Raleigh's 2026 July 4 fireworks lit up Dix Park's Big Field at 9:30 p.m., with shuttles from downtown. Updated each year when the city posts 2027 plans.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated each year. The 2027 details are not out yet, so this page describes the 2026 celebration from the City of Raleigh and Dix Park; check back in June for next year’s plans.

Raleigh’s official Fourth of July fireworks were at Dorothea Dix Park in 2026, on the Big Field, as the city marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The City of Raleigh and ABC11/WTVD-TV presented the free event on Saturday, July 4, from 6 to 10 p.m., with the fireworks at 9:30 p.m., according to the Dix Park event page.

Who to call

  • Dix Park: 919-996-3255, info@dixpark.org; 1030 Richardson Drive
  • Event updates on the day (2026): text RALEIGH250 to 888777 for traffic, weather and safety alerts
  • Fire or injury from fireworks: 911

What happened in 2026

  • Gates: 6 p.m., with a live DJ, music, lawn games, a craft station, food and a market, according to the city.
  • Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. over the Big Field.
  • Getting there: the city encouraged shuttles from downtown Raleigh; parking was limited.
  • Park closures: the Big Field was closed from Wednesday, July 1, to Monday, July 6. On July 4, all park entrances were closed to vehicles all day, and the dog park, the Stone Houses Visitor Center, the Sunflower Field and Flowers Field were closed, according to Dix Park.

What to expect in 2027

July 4, 2027, is a Sunday. The city has not announced its plans. This page will carry the location, times, shuttle stops and road closures as soon as the city posts them.

Fireworks at home: the law

North Carolina allows only a narrow set of consumer fireworks: sparklers and hand-held or ground-based sparkling devices that do not explode, spin or leave the ground, under the state’s pyrotechnics law. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and other aerial fireworks need a permit. The N.C. Office of State Fire Marshal urges people to leave fireworks to the professionals. Over the 2026 holiday the office counted 27 fireworks-related incidents statewide, three deaths and more than $4.3 million in damage, according to its July 13 report.

What this means for you

  • Plan on the shuttle, not the car: Dix Park closes to vehicles on July 4.
  • Sign up for the city’s text alerts on the day for traffic and weather.
  • Leave aerial fireworks to the city’s show; they are illegal at home without a permit.

More: parks and trails in Raleigh and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the fireworks in Raleigh on the Fourth of July?

In 2026 the city’s fireworks were at Dorothea Dix Park’s Big Field on Saturday, July 4. The event ran from 6 to 10 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Is there parking for the Raleigh fireworks at Dix Park?

Parking was limited, and the city encouraged people to take its shuttles from downtown Raleigh. Dix Park closed all vehicle entrances on July 4.

Only some. North Carolina allows sparklers and ground-based sparkling devices that do not explode, spin or fly. Firecrackers, bottle rockets and aerial fireworks need a permit.

When will the 2027 Raleigh fireworks be announced?

This page is updated each year as soon as the City of Raleigh and Dix Park publish the next year’s plans.