Durham's July Fourth fireworks follow the Durham Bulls home game at the DBAP. In 2026 the show started about 9:15 p.m. after a sold-out game.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated each year. The 2027 details are not out yet; this page describes the 2026 celebration and will be refreshed when Durham Parks and Recreation and the Durham Bulls announce next summer’s plans.

Durham’s Independence Day fireworks happen at the ballpark. Durham Parks and Recreation and the Durham Bulls present the city’s Independence Day celebration: a Bulls home game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St., followed by a fireworks show over the ballpark.

Who to call

How July 4, 2026, went

The Bulls beat the Gwinnett Stripers 7-2 on the night of Saturday, July 4, before a season-high crowd of 10,184, the team’s game story said. Carson Williams, Jacob Melton and Blake Sabol homered on three straight pitches in the fifth inning. It was hot: the team listed the game-time temperature at 97 degrees, with a heat index of 106.

According to the Triangle on the Cheap listing for the 2026 event:

  • First pitch: 6:45 p.m. Fireworks: about 9:15 p.m.
  • The game sold out, but the fireworks could be seen free from outside the park.
  • Viewing spots outside the ballpark included the grassy area behind Diamond View 3, the area outside the North Deck, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe and Ponysaurus Brewing.
  • Parking was free in the Corcoran Street and Church Street garages; other downtown garages charged $5 or $10 a car.

Planning for 2027

July 4, 2027, falls on a Sunday. Whether the Bulls are home that weekend, and on which night the fireworks run, will be set by the team’s 2027 schedule. Watch the Durham Parks and Recreation special events page, and we will update this page when the date is announced.

Tips that held true in 2026:

  • Buy game tickets early; Independence Day is one of the biggest crowds of the season.
  • Arrive early for a free viewing spot on the American Tobacco Campus.
  • Bring water: the 2026 game-time temperature was 97 degrees.
  • See our getting around page for downtown parking decks and GoDurham buses.

North Carolina law (G.S. 14-410 and 14-414) bans the sale, possession and use of most fireworks without a permit. The law exempts:

  • Sparklers and other hand-held or ground-based sparkling devices that do not explode, spin or fly, within set size limits;
  • Snakes, glow worms and snappers.

Fireworks that explode or fly, such as firecrackers and bottle rockets, are illegal for consumers. The N.C. Office of State Fire Marshal urges families to leave fireworks to the professionals. Its figures:

  • North Carolina emergency departments treat about 192 people a year for fireworks injuries, and roughly 72% of those injuries happen in July.
  • Handheld sparklers burn at 1,200 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The office suggests glow sticks for young children instead.

Ahead of the 2026 holiday, the nation’s 250th birthday, State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor warned that dry conditions and drought across parts of the state raised the fire risk, since a single spark can ignite dry grass, brush or a building. He urged families to attend a community display instead, and to be mindful of neighbors, pets and first responders.

What this means for you

  • The city’s celebration is the Bulls game and the fireworks that follow it.
  • No ticket? Find a spot on the American Tobacco Campus lawn before dark.
  • At home, stick to sparklers and fountains, and keep a bucket of water close.

More: things to do in Durham this month, parks and trails and getting around Durham.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the Fourth of July fireworks in Durham?

Durham’s July Fourth fireworks are set off at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St., after the Bulls’ home game. Durham Parks and Recreation presents the celebration with the team.

What time are the Durham fireworks on July 4?

The show follows the ballgame. In 2026, first pitch was listed for 6:45 p.m. and the fireworks for about 9:15 p.m. This page will carry the 2027 times once they are announced.

Can I watch the Durham Bulls fireworks without a ticket?

Yes. The 2026 game sold out, and listings pointed to free viewing outside the ballpark, including the lawn behind the Diamond View 3 building on the American Tobacco Campus.

Only some. State law allows sparklers, fountains and other ground-based or hand-held sparkling devices that do not explode or fly. Fireworks that explode or fly, such as firecrackers and bottle rockets, are illegal for consumers in North Carolina.