2026 July 4 Fireworks Guide For Bay Shore

BAY SHORE, NY — Fourth of July activities in and around Bay Shore 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 Fourth of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to fireworks and other celebrations in Bay Shore and the surrounding areas.

While a major Bay Shore-specific fireworks show was not listed on local calendars reviewed by Patch, residents will have several nearby options, including Brightwaters’ America 250 celebration, Fire Island festivities, Long Island Ducks postgame fireworks, Suffolk County’s Freedom Fest and the Jones Beach fireworks spectacular.

July 4 Festivities

What: Brightwaters Patriotic House Decorating Contest
When: Wednesday, June 24, through Saturday, July 4
Where: Village of Brightwaters
Details: Brightwaters residents can celebrate the holiday and America’s 250th anniversary by taking part in the village’s patriotic decorating contest.

What: Brightwaters America 250 Family Picnic
When: Friday, July 3, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Gilbert Park, Brightwaters

What: Point O’ Woods Fourth of July Fireworks Display
When: Friday, July 3, 9 to 10 p.m.
Where: Point O’ Woods, Fire Island

What: Long Island Ducks America’s 250th Birthday Fireworks Spectaculars
When: Thursday, July 2; Friday, July 3; and Saturday, July 4
Where: Fairfield Properties Ballpark, 3 Court House Drive, Central Islip

What: Suffolk County Freedom Fest
When: Friday, July 3, 6 p.m.
Where: Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill, Farmingville

What: Ocean Beach Fourth of July Celebration And Children’s Parade
When: Saturday, July 4, 11 a.m. to noon
Where: Ocean Beach, Fire Island

What: Ocean Beach Hot Dog Eating Contest
When: Saturday, July 4, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Bayberry and Bay Walk, Ocean Beach, Fire Island

What: Jones Beach Fireworks Spectacular
When: Saturday, July 4, 9:30 p.m.
Where: Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh

What: FourLeaf Air Show At Jones Beach
When: Sunday, July 5, and Monday, July 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh

What: Alive By The Bay
When: Tuesday, June 30; Tuesday, July 14; Tuesday, July 28; and Tuesday, Aug. 11, 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: Downtown Bay Shore

What: Bay Shore Engine Company Run To The Pump 5K Run/Walk And Fun Run
When: Saturday, July 18; fun run at 8:30 a.m., 5K at 9 a.m.
Where: Walker Beach, Walker Park, Brightwaters

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.

Are you planning an event this summer? Feature it so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!