Fourth of July Fireworks on the Delmarva Peninsula Eastern Shore in Maryland

This coming weekend brings on one of the biggest celebrations in America - Independence Day, also known as the 4^th of July. Independence Day in America is celebrated with cookouts, parades, picnics, baseball, concerts, and, of course, lots and lots of fireworks!

Fireworks have long been an American tradition when celebrating the 4^th of July; even John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail in July of the first Independence Day celebration that 'Illuminations [would light up the sky] from one end of this continent to the other' for all of time.

Independence Day is, of course, the day we as American's celebrate our freedom from Colonial rule by the British. The legal separation began on July 2, 1776 even though the date on the Declaration of Independence is July 4, 1776 which is the day we celebrate Independence Day.

Fourth of July Fun Fact:from Wikipedia entry on American Independence Day
Some of the signatures on the Declaration of Independence were not obtained until August of that same year.

Two of my favorite Fourth of July Fireworks displays on the Eastern Shore, Delmarva Peninsula are the ones off the inlet in Ocean City, MD and the ones set off at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, MD (usually following a Delmarva Shorebirds game). But I have provided the following list of Delmarva Peninsula, Eastern Shore area Fireworks in case either of those are too far (or too crowded) for you to enjoy!

Fourth Of July Fireworks Displays On The Eastern Shore Delmarva Peninsula

Maryland's Eastern Shore

• Cambridge: Sunday, July 4, at nightfall, near Great Marsh Park

• Chestertown: Sunday, July 4 at dusk, at the waterfront

• Crisfield: Sunday, July 4at 9 p.m., Somers Cove Marina

• Easton: Sunday, July 4 at dusk, Marlboro Road, behind the Target store

• Elkton: Sunday, July 4 at dusk, Meadow Park, Delaware Avenue

• Hebron: Saturday, July 3 at dusk, on the carnival grounds next to the fire house

• Ocean City: Sunday, July 4 at 9 p.m. at two locations. Location one: Northside Park, 124th Bayside; Location two: Downtown, North Division Street and the beach

• Ocean Pines: Sunday, July 4 at 9 p.m., Showell Park

• Oxford: Saturday, July 3, fireworks at dusk

• Rock Hall: Saturday, July 3 at 9 p.m., Rock Hall Harbor; Rain date is Sunday, July 4

• St. Michaels: Saturday, July 3 at dusk, at the Miles River Yacht Club

• Salisbury: Sunday, July 4 and Monday, July 5 at the Shorebirds Stadium. Fireworks follow games which start at 6:05 p.m. Admission by ticket.

• Snow Hill: Friday, July 2 at dusk, at Sturgis Park on River Street. Rain date is Saturday, July 3 at dusk.

Delaware

• Bethany Beach: Sunday, July 4 at dusk

• Dover: Sunday, July 4 at 9:20 p.m., First State Heritage Park

• Harrington: Thursday, July 1, after the last race at the Harrington Raceway & Casino

• Laurel: Saturday, July 3 at dusk, downtown

• Rehoboth Beach: Sunday, July 4 at 9:15 p.m., fireworks to be launched from the beach and seen from the foot of Rehoboth Avenue and all up and down the Boardwalk and shoreline.

• Smyrna/Clayton: A variety of Independence Day events are planned for Monday, July 5. Parade starts at 9:30 a.m. in Smyrna. After the parade, festivities and carnival will be held at the Smyrna Municipal Park. There will be vendors, booths, games, music and contests, including a baby contest. Trophies from the parade will be awarded at 1 p.m. The festivities run until about 3 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk, across from Smyrna High School.

Virginia'sEastern Shore

• Cape Charles: Sunday, July 4 at dusk, off of the Cape Charles beach.

• Chincoteague: Saturday, July 3, Old-Fashioned Fireworks Display At Carnival Grounds, 10 p.m.

Our American love of fireworks is one that lights up the entire American sky and can be heard and seen for miles.

Fourth of July Fun Fact: (from 4^th of July Fun Facts)
$128.8 millionis the value of fireworks imported from China, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imports ($135.6 million) in 2002. U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, amounted to $13.5 million, with Germany purchasing more than any other single country ($5.0 million).

If you are interested in learning more about how Fireworks work, click here for a video that shows How Fireworks Work.

Sources:

WBOC-TV 16, Delmarva's News Leader
Fourth of July Fireworks Across Delmarva
http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3541102

Wikipedia
Independence Day (United States)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

MSNBC
Best Fourth of July Fireworks
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25336196/