Fireworks Near Me: Marblehead July 4th 2025 Events

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Independence Day falls on a Friday in 2025, kicking off a star-spangled three-day weekend packed with fireworks, festivals and other Fourth of July fun in and around Marblehead.

To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to what’s going on in Marblehead and the surrounding areas.

July 4 Festivities For 2025

What: Marblehead Fireworks & Harbor Illumination
Where: Marblehead Harbor
When: 9 p.m.

An evening to celebrate Independence Day 2025 with families and friends. Enjoy the beauty of the "Ring of Fire" created by the harbor illumination and see and vibrant and exciting fireworks show.

Beginning at 7 p.m., several closures will take place to accommodate heavy pedestrian traffic:

• Front Street is closed to all traffic and “No Parking” between Franklin Street and Fort Sewall Lane.
• Franklin Street becomes one-way from Front Street to Washington Street.
• Washington Street becomes one-way from Franklin Street to State Street.
• The Causeway does NOT get closed absent an emergency before, during or after the fireworks.

After the Fireworks:

• Traffic leaving the beach parking lots will merge with traffic leaving the neck and be allowed only a right or left-hand turn at the intersection of Ocean and Atlantic Avenues.
• Front Street is closed at State Street to allow for pedestrian traffic along Front Street coming from Fort Sewall.
• State Street becomes one-way from Front Street to Washington Street.
• All traffic from the area between State Street and Franklin Street, as well as Pond Street, will be directed along Mugford Street and Green Street to West Shore Drive. (Note that the MBTA route between the hours of 6-11 p.m. will follow the pre-designated snow route.)

What: Marblehead Horribles Parade
Where: Pleasant Street
When: 9 a.m.

Beginning at 9 a.m., Pleasant Street will be closed between Spring Street and Washington Street (South), and Spring Street will become one-way from Pleasant Street to Sewall Street. Essex Street will be closed in its entirety during the staging and movement of the parade.

What: Marblehead Festival of Arts Street Festival
Where: Washington Street
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Washington Street is closed between Rockaway Street and Darling Street
• Both Rockaway and Darling Streets will remain open to traffic.
• Hooper Street is closed between Tucker Street and Washington Street.
• Mason Street is closed between Tucker Street and Washington Street
• “No Parking” will be in effect along Washington Street between Rockaway Street and Darling Street from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Violators will be subject to towing.

Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. In that document, the 13 original colonies declared their independence from Great Britain.

During the pivotal summer of 1776, the pre-Revolutionary celebrations honoring King George III’s birthday were replaced with mock funerals as a symbolic break from the crown.

It was an exciting time in Philadelphia — the Continental Congress voted to break from the crown and, two days later on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies —New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland. Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia — to adopt the Declaration of Independence.

The first annual commemoration of the nation’s independence was in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, while the Revolutionary War was ongoing. Fireworks have been part of Fourth of July festivities since the first celebration in Philadelphia.

Today, Americans celebrate with fireworks, parades, concerts, and family gatherings and barbecues. Celebrations, though, predate by centuries the designation of Independence Day as a federal holiday, which didn’t happen until 1941.