Fireworks Near Me: July 4th Events Around Hillsborough For 2026

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Fourth of July activities in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough and the surrounding areas.

July 4 Festivities

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.

• What: Branchburg's Day-Long America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration
• When: Sunday, July 5 from noon to 9 p.m.
• Where: White Oak Park, 235 Baird Road, Branchburg

Franklin

Franklin Township's Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks will be held on Friday, July 10 at the Franklin Township Municipal Complex at 475 DeMott Lane.

From 6 to 9 p.m., there will be food and fun followed by fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

• What: Franklin Township's Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks
• When: Friday, July 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
• Where: Franklin Township Municipal Complex at 475 DeMott Lane

Bridgewater

Somerset County's annual Independence Day fireworks display is returning for 2026 on Friday, July 17, at North Branch Park on Milltown Road in Bridgewater.

The event was initially set for Friday, July 3. It is now moved to Friday, July 17, due to excessive heat.

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.

• What: Somerset County's annual Independence Day fireworks display
• When: Friday, July 17 at 6 p.m.
• Where: North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater

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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