Say what you want about fireworks, but there’s no denying the deep ties Americans have to lighting them off to celebrate the 4th of July. It’s just what we do.
Some cities, and now ski resorts, have opted to replace fireworks with coordinated drone light shows, but a few bastions of BANG are holding on.
That said, last winter’s abnormally dry weather and this summer’s hot weather have led to temporary bans on fireworks in states like Utah and Colorado, where wildfire danger is high.
With that in mind, take this list with a grain of salt, and please don’t light any of your own fireworks if you reside in a state with an active ban. Let’s all do our part to prevent wildfires.
Christian Pondella, Courtesy Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain, California
Mammoth Mountain and the town of Mammoth Lakes are excellent places to spend the 4th of July, if you don’t mind the crowds. The temperatures are usually cool at Mammoth’s high elevation, and seeing fireworks explode over Crowley Lake is a treat.
Here’s a quick rundown of events taking place across the 4th of July Holiday weekend at Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes:
- Thursday, July 2, 2026:
Live Music, 5:30 p.m., The Village at MammothFireworks, 9:00 p.m., The Village at Mammoth
- Friday, July 3, 2026:
Summit Sunset Party, 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Top of Panorama Gondola - Saturday, July 4, 2026:
Lake Crowley Fireworks Spectacular, 9 p.m.-9:45 p.m., Crawley Lake
Stowe Resort
Stowe, Vermont
Is there a more quintessential summer New England mountain town experience than watching 4th of July fireworks over Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s tallest peak? No, probably not.
I spent multiple 4th of Julys at Stowe and nearby Smugglers’ Notch as a kid. I have fond memories of eating ice cream, throwing a football, and staring up at the massive fireworks surrounded by Vermont’s finest.
Stowe will host a town parade at 12 p.m., and fireworks start at dusk on the 4th. Get there, if you can.
Boyne City 4th of July
Boyne Mountain, Michigan
Why does spending the 4th of July at a humble, very green Michigan ski resort sound like one of the most patriotic things you can do? I can’t answer that question, but the Americana vibes are poignant.
Boyne Mountain has a massive list of events from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, that include parades, live music, an air show, craft fairs, comedy shows, and more. Two firework shows will take place simultaneously at Downtown Harbor Springs and Downtown Boyne City. Both start at 10:30 p.m.
Stick around on Sunday to see Bow Wow and Soulja Boy headline the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City.
See Sugar Mountain, NC
Sugar Mountain, North Carolina
“Heading down south to the land of the pines, I’m thumbing my way into North Caroline…”
Believe it or not, but there are thousands of skiers in the Tar Heel State, and their largest ski resort, Sugar Mountain, goes all out for the 4th of July.
Sugar’s bike park and scenic lift rides will be open through the daylight hours on the 4th, but hop on the Summit Express Chairlift at 7 p.m., and you can watch the fireworks from atop Sugar’s 5,300’ peak, or ride the chair back down during the show for an incredibly unique fireworks viewing experience.
Cole Amaya/Getty Images
Diamond Peak, Nevada
Diamond Peak is a humble ski area by Tahoe standards, and while there’s not much going on in the summer months up there, the town of Incline Village, in which Diamond Peak resides, is perhaps the ultimate 4th of July town.
The town had a bit of a snafu with its fireworks barge on Lake Tahoe last year, but the celebration is back on in 2026.
The fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m., and organizers say the show can be viewed in Incline Village, Crystal Bay, and from the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. You should also be able to see the show from Palisades Tahoe if you’re willing to hike up a ways in the dark, but stay safe out there, friends!
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