Western Wake knows how to celebrate America’s birthday in patriotic style, judging by the sheer number of July 4th festivities taking place over the next several days.
Check out one, or enjoy them all — Happy Independence Day!
JULY 3: Independence Eve in Cary
Enjoy a preshow with Applause! Cary Youth Theatre at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Cary Town Band’s 30th annual patriotic performance at 7:30 p.m., all free at the Cary Arts Center.
JULY 3: Morrisville Magic
The food trucks start serving and the music starts playing at 6 p.m., all leading up to a free fireworks celebration at Morrisville Community Park.
JULY 3: Fuquay-Varina Fun
South Park it is, for Fuquay-Varina’s festivities, including free rides for kids, a concert by Spare Change, and fireworks at sundown!
JULY 3: Games in Garner
This annual event features a performance by the North Carolina Symphony, and the Kids Adventure Zone featuring inflatables, games and crafts. Bring a picnic, or buy concessions from local nonprofits onsite at Lake Benson Park. Then sit back for fireworks!
JULY 4: Grab a Short Stack
It’s the Morrisville Fire Department’s traditional Independence Day Pancake Breakfast, served at Fire Station 1. Tickets are limited, so get yours ASAP!
JULY 4: Olde Fashioned Fourth in Apex
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrate America’s birthday in downtown Apex with family activities, music, food and fun! At noon, kids can join Uncle Sam’s Parade of Wheels in their decorated bikes and wagons.
JULY 4: Cary Celebrates, Part Two
Cary’s Olde Time Celebration begins at 8 a.m., with free fun at the Bond Park Boathouse and a fishing tournament with prizes. Decorate your bike, stroller or wagon for the Parade in the Park, followed by family contests like doughnut eating. And gates open at 3 p.m. at Koka Booth Amphitheatre for rides, games, music, a scavenger hunt and a 50-foot Ferris wheel, all followed by fireworks!
JULY 5: More, in Holly Springs
The Independence Day fun wraps up on July 5 in Holly Springs, at Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, beginning at 5 p.m. Festivities here include face painting, food vendors, inflatables and rides, kids’ crafts, live music from the Holly Springs Community Band and The Holiday Band, and skydiving demonstrations. Fireworks are set for 9:15 p.m.
THRU JULY 11: Nothing Like It
Through July 11, visit the State Capitol in Raleigh to see a letter signed by Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States!
The letter was written in 1816 by Jefferson to U.S. Senator Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina, to discuss plans for a statue honoring George Washington to be installed on the grounds of the North Carolina State House.
That statue was destroyed when the State House burned in 1831, but you can view a copy of it in the Capitol’s rotunda, plus pieces of the original, in the new exhibit “George Washington is Here: Images of the Founding Father in North Carolina’s State Capitol.”
