DELMARVA - Looking for ways to celebrate July 4th along the coast? From beachfront fireworks and patriotic parades to live music and events for kids, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy Independence Day in our local beach towns. Whether you're planning a day trip or staying for the holiday weekend, this guide rounds up the top events, along with important information about traffic and parking, to help you make the most of your celebration.
Milford
On July 4 from 5 to 9 p.m., Milford will have its First Fridays Independence Day celebration. Bicentennial Park has local shops, vendors, food trucks and yard games for the whole community. Musical guest The Funsters will perform a selection of rock music for park goers.
Lewes
Starting at 9 a.m. on July 4 and running until noon, Lewes will have old fashioned kids' games on Second Street for a tradition of fun. Spectators can watch as the kids compete in three-legged races, sack races and the egg toss.
Later on, from 12 to 3 p.m., Lewes will have its annual car show and celebration at Trinity Faith Christian Center. This is a free event for everyone, from children to seniors. Event organizers say there will be free food, fun and games for the entire family, as well as a live DJ, barbecue, bounce house, hayrides and more.
Also in the afternoon is the Lewes boat parade. Starting at 1:30, boaters will wind their way through the Lewes Rehoboth canal to Fisherman’s Wharf as part of the City of Lewes’ 4th of July holiday festivities.
The Doo-Dah parade starts at 5 at Manila Avenue and heads down Kings Highway. Participants can stretch as far back as Savannah Road.
Fireworks start at dusk and will launch off of Lewes Beach.
Multiple road closures and traffic changes will be in place the night of July 4, including:
Bridges to Lewes Beach closing to eastbound vehicles, though they'll remain open for pedestrians and bikes. One lane will be open for outbound vehicular traffic. Savannah Road's bridge closes to vehicular traffic at 7 and the Freeman Highway bridge will close at 8.
Once fireworks begin, cars in public lots, private lots and leaving Cape Henlopen State Park will be held for at least 30 minutes to allow pedestrians and cyclists to leave safely. Officials highly encourage those traveling on foot or by bike to wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.
After fireworks, all traffic will be directed westbound on Savannah Road. No turns will be allowed onto Gills Neck Road, Pilottown Road or King's Highway.
Parking regulations will be fully enforced. Officials remind spectators to observe meters and not block driveways. There will not be shuttle buses from DART, though the regular route 204 bus will be running.
Public restrooms will be available. The bath houses at Savannah Beach will be converted to women's restrooms. Additional porta potties will be available for men, including those for people with handicaps or physical disabilities, at Savannah Beach and Johnnie Walker Beach. Porta potties will also be available at the Roosevelt Inlet parking lot, on Cedar Avenue by the Children's Beach House and off of Savannah Road across from Cedar Avenue.
Prime viewing spots are anywhere along the beach from Roosevelt Inlet to Cape Henlopen State Park. However, this year's Lewes fireworks are aiming to be high aerial displays again with the goal of ensuring that folks farther from the beach will have a good view.
Rehoboth Beach
The Nation's Summer Capital will be celebrating the nation's birthday on July 4 and 5. Friday night at 8 p.m., Rehoboth's bandstand will host the U.S. Navy Band Commodores as part of its summer concert series. On Saturday, The Funsters take the bandstand at 8 and and again after fireworks, which are scheduled to start around 9:30 p.m.
Certain parking restrictions and road closures will be in place Saturday.
6 p.m.: Bandstand area closed to vehicular traffic.
7 p.m.: Only buses and residents permitted on Henlopen and Surf avenues. Residents on Henlopen Avenue, in Henlopen Acres and in North Shores must access their homes via 2nd Street.
7:30 p.m.: Cars won't be able to cross Rehoboth Avenue at the circle.
8 p.m.: Rehoboth Avenue eastbound and Church Street from Route 1 will be closed to vehicular traffic. At that point, all vehicles entering Rehoboth will have to do so via State Road to Bayard Avenue.
No parking will be allowed on Surf Avenue, Grenoble Place, Surfside Place, the convention center parking lot, around the bandstand and in marked spots in the ocean block of Laurel Street.
After fireworks, vehicles north of Rehoboth Avenue will be directed to exit via Rehoboth and Columbia avenues. Those south of Rehoboth Avenue will be directed to Bayard Avenue for Route 1 southbound or Hickman and Munson streets to Route 1 north and south.
Alternative transportation options include DART's park-and-ride, which will pick up from the Henlopen Hotel after fireworks, as well as the Jolley Trolley's Rehoboth and Dewey shuttle services.
Dewey Beach
Delaware's beach towns often stagger fireworks celebrations on different nights. Dewey will have its fireworks show on July 4, launching from the bay in front of Northbeach on McKinley Avenue. The spectacle is scheduled to start around 8:30 p.m.
As the summer tourism season approaches, popular beach towns in Delaware and Maryland have raised parking fees, with extended enforcement periods and new technology, requiring visitors to prepare for higher costs and updated schedules.
Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach's July 4 celebrations are the town's biggest party of the year. A parade through downtown Bethany starts at noon. Pre-registration is available online but participants can also register at the tent on Central Boulevard between 9 and 11:30 a.m. on parade day. The parade will be followed in the evening with the Rick K. Show at the bandstand at 7:30 p.m. and, depending on beach conditions, fireworks will go off around 9:30 p.m.
Ocean City
Ocean City's Northside Park, at 125th Street and the bay, will be the location of the town's July 4 celebration. A DJ kicks off at 8 p.m. and fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. The soccer field and walking path on the northwest side of the park will be closed from viewing due to state and local safety precautions, as the fireworks will move off the west pier and into the park.
On the south end of town, celebrations at the Ocean City Boardwalk start at 8 p.m. with DJ Kutt on the Caroline Street stage. Visitors can bring beach chairs and blankets to claim a spot on the sand. Just like Northside Park, fireworks will start around 9:30 p.m.
Parking for the inlet lot increases to $6 an hour for July 4. Check out our summer 2025 parking guide for the coastal towns. Officials remind visitors that parking will be limited at both fireworks locations and that significant traffic is expected afterwards.
To avoid the hassle, the Coastal Highway bus service will be available from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. According to the town, riders can purchase a ride-all-day pass for $4, though riders should anticipate full buses and potential delays. The West Ocean City park-and-ride on Route 50 is another alternative, offering free parking and a $4 shuttle service to and from Dorchester Street and St. Louis Avenue from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For boaters, the span of the Route 50 bridge will be closed to marine traffic at its usual 10:25 and 10:55 p.m. opening times on July 4. It will reopen to boaters at 11:25 p.m.
Though the State of Maryland has approved ground-based sparkling devices like cylindrical and cone fountains, they are not legal to use or possess in Ocean City. Town officials and the Ocean City Fire Marshal's Office urge spectators to leave fireworks to the professionals.
Berlin
Berlin is getting a head start on the celebrations with fireworks on Thursday, July 3. They're scheduled to start at dusk at Heron Park on Old Ocean City Boulevard. The town recommends people bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch from SonRise Church.