2024 Guide to Fourth of July in Annapolis

Wednesday July 3

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‍Dinner Under the Stars ✨

What better way to kick off the holiday than with dinner, drinks, and dancing under the twinkle lights of West Street from 6–10 PM? Below is a list of participating Dinner Under the Stars restaurants.

• Luna Blu Ristorante*

• Tsunami Sushi Bar and Lounge

• 49 West Coffeehouse Winebar & Gallery

• Stan and Joe's Saloon

• Rams Head Tavern*

• Picante*

• Level

*Means they take reservations. 

P.S. You can also celebrate Dinner Under the Stars on Saturdays.

Sherwood Forest Fireworks 🎆

This is the Christmas Eve of fireworks. Kick off America’s birthday with the Sherwood Forest/Severn River fireworks on July 3. The show begins shortly after dark, around 9 PM. Start hitting up Sherwood Forest residents to try and view from their gated community, or call your friends with a boat. 

Per tradition, The Watermark is offering its Annapolis Fireworks Cruise from 7:30–10:30 PM. Enjoy complimentary desserts. There will also be a fully-stocked bar of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for sale. Tickets cost: $80 for adults; children under 11 are $40. Book now.

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Thursday July 4

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Annapolis Parade and Fireworks
The evening parade tradition continues. Step off is at 6:30 PM at Amos Garrett Boulevard, proceeding along West Street, around Church Circle, and down Main Street. Following the parade, at 8 PM, the Annapolis Junction Big Band will perform patriotic music at City Dock. The fireworks will begin around 9:15 PM when Annapolis launches its fireworks from a barge in the Annapolis Harbor.

The best places to watch by land:

• City Dock

• The Naval Academy Bridge

• Any street end parks facing the harbor

Want to avoid the crowds? Hop aboard the Watermark for the best seat in town. Adult tickets are slightly pricier on the holiday than July 3 and cost $85. Book a tour from 7:15–9:45 PM or 7:30–10 PM. 

If you’re out of town for the holiday at places like Ocean City or St. Michaels, find more fireworks insights here.

Eastport Parade

Eastport's 4th of July Kids Parade is 10:30 AM–12:30 PM through the Eastport peninsula neighborhood in Annapolis.

Severna Park Parade
This Severna Park native (and current resident) will never let Ryan forget when he wrote: 

“Even though we love Annapolis, it’s undeniable that the Severna Park Fourth of July Parade is the best one around.” 

The annual Independence Day Parade, with the theme Stars and Stripes Forever, will be July 4 

at 10 AM to noon.  

For parade competitors, there will be a $500 prize up for grabs in each category: Best Overall, Best Theme, and Most Patriotic!

Chamber members, communities, clubs, and non-profits can participate in the parade at no charge. There is a $260 entry fee for non-member businesses that can be paid online. Download and complete the Parade Application form and return to info@gspacc.com. Direct any questions to the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce at 410-647-3900 or info@gspacc.com.

West Annapolis Parade
The West Annapolis 4th of July Parade also takes place on the holiday. Step off is 9 AM. The quaint, tight-knit neighborhood’s parade should end around 10 AM. 

Parade goers: We’ll update you once we know the Severna Park and West Annapolis parade routes. Don’t forget to bring water! Despite the morning times, it will still be HOT. 🥵

Helpful Information 

Parking 🅿️

Everything you need to know for the 4th of July when it comes to parking is here. Parking will be available at Hillman, Knighton, Gott’s, and Park Place garages, but note that these are likely to fill up early. 

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The free downtown “Magenta” services all of those garages and takes visitors to downtown (and back). The downtown shuttle will run from 8 AM to midnight. 

The City will have a cooling bus parked outside the Harbormaster’s Office on Dock Street from 4:30–11:30 PM. Additionally, the City will provide free shuttle service from the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Gate 5) to Lawyers Mall from 4:30 PM to midnight. Parking will be $15 per vehicle (credit card only). 

Beginning at 4 PM until about 10:30 PM, parking will be prohibited and violators may be towed from:

• City Dock/Dock Street

• Main Street

• Randall Street

• Market Space

• Both sides of Severn Avenue between First and Burnside Streets

Prince George Street (Craig St to Maryland Ave), East Street(Prince George St to King George St), and Randall Street (Prince George St to King George St) will be posted as “Resident Only Parking” from 2 PM to midnight.

The city will deny vehicular traffic access to the downtown area from 5 PM until approximately 10:30 PM. Road blocks will be set up in these locations too:

• Church Circle and Main Street

• Duke of Gloucester Street at Conduit Street, at Green Street, at St. Mary’s Street, and at Compromise Street 

• Spa Creek Bridge from the Eastport side will close around 5 PM; Spa Creek Bridge from the Duke of Gloucester side will close at about 8 PM. The bridge will reopen at the conclusion of the fireworks display (roughly 10:30 PM).  

Traffic will be allowed to flow down Duke of Gloucester Street from Church Circle and into Eastport via one lane (not into downtown Annapolis) until 9 PM. At that time, the Spa Creek Bridge will be closed and Duke of Gloucester Street will be closed to ensure pedestrian safety and to facilitate the movement of foot traffic leaving the area after the fireworks display.

Boating
The draw span of the Spa Creek Bridge will close to boat traffic from 8:30–11 PM. Due to crowded conditions, boaters are urged to select their viewing area anchorage early and are advised to avoid the 1,000-foot Safety Zone around the fireworks barge. For questions about boat restrictions during the fireworks, contact the City Harbormaster’s Office at 410-263-7973.

What’s Open? What’s Closed?

City of Annapolis offices will be closed on July 4 and July 5 in observation of Independence Day. The Pip Moyer and Stanton Centers, as well as the Anne Arundel County Public Library system

 will be closed July 4. The Truxtun Park pool will be open 11 AM to 5 PM on July 4. Rec and Parks offices will be closed on July 5; the Recreation Center, Stanton Center, and camps will remain open.

Trash and recycling 

Thursday pickups will occur on Friday. Friday pickups will move to Saturday. 

City Transit

Annapolis Transit will NOT operate regular transit on Independence Day but will operate shuttle bus service to and from Navy Stadium and Calvert Street (at Bladen) from 4:30 PM to midnight. 

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