Richmond’s 4th of July Fireworks & Celebrations + Free Admission at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Planning to watch fireworks on July 4th? You’ve got plenty of opportunities to see them, both on the 4th & more. Here are a few options around Richmond:

• All-American Celebration at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Free admission to the botanical garden? Yes, please. On Wednesday, July 4, you’ll get in free all day, and there are extras, too. Happy Lucky Combo will perform live music in the Children’s Garden from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., and you can use the Garden’s supplies to decorate your wagons and strollers for the parade, which steps off at 2:00 p.m. Bonus deal: If you purchase a membership that day, you’ll get an extra month free. Don’t forget the swimsuits; my kids love the water play area.
• An Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration will take place from 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park. The free festivities include live music, tethered hot-air balloon rides, arts and crafts, face painting, a petting zoo for children, contests and games, and pony rides. Plus, there’s a watermelon feast, Uncle Sam on stilts, Jonathan Austin the juggler, a patriotic performance featuring a historic color guard, drum and fife music, and a period musket salute by Living History Associates. Tours of Meadow Farm Museum and the Orientation Center exhibits will be available free of charge.
• A Fourth of July Celebration & Parade will take place in Ashland. The nonmotorized parade, featuring bicycles, basset hounds, a lawn chair brigade, & more, steps off at 11:00 a.m. and follows Hanover Avenue toward the Center, located at 500 S. Center St., Ashland. After the parade, stick around for a patriotic concert, children’s games, an Apple Pie Contest, a Patriotic Pets costume contest, & more.
• 29th Annual Celebrate Freedom Independence Day Concert. Tuesday, July 3. The concert, featuring Heritage of America Band, begins at 6:30 p.m. at Genworth Financial’s World Headquarters, located at 6620 West Broad Street, Richmond, and the fireworks display will begin immediately following the concert. There’ll also be face painting, balloons, giveaways, & more, as well as free parking.
• Racing to the Stars n’ Stripes at Colonial Downs. Wednesday, July 4. Horse racing starts at 5:00 p.m., followed by live music and fireworks. The post-fireworks party features magician Jonathan Austin, free ice cream, free tram rides, 100-yard dash foot races on the track, & more.
• RVA Fireworks On The James. Tuesday, July 3. Brown’s Island. Entertainment starts at 7:30 p.m. and includes performances by SPARC (School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Ballet’s “Minds in Motion.” The fireworks display should begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. Rain date: July 5.
• Fireworks at The Diamond. Following the July 4, 5, & 6 games vs. the Mets. You can save a bit, too: With the “Score ‘A’ Free Ticket” program, your kids’ “A”s on 3rd- & 4th-quarter report cards = free general-admission tickets. Each “A” on your report card is good for one ticket per game: eight “A”s = eight general-admission tickets to eight different games. Bring the report card to the box office to get the deal. The free tickets are good for the student only. Don’t want to go to the game? You can see the fireworks displays from the streets of Northside. Or you can watch them while celebrating Brewdependence Day at Hardywood, featuring live music by People’s Blues of Richmond & more.
• Fireworks at Dogwood Dell. Wednesday, July 4. This was my mother’s 4th of July celebration of choice when I was little. The free entertainment begins at with a performance by Susan Greenbaum at 5:30 p.m., a Carillon Bell concert at 7:00 p.m., and the Richmond Concert Band performance at 7:30 p.m. And, and of course, a fireworks displays caps off the evening. (I’ve been spoiled forever, as no fireworks display feels “right” to me without the 1812 Overture + the Carillon bells).
• Fourth at the Fort . Wednesday, July 4. Williams Stadium at Fort Lee. Gates open at 2:00 p.m. There’ll be fireworks as well as live entertainment will be provided by the 392nd Army Rock Band and Justin Moore. Tickets for KidZone activities are $1 each. Admission & parking are free. FYI–be ready to show a driver’s license, vehicle registration & proof of insurance to access Fort Lee. All adult passengers in the vehicle should be prepared to show ID.
• The Colonial Heights fireworks display . Wednesday, July 4. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. in the vicinity of Charles Dimmock Parkway. Viewing will be off I-95, exits 53 or 54, in the Southgate Square/Wal-Mart area. Rain date: July 5.
• Chesterfield County’s Fourth of July Celebration. Wednesday, July 4. Chesterfield County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the fireworks display will begin at dark. FYI–roads leading to the fairgrounds will close at either 9:00 p.m. or whenever parking lots are full. Rain date: July 5.
• Goochland County Fireworks. Wednesday, July 4. Goochland County Sports Complex. Fireworks start at 9:00 p.m. Rain date: July 5.
• Fireworks at Kings Dominion. On July 4, there will be a 15-minute fireworks display. And July 3 & 4 are Military Days, all active, inactive and retired military personnel with ID can get one free admission. Plus, there’s a $15 all-you-can-eat Armed Forces Meal Deal from noon-3:00 p.m. both days.
• IllumiNights at Busch Gardens. During IllumiNights, which runs nightly through August 19, 2012, fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

–Jennifer Maciejewski

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