It's the big one - Fourth of July weekend, and there are two fireworks nights to plan around: the city's free show over the Riverfront around 9pm Friday (capping the all-day Independence Jam) and the Howlers' game at City Stadium Saturday (the only fireworks in town on the 4th itself). Add Poplar Forest's 1800s-style Fourth, a free all-day party at American Legion Post 16, a patriotic Flag Walk downtown, MasterWorks' orchestra at Liberty, Endstation's outdoor Shakespeare, plus the usual markets, mahjong, trivia and karaoke. Here's everything going on:

🟢 = free · 🔔 = ticket or sign-up

Times and details can change after this is sent - for the latest, view this post on the web (the "view in browser" link up top). I post corrections there.

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Wed Jul 1

Thu Jul 2

Fri Jul 3

  • 🟢 Independence Jam · 2:00pm to late (fireworks ~9:00pm) · Lynchburg Amphitheater at Riverfront Park - the city's 250th celebration: karaoke with DJ Liz starting at 2pm, plus carnival games, face painting, a dunk tank, obstacle course, splash pad & food trucks; live music from Local Call Band at 7pm, then fireworks over the James around 9pm

  • Water Rocket Build & Open House · 5:00-7:30pm · Vector Space · $3 suggested donation - launch water rockets, make liquid-nitrogen ice cream & explore the makerspace; drop in before the fireworks

  • DISH: 3rd Annual Cookout Night · cookout 5:00-9:30pm · burgers, dogs & ribs, with live dinner music from The Whiskey Shakes (6:00-9:00pm) and a Star Spangled Dance Party at 10pm

  • Maple Leaf Tea Room: open into the evening · Friday evening · the downtown tea room stays open past its usual 4pm close with a limited menu - an air-conditioned spot to cool off between the daytime festivities and the fireworks

  • 🔔 William & Henry Steakhouse: Tequila & Mezcal Tasting (with a taco pairing) · 5:00-6:30pm · ticketed - a guided tequila & mezcal tasting paired with tacos

  • 🔔 History Happy Hour: Jack Jouett's Ride · 5:30pm · Lynchburg Historical Foundation · $22 - a Revolutionary-era tale (Jouett's ride & Jefferson's escape from Monticello) with a signature cocktail

  • 🟢 The Bo and Jodie Show · 5:30-8:30pm · Charley's Restaurant - live music with Jodie Davis (who hosts Big Lick's open mic) and Bo

  • Trailhead Hot Dog Eating Contest · 6:00pm · $10 to enter, $250 grand prize

  • 🔔 City View Freedom Fest · 6:00-9:30pm · City View Venues (8th floor) · 21+ · $10 GA / $35 with food + drink - rooftop 250th party with food, music, games & one of the best views of the fireworks

  • 🔔 Endstation: The Merry Wives of Lynchburg (outdoor live theater) · 6:30pm · Point of Honor · ticketed (reserved seats via Ludus) - Shakespeare's comedy reset in Lynchburg (note the early holiday start)

  • Dragon Fire Games: Friday gaming (Star Wars Unlimited League · FNM Magic Booster Draft · Digimon) · 7:00pm · weekly

  • 🔔 Downtown Lynchburg Walking Ghost Tour: Sunset Tour · 7:00-8:00pm (Waterfront Tour 8:15-9:15pm) · meets at the Lynchburg Community Market fountain · $15 adult / kids 12 & under free - a historical walk with live paranormal-detection demos

  • 🟢 MasterWorks Festival Orchestra Concert · 7:30pm · Concert Hall, Liberty University - Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave, Elgar's Cello Concerto (Soo Bae) & Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, conducted by Matthew Kraemer

  • Super Sad (emo, two sets) · ~10:00pm (right after the fireworks) · Super Rad Arcade Bar · $12 (includes unlimited arcade)

  • 🎤 Karaoke: Scoreboards 8pm-12am (DJ Cam)

Sat Jul 4

Sun Jul 5

Mon Jul 6

Tue Jul 7

Running this week (no single date)

  • 🟢 Riverside Sprayground · daily 10:00am-7:00pm · Riverside Park - open through Sept 7

  • Ivy Creek Park canoe & kayak rentals · Sat & Sun 10:00am-5:00pm · $10/hr canoe, $8/hr kayak · [Parks&Rec] - paddle the lake all summer weekend

  • (Academy Center is closed for the holiday Jun 29-Jul 5; galleries + Needle Ninja's daily open studio resume after the 4th.)

🎆 Fourth of July - worth the drive

If you're chasing fireworks beyond the city, the big regional shows:

  • 🟢 Bedford: "Before The Works" Independence Day Festival · Fri Jul 3, 5:00-10:00pm · Liberty Lake Park - live music (Tony Camm & The Funk Allstars + a DJ), food trucks, a free kids zone, $10/team cornhole at 6pm, and fireworks at dusk

  • Smith Mountain Lake Fireworks (24th Annual) · Sat Jul 4 · Parkway Marina · music & fun from 5pm, fireworks at dusk over the water (a preview show launches Thu Jul 2 at Mitchell's Point Marina, 7-11pm)

  • Appomattox: Railroad Festival Fireworks · Sat Jul 4, 8:00pm · Appomattox County High School · fire performers, then fireworks

  • Lexington · a downtown Main Street music & street festival Fri Jul 3, plus "Balloons Over Rockbridge" Jul 4-5 for America's 250th

🗓️ Coming up next week (Jul 8-14)

A few to get on your calendar now - and one needs early registration:

📱 Now on Instagram - @lyhevents_

We're on Instagram now too: @lyhevents_. It's another easy way to catch the week's events in your feed - and an easy one to share with a friend who never knows what to do this weekend. Give it a follow:

  • The week's Lynchburg events, right in your Instagram feed

  • See something fun? Tap share and send it to a friend who needs weekend plans

  • Follow + tag the person you'd actually go with 💛

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