Fourth of July activities in Edison, Metuchen 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 Edison, Metuchen and the surrounding areas.
July 4 Festivities
What: Edison 4th of July celebration
When: Saturday, July 4, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Papaianni Park, 100 Municipal Blvd.
Edison Township will mark the nation's 250th birthday with a Fourth of July celebration which will feature live music, and a fireworks display. Due to extreme temperatures there will be no food trucks, and a kids zone.
What: East Brunswick's Annual 4th of July Celebration
When: Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m. onwards
Where: Community Arts Center
East Brunswick will host its Fourth of July celebration July 4 at the Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, beginning at 6 p.m. The evening features live music from Epic Soul, more than 20 food trucks, family entertainment and giveaways, and an "America 250 Tribute March" honoring local veterans, scouts, emergency services and community organizations. The East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra will accompany what organizers are billing as the township's biggest fireworks show yet. The rain date is July 5.
What: 4th of July Fireworks Show
When: Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m. onwards
Where: Kenny Armwood Stadium, Piscataway High School
Celebrate Independence Day with food trucks, DJ, activities and fireworks. Rain date is July 5.
What: Milltown 4th of July
When: July 4, 6 a.m. onwards
Where: Milltown, NJ
On July 4th, 2026, Milltown will once again be home to the fishing derby, 5k race, awesome parade, duck race, pizza eating contest, patriotic house contest, bike contest, & music of all kinds! All this and more to celebrate 250 years
of American Independence.
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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