The best small town July 4th celebrations around D.C.

Looking for July Fourth fun? We've got a great list of small towns you can visit for fireworks, parades, and nostalgic festivities.

Why it matters: D.C. crowds can be a lot, plus many of these family-friendly celebrations are free and full of local flavor.

🥧 The intrigue: You don't have to leave the big city for a small-town experience. The annual July 4th Palisades Parade , now in its 58th year, makes for a nostalgic celebration starting with a hoedown in Palisades Park on July 3 filled with free ice cream, pie, and live music.

• The parade starts at 11 am on July 4 — kids, classic cars, dance troupes, and local politicians galore. It's followed by a picnic (hot dogs! dunk tanks!) in the park, and everyone is welcome.

Get out of town:

🦀 Annapolis: The capital city about an hour from D.C. isn't tiny, but there's plenty of small-town, historic charm — especially around July 4th with multiple days of festivities planned, including an arts festival, parade, and fireworks over Annapolis Harbor.

• Drive time from D.C.: 1 hour

⛵ Eastern Shore: If you're willing to travel a bit further across the Bay Bridge , historic Eastern Shore towns St. Michaels, Oxford, and Easton — all within a short 15-30ish minute drive from each other — are throwing parades, fireworks, and other events on and around July 4th so you can make a weekend of it (here's the full lineup ).

• Most festivities are free, but tickets ($12) are required for the Big Band Night (July 6) at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
• Drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes

🎇 Sperryville: Rappahannock County's annual July 4th celebration , held at 1800s Ben Venue Farm , offers a glimpse of history alongside celebrations that include live bluegrass, antique tractor displays, activities for kids, food, and fireworks. Tickets ($30 per vehicle) benefit the volunteer fire department.

• If you're making it a Shenandoah weekend, there's a free " Celebrate America " concert in nearby Washington, Virginia, on July 6 with big-deal musicians including the former conductor of the U.S. Marine Band.
• Drive time: 1 hour 25 minutes

🎶 Downtown Manassas: The historic city center offers one of the best fireworks displays in Northern Virginia, and throws a family-friendly party starting at 3pm with rides and face painting for kids, street vendors, and live music.

• There's also a ticketed rooftop viewing party nearby ($50 for adults, $25 for kids 10 and under).
• Drive time: 50 minutes

👻 Shepherdstown : One of the oldest towns in West Virginia is among its most charming (and haunted !). On July 4th, locals get in the spirit with an 11am parade followed by a picnic with family activities and live music.

• Staying over? July 5th marks the start of the annual Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University, featuring American playwrights and ranked among the best in the country.
• Drive time: 1 hour 40 minutes

🍺 Frederick: Though it's more of a small city in Maryland, Frederick has tons of rural-town charm thanks to its wealth of breweries, wineries, and mountain views. The July 4th celebrations are just as robust, featuring live music, kid's rides and bounce houses, tons of food and drink vendors, and a fireworks display.

• Drive time: 1 hour 15 minutes