m. opening ceremony followed by bike and float parade. Games and inflatables (noon-3 p.m.), raft race at Chuckatuck Creek (3 p.m.), fireworks (9 p.m.). Baked goods and lunch for sale; proceeds go to mission projects. Nate Sparks Band performs. Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1589 Steeple Drive, Suffolk. www.ebenezerchurch.net.

VA Beach -Stars & Stripes Explosion, fireworks (9:30 p.m.), music and more at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Music: Chester B’s MoTown Tribute Show (8 p.m. 17th Street Stage), Symphonicity with the Virginia Beach Chorale (8 p.m. 20th Street on the Beach), The English Channel (7 and 10 p.m. 24th Street Park), 2U (7:30 p.m. 31st Street Park) and Almost Journey (9:15 p.m. 31st Street Park). 491-7866.www.beachstreetusa.com.

VA Beach -July 4th Celebration, music (User Friendly and Strictly Bizzness), games, food, fireworks (9:30 p.m.) and children’s activities. 4-10 p.m. Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach. 385-2990. www.vbgov.com/specialevents.

Yorktown Independence Day Celebration, salute America with a patriotic parade on Water Street at 9 a.m., bell-ringing ceremony at 7 p.m., patriotic entertainment at 8 p.m., fireworks on the York River at 9:15 p.m. Riverwalk Landing, 331 Water St., Yorktown. 890-3500.www.visityorktown.org.

Yorktown VA -Liberty Celebration, military exercises, role-playing demonstrations, museum galleries and more. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Saturday. Yorktown Victory Center, 200 Water Street. 253-4838.www.historyisfun.org.

Williamsburg VA Patriotic Fireworks Tribute, 9:30 p.m. Busch Gardens, 1 Busch Gardens Blvd., Williamsburg. 800-343-7946. www.buschgardens.com/va.IllumiNights at Busch Gardens. July 1 through Aug. 11. A nightly extravaganza featuring live performances, music and special effects culminating in a park-wide fireworks spectacular. .

Williamsburg -Colonial Williamsburg. Events on Thursday, July 4, are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. throughout Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area. The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums will play a salute to the original 13 states at 10 a.m. There will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon, a concert by the Fifes and Drums at 5:30 p.m., an 8 p.m. concert by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at the Governor’s Palace Green, and a grand, old fireworks display at 9:20 p.m. Free. Preferred seating for the Virginia Symphony performance can be purchased for $45.  757-229-2141 or 1-800-447-8679.