It’s time to make plans to celebrate the Fourth of July, which this year is a historic milestone.
July 4, 2026, will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress.
Fly the Stars and Stripes, invite friends and family for a picnic or a cook-out and enjoy the time together.
The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District plans to fly its oversized flag on the spillway for a couple of weeks. “People like seeing it,” said Adam Choate, executive director of the district.
Festivities in the metro area will start the weekend of June 26 and continue during the next weekend.
One can celebrate, for example, by getting a good look at hot air balloons up close in Ridgeland, enjoying a slice of watermelon after the Watermelon Classic 5k walk/run, visiting one of the museums that will be open, listening to some patriotic music or watching fireworks.
Kick off the fun by attending the Celebrate America Balloon Glow, which will feature hot air balloons from the Mississippi Championship Balloon Festival, live music and fun for children, on June 26 at Northpark in Ridgeland. The event is free.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 people turn out for the annual event, said Kim Cooper, director of public relations for the city of Ridgeland.
The event offers the opportunity to get a ground-level view of the hot air balloons. Children can enjoy the activities that are part of the Kid’s Corner from 5-8 p.m.
Luckenbach, a Willie Nelson Tribute Band that is headlined by George Birge, will provide entertainment. The fireworks show will begin at 9:15 p.m., with Temperance Babcock providing patriotic music to accompany it.
Get outdoors and participate in the 13th annual Dash ‘n Splash 5k, benefiting the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi, on June 27 at Old Trace Park in Ridgeland. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and participants may run or walk. For more information, visit msbraininjury.org.
The Barnett Reservoir Foundation has scheduled its 15th Independence Celebration, featuring a dual fireworks show and music, on June 27 at Old Trace Park and Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore. Co‐hosted by the foundation and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, the event is free with gates to the parks opening at 5 p.m.
Music will begin at both parks at 6 p.m. after the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. “It’s America’s 250th birthday, so we’re extra excited to be able to put this on at the Rez this year,” said Mark Williams, president of the foundation.
Each park will have kid zones as well as food trucks and beverage vendors. No outside food, beverages, tents or coolers will be allowed. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. from the end of Red Dot Road near Old Trace Park and from a barge floating off Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore.
Choate estimates the event will draw a total of 6,500 people, including the two parks.
The city of Jackson Parks and Recreation Division has scheduled “Jackson’s Fireworks Extravaganza” on July 1 at Smith-Wills Stadium.
The gates will open at 5 p.m. An adult must accompany anyone 18 or younger.
A kids zone with water slides, face painting, games and space jumps will be offered from 5-7 p.m. and entertainment from 7-8:45 p.m. Food vendors will be on site. Fireworks are planned at nightfall.
Get ready to run or walk and start the Fourth of July at the Farm Bureau Watermelon Classic, a benefit for the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The annual event, which is celebrating 30 years, raises funds for the museum that preserves and promotes the state’s sports heritage. True to its name, watermelon is served to its participants.
Race day events will include a 5k run, 5k walk and a one-mile fun run and will begin on Lakeland Drive in front of the Ag Museum and finish in the parking lot in front of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
Registration fees increase after June 29. Registration closes on July 3 at 5 p.m. There will be no registration on game day
Strawberry Patch Park on St. Augustine Drive will host the city of Madison’s Fourth of July celebration on July 4 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The event will include the Presentation of the Colors, live music, storytelling in the chapel, old-fashioned games as well as cake, ice cream, hot dogs, watermelon and lemonade.
On hand will be performers dressed as Betsy Ross, George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Patrick Henry and Continental Congress soldiers.
Vintage airplanes will be on view at the Commemorative Air Force Hangar at Bruce Campbell Airport in Madison.
In Gluckstadt, the Gluckstadt Rotary Club will host the second annual Fourth Fest from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the lot next to the Police Department at 140 Gluckstadt Way.
The event will include inflatables and fun for youngsters, a car show, swag bags, live music and food trucks.
Visit the Mississippi Children’s Museum from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on July 4 and celebrate America’s 250th birthday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in a memorable way. Activities will include interaction with costumed characters from the Daughters of the American Revolution from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.; a fife and drum parade at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; patriotic craft stations, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.; confetti and cupcakes at noon; and Popsicles on the plaza at 1 p.m.
Admittance to the childen’s museum requires purchasing a general admission ticket ($13). Anyone age one year-old or older must pay the museum’s $13 admission or be covered by a museum membership.
The children’s playground at LeFleur’s Bluff will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on July 4, but the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will be closed.
The Mississippi Museum of Art will offer free admission to exhibitions and drop-in artmaking from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and a free guided tour at 2 p.m. on July 4. The first Saturday of every month offers free admission as part of Access for All, made possible by the Art Bridges Foundation.
The Levitt AMP Downtown Jackson Music Series will present “Stars, Stripes & Symphony,” a free patriotic concert and fireworks extravaganza on July 4 from 5-9 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums’ Entergy Plaza.
A concert of patriotic music by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will begin at 7:30 p.m. and feature a historical narration of Mississippi’s place in American history by MPB’s Germaine Flood as well as a vocal performance by Mississippi Opera executive director John Christopher Adams.
The celebration will also include Native American craft demonstrations and dance by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Free educational activities and coloring books for children will be provided by the Mississippi Library Commission and the Mississippi Department of Archives & History.
There will be free admission from 5-6 p.m. to the Two Mississippi Museums including, “Mississippi Made,” a special exhibit at the Two Mississippi Museums presented in celebration of America 250.
Objects on display include a 19th century cotton spin-ginner used on small plantations, Elvis Presley’s bathrobe, Eudora Welty’s typewriter, a gown worn by Miss America Mary Ann Moble, set pieces from the movie“A Time to Kill, that was filmed in Canton, a NASA flight jacket worn by astronaut Richard Truly and vehicles manufactured by Toyota and Nissan in Mississippi.
And fForget about doing business on July 3. Federal, state, city and county offices will be closed on July 3 in observance of Independence Day.
