Southern Maryland residents will have several opportunities to celebrate Independence Day weekend with fireworks displays, community events, live entertainment, food vendors and family activities across the region.
Several displays are scheduled for Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, 2026, with events planned in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties, along with nearby Colonial Beach, Virginia.
Friday, July 3
St. Mary’s Freedom Fest will be held at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown. The event begins at 5 p.m. and includes music, entertainment, food, craft vendors, children’s activities and a fireworks display after dark. Admission and parking are free, though officials note parking will be limited and carpooling is encouraged.
In Calvert County, the Town of Chesapeake Beach Independence Day Celebration will take place Friday evening. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m., with fireworks scheduled at dusk, approximately 9 p.m. The fireworks will be launched from barges in the Chesapeake Bay near Veterans’ Memorial Park, with viewing available throughout the town, including the Kellam’s Field Complex.
Colonial Beach, Virginia, will also hold its Independence Day fireworks display on Friday, July 3, over the Potomac River. The display is expected just after dark, around 9 p.m., and can be viewed from the boardwalk and public beach areas.
Saturday, July 4
The Solomons Island Fourth of July celebration will take place on Saturday, July 4, with fireworks planned as part of the community’s America250 celebration. The Solomons event is expected to draw large crowds to the waterfront and surrounding viewing areas along the Patuxent River.
In Charles County, the Charles County Fair Board will host its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular at the Charles County Fairgrounds in La Plata on Saturday. The fireworks display is being presented as a thank-you to the community for its support of the Charles County Fair.
Another Charles County celebration, A Fun-Filled 4th, is scheduled at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. The event is expected to include family activities, entertainment, food vendors and patriotic programming.
Residents planning to attend any of the fireworks displays are encouraged to arrive early, expect heavy traffic near event sites and check official event pages for updates related to parking, road closures, weather delays or cancellations.
Anyone attending waterfront displays should also use caution around shoreline areas, private property and boat traffic. Local officials typically remind residents that fireworks schedules may change due to weather or public safety conditions.
The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 112 expected.
- Friday – Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 112. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Friday Night – Mostly clear, with a low around 80. South wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
- Independence Day – A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday Night – A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Sunday – A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Sunday Night – A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
