BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Fourth of July activities in Bridgewater could have extra sparkle in 2026, the 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, of the Declaration of Independence.
The holiday falls on a Saturday in the middle of a three-day weekend, July 3-5. To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to fireworks and other celebrations in Bridgewater and the surrounding areas.
Bridgewater
Somerset County's annual Independence Day fireworks display is returning for 2026 on Friday, July 3, at North Branch Park on Milltown Road in Bridgewater.
The free event will begin with park access at 6 p.m., and the fireworks are set to start at 9:30 p.m.
North Branch Park gates will open early to allow vehicles to enter and give families time to picnic on the grounds before the show.
Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, with heavy car and foot traffic expected as the start time approaches.
Milltown Road is expected to close at about 9 p.m. ahead of the display.
The event will include more than just fireworks.
The NJ 3rd Regiment Revolutionary War encampment will be on-site, giving park visitors an added attraction before nightfall.
Organizers also said food trucks will be available, and people may bring picnic baskets into the park.
Those heading to North Branch Park are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets to use while spending the evening on the grounds.
Alcohol is prohibited, and personal fireworks are not allowed.
Traffic changes are expected to continue after the fireworks end.
Milltown Road will remain closed for 30 minutes to one hour following the show while pedestrians make their way out of the park and through nearby neighborhoods.
Bridgewater Police will assist park staff with traffic flow during that period.
For more information, visit somersetcountyparks.org/north-branch-park/pages/independence-day-fireworks.
Branchburg
Branchburg will be hosting a daylong celebration marking America’s 250th anniversary at White Oak Park on Sunday, July 5.
The event is scheduled from noon to 9 p.m. at the park, 235 Baird Road, and admission is free.
The celebration will include food, music, and community activities, with the event benefiting the Branchburg Fire Department.
Dogs are welcome at the park during the event.
A fireworks show is planned for dusk.
Attendees can also expect 21 gourmet specialty food trucks, local vendors, and an adult beverage bar.
Live entertainment is scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening.
For more information, visit patch.com/new-jersey/bridgewater/branchburg-sets-america-250-celebration-fireworks-white-oak-park.
Franklin
Franklin Township is ringing in America’s 250th anniversary year with its annual Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks on Thursday, July 2 at 6 p.m.
This free event is open to the general public and will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.
This family-friendly celebration will include food trucks, exhibitors from local township businesses, organizations, and children’s activities. Musical performances will be at the gazebo by the Franklin Township Community Band (comprised of Franklin musicians), and the featured band, The New Jersey National Guard 63rd Army Band.
For more information, visit visitsomersetnj.org/event/franklin-township-independence-day-celebrations.
What: Franklin Township's Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks
When: Thursday, July 2, at 6 p.m.
Where: Franklin Township Municipal Complex, 475 Demott Lane, Franklin
Hillsborough
Hillsborough Township will hold its annual Family Fun Day and Fireworks on Saturday, June 27, with this year's event serving as a celebration of the United States' Semiquincentennial.
Locals are invited to Auten Road Intermediate School for an evening of historical tributes, live music, family activities and fireworks.
The festivities are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. with programming focused on the country's roots.
The event will open with a reenactment by local Boy Scout Troop 1776, followed by a performance of "The Rogue’s March" by the West Jersey Artillery’s Fife & Drum brigade.
The entertainment will shift later in the evening, with the Somerville School of Rock set to perform starting at 7 p.m.
During the musical intermission, the New Jersey Harmony Chorus will perform patriotic songs.
The township said the event will also include a commemorative family photo booth marking the 250th anniversary and a Hillsborough Township tent with Semiquincentennial souvenirs.
Inflatable amusements, carnival games, and souvenirs and information from local organizations are also planned.
Food options at the tent are expected to include pizza, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, and kettle corn.
For more information, visit patch.com/new-jersey/hillsborough/hillsborough-mark-americas-250th-family-fun-day-fireworks-2026.
Montgomery
Montgomery Township is celebrating America's Independence Day with picnicking, music, games, and our always amazing fireworks display! Special revolutionary reenactors this 250th year.
The event will be held on Thursday, June 25 on the front lawn of Montgomery High School (1016 Rt 601).
Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with vendors, music, and games/activities for children.
For more information, visit montgomerynj.gov/355/Fireworks.
Celebrations around the country recall not only the events leading up to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, but also look forward and aim to make the 4th of July weekend a massive, multigenerational cultural moment focused on community connections and charitable giving.
America’s Block Party, an unprecedented coast-to-coast initiative, is one of the signature events of America 250, the congressionally chartered nonprofit overseeing the semiquincentennial celebration.
A Times Square Ball Drop, a rolling series of ball drops, timed to occur at midnight on July 3 in every U.S. time zone from Guam to American Samoa, is part of the “Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show,” creating a nearly 24-hour celebration of the 250th anniversary. It’s part of the broader “Giving 4th” initiative that aims to make and establish Independence Day the biggest annual day of giving.
A time capsule will be buried in Philadelphia to be opened in 2276 on July 4. It contains a carefully curated collection of letters and artifacts reflecting the leadership, institutions, and communities that shape the country today. It will include contributions from all three branches of the U.S. federal government and submissions from each of the 50 states, Washington D.C., and five territories.
Separately, the White House’s Freedom 250’s biggest spectacles are the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, running June 25 to July 10; the July 4 Salute to America Fireworks, also on the National Mall; “Sail 4th 250,” billed as the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world in New York Harbor; and Rushmore 250, an iconic 4th of July fireworks on July 3 alongside military concerts and live presidential reenactors.
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