Where Can You See July 4th Fireworks in the Hudson Valley in 2026?
By Brian Caplicki · Caplicki Home Team · Updated June 29, 2026 · 7 min read
Your weekend guide to July 4th fireworks, parades, and America250 celebrations across Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, and Sullivan Counties, plus the big shows in New York City.
Quick Answer
Independence Day 2026 falls on Saturday, July 4, and it is the nation's 250th birthday, so the Hudson Valley is going big. In Orange County, look to Goshen's Great American Weekend and Historic Track harness races, Highland Falls, Cornwall, Greenwood Lake, and West Point. In Ulster County, the anchors are Kingston, Saugerties, and New Paltz. In Dutchess County, head to Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and Hyde Park. In Sullivan County, Liberty, Narrowsburg, and Monticello lead the way. And in New York City, the 50th anniversary Macy's fireworks light up the rivers on July 4.
This is not an ordinary Fourth of July. July 4, 2026 marks the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and towns across the Hudson Valley have leaned into it with America250 and Rev250 themed parades, fireworks, and living-history events. Below is your weekend roadmap, organized by county, with the marquee shows in New York City at the end. Dates and times can shift, so confirm with each organizer before you load up the car.
Where to See Fireworks: July 4th Weekend 2026 at a Glance
Every major fireworks display across the four counties and New York City. Times are approximate. Confirm with each organizer before you go.
| When | Fireworks Display | Where | Time / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County, NY | |||
| Wed Jul 1 | Middletown Stars & Stripes | Fancher Davidge Park, Middletown | DJ 7 PM, fireworks at dark |
| Thu Jul 2 | Port Jervis Food Trucks & Fireworks | Riverside Park, Port Jervis | 5–10 PM, fireworks at dark |
| Fri Jul 3 | Village of Monroe Celebration | Rt 17M & Lake St, Monroe | Drone show & fireworks 9:15 PM |
| Fri Jul 3 | Washingtonville Food, Fire & Fun | L. Vern Allen Park, Washingtonville | 5–10 PM, fireworks finale |
| Sat Jul 4 | Cornwall Independence Day | Rings Pond, Cornwall-on-Hudson | After dark (parade 5 PM) |
| Sat Jul 4 | Greenwood Lake / Warwick USA@250 | Morahan Waterfront Park, Greenwood Lake | ~9:15 PM |
| Sat Jul 4 | West Point America's 250th | Trophy Point, West Point | Fireworks over the Hudson (free, 3–10 PM) |
| Sat Jul 4 | Highland Falls Fireworks | Highland Falls | Grand display July 4 (part of the weekend celebration) |
| Sat Jul 4 | City of Newburgh Fireworks | People's Waterfront Park, Newburgh | ~9 PM (confirm date on city site) |
| Sun Jul 5 | LEGOLAND Red, White & BOOM! | LEGOLAND New York, Goshen | 9:15 PM (park admission) |
| Ulster County, NY | |||
| Sat Jul 4 | Kingston Waterfront Celebration | TR Gallo Park, Kingston | Music 6:30 PM, barge fireworks at dark |
| Sat Jul 4 | Saugerties Fireworks | Cantine Field, Saugerties | 10 PM (parade 11 AM) |
| Sat Jul 4 | New Paltz "Sparkle and Shine" | Ulster County Fairgrounds, New Paltz | Gates 5 PM, fireworks at dusk, $5 adult |
| Sat Jul 4 | Walkway Fireworks Spectacular | Walkway Over the Hudson, Highland | Ticketed, ~9 PM, tends to sell out |
| Sat Jul 4 | Ellenville-Wawarsing Fireworks | Napanoch (Resnick Airport) | 9:30 PM (parade noon) |
| Dutchess County, NY | |||
| Thu–Sat Jul 2–4 | Renegades America250 MEGA Fireworks | Heritage Financial Park, Wappingers Falls | Game 7:05 PM, fireworks after each night |
| Fri Jul 3 | Beacon Fireworks | Memorial Park, Beacon | Festivities 8:30 PM, fireworks at dark |
| Sat Jul 4 | Poughkeepsie Fireworks | Waryas Park (free) / Walkway, Poughkeepsie | ~9:20 PM |
| Sat Jul 4 | Stanford Rev250 Fireworks | Stanford Recreation Park | ~8 PM (Declaration reading 5 PM) |
| Sullivan County, NY | |||
| Fri Jul 3 | Monticello Freedom Festival | Monticello | Food & music 5 PM, fireworks at dusk |
| Sat Jul 4 | Liberty Fireworks | Main Street, Liberty | At dusk (rain date Jul 5) |
| Sat Jul 4 | Narrowsburg Fireworks | Main Street, Narrowsburg | Over the Delaware (parade 3 PM) |
| Sat Jul 4 | Callicoon / Villa Roma Fireworks | Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon | Open to the public, at dusk |
| Sat Jul 4 | Livingston Manor Fireworks | Upward Brewing Co., Livingston Manor | At dusk |
| New York City | |||
| Sat Jul 4 | Macy's 4th of July Fireworks (50th) | East River, Brooklyn Bridge & Lower Hudson | ~9:25 PM, live on NBC |
| Sat Jul 4 | Coney Island Beach Fireworks | Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn | 9:45 PM |
Fireworks times are approximate and weather-dependent. Confirm rain dates with each organizer before you go.
Parades, Fairs & Daytime Events at a Glance
The non-fireworks highlights: parades, craft fairs, races, living-history, and America250 traditions worth building your day around.
| When | Event | Where | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County, NY | |||
| Fri–Sun Jul 3–5 | Goshen Historic Track Harness Racing | Historic Track, Goshen | Gates 11 AM, races 1 PM, $7 (kids free), Hall of Fame Sun |
| Sat–Sun Jul 4–5 | Great American Weekend | Village Green, Goshen | Free, 150+ vendors, carnival, live music, food |
| Fri–Sun Jul 3–5 | Highland Falls Celebration | Highland Falls | Parade, 5K, canoe & bed races, concerts (fireworks Jul 4) |
| Sat Jul 4 | Warwick USA@250 Parade | Windermere Ave, Greenwood Lake | 11 AM, official Town of Warwick parade |
| Sat Jul 4 | Cornwall Independence Day (all day) | Main St & Rings Pond, Cornwall-on-Hudson | Breakfast, pet show, duck derby, parade 5 PM |
| Ulster County, NY | |||
| Sat Jul 4 | Saugerties Parade | Village of Saugerties | Lines up 10 AM, steps off 11 AM; Stallions game 6:15 PM |
| Sat Jul 4 | Ellenville-Wawarsing Parade | Canal & Center St, Ellenville | Noon; bands, DJ, free hot dogs, skydiving demo |
| Dutchess County, NY | |||
| Sat Jul 4 | Hyde Park Independence Day Parade | Route 9, Hyde Park | Steps off 10 AM, "Celebrating 250 Years" theme |
| Fri–Sun Jul 3–5 | FDR Presidential Library & Museum | Wallace Center, Hyde Park | Free admission Jul 3–5; "1776" screening 3 PM Jul 4 |
| Sullivan County, NY | |||
| Sat Jul 4 | Liberty 4th of July Festival | Main Street, Liberty | Street fair & car show 10 AM, parade noon |
| Sat Jul 4 | Narrowsburg Parade | Main Street, Narrowsburg | 3 PM down Main Street |
| New York City | |||
| Sat Jul 4 | Sail4th 250 Tall Ships Parade | New York Harbor | Largest tall-ships gathering ever, America250 |
| Sat Jul 4 | Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest | Coney Island, Brooklyn | Women 11 AM, men 12:30 PM, live on ESPN |
Compiled from organizer and municipal sources, accurate at publication. Times can change, so confirm before you go.
What makes July 4th, 2026 different in the Hudson Valley?
2026 is America's 250th birthday, and the Hudson Valley sits at the center of the Revolutionary War story. West Point is hosting a full America's 250th celebration at Trophy Point, the FDR Library in Hyde Park has opened a new exhibit on the printed path to independence, and towns from New Paltz to Saugerties have built entire festivals around the anniversary. If you have ever wanted to feel the history of this region, this is the year to be here.
Where are the July 4th fireworks in Orange County, NY?
Orange County packs the calendar this weekend. Cornwall-on-Hudson runs its 76th annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 4, an all-day affair with a firehouse breakfast, a pet show, a duck derby, a 5:00 PM parade down Main Street, and fireworks over Rings Pond after dark.
Greenwood Lake hosts the official Town of Warwick USA@250 Parade on Saturday, July 4 at 11:00 AM along Windermere Avenue, followed that evening by the "Celebrate America 250" festival at Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park starting around 6:00 PM, with food, music, and a fireworks finale at dusk.
West Point opens Trophy Point to the public on Saturday, July 4 from 3:00 to 10:00 PM for its America's 250th celebration, with a West Point Band concert, a Kids Zone, food trucks, an aircraft flyover down the Hudson around 6:30 PM, and fireworks over the river. It is free and open to the public.
The county's signature holiday tradition is the Great American Weekend in Goshen, running both Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5 on the historic village green around First Presbyterian Church. Hosted by the Goshen Chamber of Commerce every year since 1982, it draws big crowds for 150-plus craft vendors, live music, food, a carnival with rides and games, and children's activities. Admission is free. The Goshen Rotary 5K/10K run follows on Monday, July 6.
Just up the street, Goshen Historic Track, the oldest active harness racing track in the country and a National Historic Landmark, holds its marquee meet all three days, Friday July 3 through Sunday July 5. Gates open at 11:00 AM with racing from 1:00 PM, including the New York County Fair Races, NY Sire Stakes, and the C.K.G. Billings, capped Sunday evening by the Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductions at the museum next door. Tickets are $7 and kids 12 and under are free. Pairing the harness races with the Great American Weekend makes Goshen the heart of the county's Fourth.
Highland Falls, right beside West Point, runs one of the most complete celebrations in the region, a free multi-day event from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5. Expect a parade, a 5K race and children's fun run, canoe races, bed races, concerts, family games, and a grand fireworks display on July 4.
Families with young kids should note LEGOLAND New York in Goshen, where "Red, White & BOOM!" lands on Sunday, July 5 (not the 4th), with a fireworks show at 9:15 PM that turns into LEGO bricks when you put on the special glasses. Park admission is required.
The Village of Monroe gets a jump on the weekend on Friday, July 3, with a drone show and fireworks at 9:15 PM near Route 17M and Lake Street. Washingtonville (Blooming Grove) holds its America250-themed "Food, Fire & Fun Festival" the same evening, Friday, July 3 from 5:00 to 10:00 PM at L. Vern Allen Park, with food trucks, live music, a spirit garden, and a fireworks finale. And the City of Newburgh waterfront fireworks at People's Waterfront Park are a longtime tradition around the holiday. Confirm the exact date and time on the city's site before you head down to the river.
Heads up for midweek planners: Middletown's Stars & Stripes celebration at Fancher Davidge Park is Wednesday, July 1, and Port Jervis holds its Food Trucks & Fireworks Festival at Riverside Park on Thursday, July 2.
What is happening in Ulster County for July 4th weekend?
Ulster County has three strong anchors on Saturday, July 4. Kingston lights up its waterfront at TR Gallo Park on the Rondout, with live music from 6:30 PM and fireworks launched from a barge after dark. A free UCAT shuttle runs from 5:00 PM, since waterfront parking is tight.
Saugerties goes all day: the parade lines up at 10:00 AM and steps off at 11:00 AM through the village, the Saugerties Stallions play at 6:15 PM, and fireworks cap the night at 10:00 PM at Cantine Veterans Memorial Complex. New Paltz brings back a big public show with "Sparkle and Shine" at the Ulster County Fairgrounds, gates at 5:00 PM, fireworks at dusk, with food trucks, a car show, and a kids' zone. Admission is $5 per adult, kids under 10 free.
For something elevated, the ticketed July 4th Fireworks Spectacular on the Walkway Over the Hudson lets you watch the Poughkeepsie show from the bridge itself, with the Highland entrance on the Ulster side. Tickets sell out every year, so check availability before counting on it. Out west, Ellenville and Wawarsing run a noon parade and a 9:30 PM fireworks display at the airport in Napanoch.
Where can you celebrate the Fourth in Dutchess County?
Poughkeepsie is the headline. You can watch the city fireworks for free from Waryas Park at the base of Main Street, around 9:20 PM on Saturday, July 4, or buy a ticket to view from the Walkway Over the Hudson. Beacon runs a little early this year, with fireworks at Memorial Park on Friday, July 3 after dark.
Baseball fans get a treat: the Hudson Valley Renegades in Wappingers Falls host America250 MEGA Fireworks on three nights, July 2, 3, and 4, with fireworks after each game at Heritage Financial Park. Hyde Park holds its Independence Day parade up Route 9 at 10:00 AM on July 4, and the FDR Presidential Library offers free admission July 3 through 5, plus a free 3:00 PM screening of the musical "1776." Up in Stanford, the Rev250 celebration features a Declaration reading at 5:00 PM, a firehouse chicken dinner, and fireworks around 8:00 PM.
What July 4th events are happening in Sullivan County?
Liberty throws one of the county's biggest parties on Saturday, July 4, with a street fair and car show from 10:00 AM, a parade at noon, and fireworks at dusk (rain date Sunday, July 5). Narrowsburg runs its parade down Main Street at 3:00 PM with fireworks over the Delaware after dark, and the Narrowsburg Bridge is a favorite viewing spot.
Monticello gets started Friday, July 3 with its Freedom Festival, food trucks and music from 5:00 PM and fireworks at dusk, and Resorts World Catskills adds its own fireworks on July 4. In Callicoon, Villa Roma Resort opens its July 4 fireworks to the public, and Livingston Manor caps the night with fireworks at Upward Brewing Company. Music fans, note that Santana and The Doobie Brothers play Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on July 4 (a ticketed concert).
What is the big July 4th celebration in NYC in 2026?
If you are heading south, 2026 is a historic year in the city. The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks celebrate their 50th anniversary with a massive show launching from the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Lower Hudson, beginning around 9:25 PM and broadcast live on NBC. Earlier in the day, the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest returns to Coney Island, with the women's championship at 11:00 AM and the men's at 12:30 PM, and Coney Island runs its own beach fireworks at 9:45 PM.
The signature America250 event is Sail4th 250, the largest gathering of tall ships ever assembled, with a parade of sailing vessels from dozens of nations through New York Harbor on July 4. The ships then dock for public boarding through the following week. It is a once-in-a-lifetime sight tied directly to the 250th anniversary.
What does a holiday weekend have to do with Hudson Valley real estate?
More than you might think. A festive, walkable July 4th is one of the best windows into what a town actually feels like to live in. If you are buying in Orange County or the broader Hudson Valley, use this weekend to test-drive neighborhoods. Park the car, walk the parade route, talk to the people next to you, and notice how a place treats its big day. That gut feeling is hard to get from a listing photo.
If you are selling, a holiday weekend is when your town shows off, and a home that sits near a parade route, a waterfront, or a Main Street celebration has a story worth telling in the listing. Brian Caplicki and the Caplicki Home Team know every Orange County zip code, town by town and street by street, and we help sellers position a home so buyers feel that connection. When you are ready to talk strategy or just want to know what your home is worth in today's market, we are a phone call away.
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Hudson Valley July 4th Weekend FAQ
What day is July 4th in 2026, and why is it a big deal?
Independence Day 2026 falls on Saturday, July 4, which means a full holiday weekend. It is also the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, so towns across Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, and Sullivan Counties are running expanded America250 and Rev250 celebrations.
Where are the best July 4th fireworks in Orange County, NY?
Goshen's Great American Weekend (free, July 4 and 5 on the village green) and Highland Falls' multi-day celebration with a July 4 fireworks display are two of the biggest traditions. For fireworks specifically, look to Cornwall-on-Hudson (over Rings Pond after the 5:00 PM parade), Greenwood Lake (Waterfront Park festival at dusk), West Point (over the Hudson at Trophy Point), and LEGOLAND New York in Goshen, whose "Red, White & BOOM!" show runs Sunday, July 5.
Are any Hudson Valley fireworks on July 3 or July 5 instead of the 4th?
Yes. The Village of Monroe (Orange) and Beacon (Dutchess) hold fireworks on Friday, July 3, and Monticello (Sullivan) kicks off its Freedom Festival that evening too. LEGOLAND New York's fireworks are Sunday, July 5. Always confirm the date with the organizer, since rain dates can move events to the 5th.
What time are the Macy's fireworks in NYC in 2026?
The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks, marking their 50th anniversary, are scheduled for the evening of Saturday, July 4, with the launch around 9:25 PM from the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Lower Hudson. The show is broadcast live on NBC.
Are there free July 4th fireworks in the Hudson Valley?
Many shows are free, including Cornwall, West Point's Trophy Point celebration, Kingston's waterfront, Saugerties at Cantine Field, and Poughkeepsie viewed from Waryas Park. A few are ticketed, such as the New Paltz fairgrounds show ($5 per adult) and the Walkway Over the Hudson viewing, which tends to sell out.
Is July 4th weekend a good time to look at homes in Orange County?
It can be one of the best. Festivals and parades give buyers a real feel for a town's character, walkability, and community before they ever step into an open house. If you are weighing neighborhoods across Orange County and the Hudson Valley, the Caplicki Home Team can help you turn that weekend impression into a smart move.
Sources
Goshen Chamber of Commerce Great American Weekend (goshennychamber.com) and Village of Goshen · Goshen Historic Track (goshenhistorictrack.com) · Highland Falls celebration listings · Washingtonville Food, Fire & Fun Festival · Cornwall 4th of July (cornwall4th.org) · Village of Greenwood Lake and Town of Warwick USA@250 · West Point America's 250th (westpoint.edu) · LEGOLAND New York "Red, White & BOOM!" (legoland.com) · Village of Monroe · City of Newburgh · Chronogram Hudson Valley fireworks roundup (June 24, 2026) · Village of Saugerties · Local at Heart New Paltz · Walkway Over the Hudson (walkway.org) · Ellenville-Wawarsing Chamber · Destination Dutchess July 4th roundup · Beacon Rev250 calendar · Hudson Valley Renegades (milb.com) · FDR Presidential Library (fdrlibrary.org) · Sullivan County Democrat 2026 roundup · The Liberty Fest · Villa Roma Resort · Macy's (macys.com) and NBC · Major League Eating · Sail4th 250 (sail4th.org). Dates and times were accurate at publication and may change. Confirm with each organizer.
The Caplicki Home Team is a Keller Williams HVU real estate team based in Middletown, NY, serving Orange County, Sullivan County, Ulster County, Dutchess County, and the broader Hudson Valley. Reach Brian Caplicki and the team at 845-656-4498 or brian@caplickihometeam.com.
