July 4th Fireworks 2023 Around Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — Independence Day is quickly approaching, which means it's time to fire up that barbecue and find out what Fourth of July fireworks and festivities are going on in and around Columbia for 2023.

We gathered up some of the fireworks shows, parades and festivals happening in Columbia and surrounding areas so you can start planning now.

Here's what's in store this July 4 in and around Columbia and Howard County:

Annual Independence Day Fireworks at the Lakefront at Columbia

Howard County and the Columbia Association will co-host the annual July 4th fireworks at the Lakefront at Columbia starting around 9:20 p.m. July 4.

Free public parking for this event at Lake Kittamaqundi will be located at:

• The Mall in Columbia
• One and Two Merriweather Garage – 10970 Grantchester Way (free on July 4)
• Symphony Woods garage, 6275 Mango Tree Road (free on July 4)
• Sterrett Place North *limited*

There will not be any parking at the Lakefront. The Whole Foods parking lots will be closed at 6 p.m. and will reopen at approximately 11 p.m. Parking on the Wincopin top deck or garage below will be reserved for event staff and will require a permit for access.

Howard County Police Department will be closing both directions of Little Patuxent Parkway between Symphony Woods Road and Governor Warfield Parkway from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastbound Little Patuxent Parkway between Broken Land Parkway and Symphony Woods Road will be closed from about 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Traffic delays can also be expected as a result of these closures and increase vehicular and pedestrian traffic for the July 4th fireworks celebration.

The Columbia Association in conjunction with the Columbia Festival of the Arts will be hosting two live music bands on the Lakefront stage. There also will be food trucks and vendors at the lake.

The following food trucks will be on hand at the event:

• Tasty Treats – ice cream & hot dogs
• Tasty Treats – chicken fingers and French fries
• Pacha Mama
• Blowfish Poke
• Kona Ice
• Malik’s Ice Cream
• Althea’s Almost Famous
• Hardy’s BBQ

Live entertainment will include:

• Holly Montgomery, 6 to 7:15 p.m.
• Sugaray Rayford, 7:30 to 9 p.m.

July 4th at the Chrysalis

A free concert hosted by the Inner Arbor Trust will be held at the Chrysalis July 4 starting at 11:30 a.m. with performances by Nelly's Echo, Sherwin Thwaites and Damon Foreman & the Blue Funk. Food trucks will be on hand including Blowfish Poke, Mochi Mochi and Bullhead Pit Beef.

The Chrysalis is located at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods, 10431 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia.