2026 July 4 Fireworks Guide For Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Fourth of July in Middletown has extra sparkle this year, as 2026 is the 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, of the signing 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 rounded up all the fireworks, parades and other celebrations in Middletown and the surrounding areas.

Sunday, June 28 in Middletown:

Patriotic parade in Middletown, followed by a festival in Mater Dei Park. The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m. from the front of the Middletown Arts Center. The parade will turn right onto Kings Highway and then march down New Monmouth Road, ending at Mater Dei Park. Here is a map of the parade route for Sunday: monmouthnj250.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Monmouth-County-250-Parade-Route-Map-updated-May-31-2026.pdf

Following the parade, continue the celebration with a FREE family festival at Mater Dei Park (23 Cherry Tree Farm Road). Enjoy live entertainment, rides and attractions for all ages, food trucks and lots more.

July 2 on the Perth Amboy waterfront: Perth Amboy will have fireworks and 250 drones in a drone show over Raritan Bay. Festival starts at 6 p.m. on Sadowski Parkway. Fireworks go off when it gets dark. It is expected to draw thousands of people. Get more info. here.

Highlands, July 3: Tall ships will be docked off Sandy Hook on July 3. Get more info. on how to see them here: All The Info. On NYC's Tall Ship Parade July 3-8

Free viewing of fireworks over the Navesink River July 3: Family fireworks on the Navesink returns this summer. Hosted by the DiPiero Family, the fireworks display will take place on Thursday, July 3, at the family's home. It's a private party that raises money for Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center, but public spectators can enjoy the show from various locations along the river, or by boat near the Oceanic Bridge. Fireworks usually go off around 9:15 p.m. July 3.

Keansburg, July 4: There will be a large fireworks display on July 4, when it gets dark, at Baywalk East over the Raritan Bay.

Pier Village, July 4: Long Branch will host its annual Independence Day firework spectacular on Saturday, July 4, 2026, as part of Oceanfest, the state’s largest Fourth of July celebration. The festival starts at 1 p.m.; stroll the shops and boardwalk and then fireworks go off over the ocean when it gets dark, usually around 9 p.m.

It's great to see from the beach, and the Great Lawn & Promenade, 10 Ocean Ave N, Long Branch, NJ 07740

Middletown, July 5: 6:00-10:00 p.m. Sunday, July 5 at Bayshore Waterfront Park (719 Port Monmouth Road, Port Monmouth) for an evening of family-friendly fun as they celebrate America's 250th birthday. Enjoy food trucks, beach volleyball, cornhole, arts and crafts, bounce houses, a Declaration of Independence signing area, tours of the historic Seabrook-Wilson House, and a spectacular patriotic drone show to cap off the evening!

Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch the drone show on the beach; the drone show goes off when the sun does down. While it's entirely free to attend, the town is asking people to sign up here just so they have an idea of the crowd size that will be expected: app.seemylegacy.com/community/643/campaign/9515/overview

Have a safe and joyous July 4th!