CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — ALBANY

New York State’s July 4 Celebration will be held at Empire State Plaza, Albany, N.Y., Saturday, July 4, from 5 to 10 p.m.

Parking: Grounds open at 4 p.m., and free parking for the general public is available in the visitor and “P” lots under the Empire State Plaza, the Grand Street lot, and the Elk Street lot. Free parking will also be available in the East and Sheridan Hollow garages, but no vehicles will be permitted to park on the roof level of either garage.

DJ Mr CEO will provide music between acts on the main stage.

5:00 p.m.: Performance by Margo Macero Band (main stage)5:30 p.m.: Performance by Averill Park High School Jazz Band (north stage by The Egg)6:15 p.m. :Performance by the Ill Funk Ensemble (main stage)6:20 p.m.: Performance by Albany Rock Pit (north stage)7:30 p.m.: NYS Military/Presentation of Colors and Sponsor Remarks (main stage)8:00 p.m.: Performance by Sugar Ray (main stage)9:15 p.m.: Fireworks9:45 p.m.: Event Ends

OGS implemented an emergency text alert system that the public can use at events to receive notifications specific to the event they are attending. For New York State’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration, the public can text ESPJ4 to 888777 or sign up online here for event alerts.

AMSTERDAM

The City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Tourism, Marketing & Recreation Department presents Independence Day Fest on Friday, July 3rd from 5-10PM at Riverlink Park.

Celebrate the 4th of July on the 3rd, along our beautiful waterfront.

5:00pm Enjoy food and drink specials at River’s Edge 2.0. Food trucks featuring Tony’s Concession, A & S Spice, and Megabites5:00pm Free Kids Foam Party 5:00pm Face Painting with Happy Little Faces6:00pm the Amsterdam’s X-Squad Water Team Show 7:30pm Headliner Big Sky Country9:30PM Fireworks over the Historic Erie Canal

BALLSTON SPA

The Saratoga County 250th Commission invites community members to a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 5:30PM, at the Saratoga County Municipal Complex, located at 40 McMaster Street, Ballston Spa, NY. The ceremony will begin at 5:30PM, with the reading promptly at 6PM. Immediately following the reading, the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment will fire the Saratoga250 Commemorative cannon. McMaster street will be closed to through traffic. Ballston Spa Village Police Department will direct local residential traffic. Parking is available in the county’s Remsen Street and High Street parking lots. In the event of rain, the commemoration will move indoors to the Chamber of the Board of Supervisors room. The County joins communities across the country—and world—in this simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence, as part of a nationwide “Sharing the Spirit of America” initiative created by the Hawai’i 250 Commission. July 8 was chosen for this occasion to mark the very first public reading of the Declaration in Philadelphia on July 8th, 1776. For more information, visit saratoga250.com.

BENNINGTON, Vt.

The 4th of July commemorations begin at the Bennington Battle Monument, where two longrunning ceremonies—the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Bennington Rotary’s bellringing program—will be combined into a single, expanded event. The event starts with music, re-enactor drills, and information tables at 11:00 am. Plan to arrive early and bring your own chair for seating beginning at 11:30 am for the ceremonies. The first program is the reading of the Declaration of Independence which starts at noon, with re-enactors providing a musket salute. This is followed by a special bellringing ceremony using a bell borrowed from the Vermont Veterans Home which will be rung 13 times in honor of the original 13 colonies, and a 14th time in honor of the republic of Vermont. The public will be invited to ring the bell after the ceremony. A final bell ringing will occur at 1:30 pm in conjunction with bells around the town for an additional 14 rings. Bells being rung include the Veterans Home bell at the Monument, the USS Bennington bell at the Town Offices, the Old First Church bell, St. Peters Episcopal Church bell, St. Francis De Sales Church bell, and the First Baptist Church. The public is invited to also ring bells fourteen times at 1:30 pm. At 2:30 PM, the celebration continues at the Bennington Battlefield in Hoosick, NY, where interpreters in period garb will present a living painting of the Declaration of Independence. Free hot dogs will be available. An early arrival is suggested to allow time for parking. Festivities shift to Willow Park at 5:00 PM for America’s Birthday Party, featuring free cake thanks to the VFW Post #1332 and the VFW Auxiliary. There will also be vendors, food trucks, live music by the Fourth Floor and Mojo Birds, and family activities including bouncy houses. The evening concludes with a 9:30 pm fireworks display, with Bennington’s largest-ever fireworks show lighting up the sky to cap off the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Rain date for Fireworks only is July 11.

In addition to the Fourth of July, the 250th anniversary events continue on Wednesday, July 8, the day of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Called ’Sharing the Spirit of America’, the idea emerged from 250th planner Peter Young, of Hawaii. ‘Sharing the Spirit of America’ is focused on having people reading of the Declaration of Independence, each at their own local time that correlates with 6 pm (EDT), Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Each location will be reading the entire Declaration of Independence as a distinct activity; however, they are all part of a broader organized program. Because the readings are all commensurate with 6 pm (EDT), July 8, they are all happening simultaneously; thus, we will all be reading ‘together’. A list of all participating locations around the world is available at: https://hawaiiamerica250.org/reading-locations For Bennington, our location will be at the Bennington Battle Monument. In addition to the reading, there will be a performance by the US Army Band starting at 4 pm. The reading of the declaration will begin promptly at 6 pm.

COLONIE

Colonie Town Supervisor, Peter G. Crummey announces the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Newtonville Park behind Memorial Town Hall (534 New Loudon Road) in Colonie, New York, on July 3, 2026 at 10:30 am. This will mark the Twenty Second Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Supervisor Crummey. The series began in 2005 at the request of the Greater Loudonville Association. This is one of the many events planned for the Colonie 250 Independence Celebration.

The day will begin with a community parade at 9:00 a.m. kicking off on East Ridge Road then will follow along Spring Street and State Route 9, concluding at Memorial Town Hall. The parade will feature local organizations, school groups, first responders, veterans, community leaders, and special guests, showcasing the spirit and heritage that have defined Colonie. The other activities throughout the day will include food vendors, children’s attractions, historical displays, live music performances, and a community gathering designed to bring together generations of residents.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.

The City of Pittsfield announces that there will be no city-sponsored fireworks on display for the 4th of July as the city was unable to secure a vendor who had availability for this year.

Members of the public can still participate in other annual traditions including:

Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade hosted by the Pittsfield Parade Committee; July 4 at 10 a.m., rain or shine in downtown Pittsfield.4th of July 5K race, sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Running Foundation; Race begins at 9 a.m. on July 4, just before the parade.The Berkshire Carousel, located at 50 Center Street, is offering free rides and face painting on July 4 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.4th Annual Pittsfield Parade Car Show, McKay Street Parking Garage; Sunday, July 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

The Firecracker 4 road race is held each Independence Day in downtown Saratoga Springs. Now in its 20th year and supporting more than 2,500 runners and walkers, this event is the largest Fourth of July race in New York. A Sparkler Run for younger kids, a short race of two-tenths of a mile, starts at 8:15 a.m. on Maple Avenue, behind the Saratoga Springs City Center. This event is sponsored by Building on Love and fun run swag will delight the kids! The Firecracker 4 begins at 9:00 a.m. on Broadway in front of the Saratoga Springs City Center. Runners proceed south several blocks, passing many of the city’s historic buildings and Congress Park, and then turn into the city’s East Side neighborhood on this fast and challenging course.

SAUGERTIES

As communities across the nation prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties is inviting residents and visitors to gather for a joyful hometown tradition: cake, community, and the singing of “Happy Birthday USA.” On July 4th at Cantine Field, the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties, led by current President Peg Nau, will host a special birthday cake celebration under the Main Pavilion featuring a three-tiered patriotic cake and ten sheet cakes prepared by The Meltaway Bakery of Saugerties. Together, the cakes are expected to serve approximately 1,300 people. The celebration will take place at the Main Pavilion at Cantine Field, creating a central gathering place where families, friends, and visitors can share not only a slice of cake, but a shared community moment during the nation’s historic semiquincentennial celebration.

WATERFORD

Join us to celebrate Independence Day at the Hurst Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Tugboat Alley, Waterford. Music by Johnny Rabb’s Big Band – 5:30-8:30PM Fireworks at dark. Mariners are advised of a fireworks display from a barge in the Waterford Canal Harbor on Saturday, July 4th, at dusk. A 120-yard fallout radius security zone will be in effect around the fireworks staging barge during the event. Law enforcement will be present to monitor boat traffic.