March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

Annapolis Independence Day Celebration

WHAT: Annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks

WHEN: Monday, July 4

WHERE: Downtown Annapolis, Annapolis harbor and the surrounding Annapolis area

EVENTS SCHEDULE

Independence Day Parade: 6:30 p.m. SHARP. The parade will proceed into downtown, beginning on Amos Garrett Boulevard and then right on West Street, around Church Circle, down Main Street, left on Randall Street and disbanding near the Market House.  Strict security measures are in place for parade participants. Contact Recreation and Parks Office (410-263-7958) or Special Events Office (410-263-7996) about parade participation.

Band Concert: 8 p.m. The U.S. Naval Academy Band will perform at Susan Campbell Park at City Dock. (In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be cancelled.)

Fireworks: At approximately 9:15 p.m., the fireworks will be launched from the What’s Up Annapolis Fireworks Barge in the Annapolis Harbor. (In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks show may start as early as 9 p.m. or as late as 9:30 p.m. Should inclement weather compromise the entire evening, the show may be postponed until Tuesday, July 5.)

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION

Special parking and transportation arrangements as well as parking and traffic restrictions will be in place to expedite the movement of an expected crowd of as many as 50,000 people.

Available parking and shuttle service: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium off Rowe Boulevard is available to visitors beginning at 3 p.m. Annapolis Transit will ferry visitors between the stadium and downtown at Lawyers’ Mall (College Avenue in front of the State House); this shuttle will operate from 4 p.m. to midnight. Drivers should enter the stadium at Gate 5 and follow directional signs. There is a $5 charge for parking at the stadium; shuttle riders will be charged $1.50 per trip, and the service will run every 10 minutes. After the fireworks, the shuttle will operate from Lawyers’ Mall to the stadium. The last shuttle will depart from Lawyers’ Mall at midnight.

Parking at the City’s garages will be $5 at Knighton (West Street) and Park Place (West Street/Taylor Avenue); the fee will be $10 at Gott’s (Calvert/Northwest streets). Annapolis Transit will provide modified Circulator service to and from the City’s downtown garages. Those who park at the City garages can ride the Circulator for free with their parking stub; others can ride for $.50 a trip. The Circulator will operate until midnight. Please note that vehicle access to and from the City’s garages will be limited around the time of the parade and the fireworks.

For more information on transit options, call Annapolis Transit at 410-263-7964.

Road closures for parade: To accommodate the parade, Amos Garrett Boulevard and Constitution Avenue will be closed at 4:30 p.m. At approximately 6:30 p.m., West Street beginning at Amos Garrett to Church Circle, Church Circle and Main Street will be closed until the parade has been completed at about 7:30 p.m.

Parking restrictions for parade and fireworks: Beginning at 4 p.m. and extending until about 10:30 p.m., parking will be prohibited and violators will be towed from the following areas:

  • City Dock
  • Main Street
  • Randall Street
  • Market Space
  • Cathedral Street between West and Franklin streets
  • Both sides of Severn Avenue between First and Burnside streets
  • East side of First, Second and Third streets between Severn and Chester avenues
  • South side of Chesapeake and Chester avenues between Riverview Avenue and Burnside Street
  • Bay Ridge Avenue between Sixth and Burnside streets.
  • Bembe Beach Road from Awald to end.

No Parking zones are posted to accommodate emergency vehicle access during a time when the area is heavily congested because of the large crowds and to facilitate safe, timely egress for spectators from the Eastport Peninsula after the event.

More traffic restrictions for parade and fireworks: Beginning at 5 p.m. and extending until about 10:30 p.m., vehicular traffic will be restricted in downtown and Eastport (unless otherwise noted):

Access into the north side of the Eastport Peninsula will be restricted between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; pedestrian traffic will be permitted.

Vehicular traffic will be denied access from Eastport to downtown beginning at 5 p.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. Roadblocks will be set up at Sixth Street and Severn Avenue to deny access to downtown via the Spa Creek Bridge.

The Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to traffic beginning at 9 p.m.

Duke of Gloucester Street and Main Street will be closed at approximately 9 p.m. and remain closed until approximately 10 p.m. Feeder streets to Duke of Gloucester (Charles, Conduit and Market streets) will also be closed at Duke of Gloucester. Conduit Street will be closed between Main Street and Duke of Gloucester. (Duke of Gloucester Street will be closed to ensure pedestrian safety and to facilitate the movement of the foot traffic leaving the area after the fireworks display.) Circulator service will run between Westgate Circle and Church Circle when Duke of Gloucester Street is closed.

All other streets within the boundaries of the Naval Academy as well as College Avenue, Duke of Gloucester Street and Compromise Street will be closed to all but nearby residents.

Roadblocks will be set up at the following downtown locations:

  • King George Street and College Avenue
  • Prince George Street and College Avenue
  • North Street and College Avenue
  • Church Circle and Main Street
  • Duke of Gloucester Street and Conduit Street
  • Duke of Gloucester Street and Green Street
  • Duke of Gloucester Street and St. Mary’s Street
  • Duke of Gloucester Street and Compromise Street

NAVAL ACADEMY RESTRICTIONS

  • The Naval Academy will not be a public viewing site for the fireworks.
  • Athletic fields are not available for public use.
  • No alcoholic beverages or fireworks (including sparklers) will be permitted.
  • Pets will also be prohibited from entering the Naval Academy grounds on July 4.

Pedestrian access: Normal pedestrian visitor access to the academy will apply from sunrise to sunset, which is approximately 8:35 p.m., with valid ID. Because of heightened security awareness, visitors age 16 years and older must show valid photo identification (such as a driver’s license or passport) to gain entrance to the Naval Academy.

Vehicles access: Vehicle access is not allowed without appropriate Department of Defense (DOD) vehicle decals and at least one person with a DOD-issued ID card. Beginning at 5 p.m., no vehicular access will be permitted through Gate 1. Naval Academy personnel with appropriate ID and DOD decals may enter through Gate 8.

 

BOATERS

Closures and restrictions: The draw span of the Spa Creek Bridge will be closed to boat traffic from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Because of the anticipated crowded conditions, boaters are urged to select their preferred viewing-area anchorage early and are also warned to avoid the 1,000-foot SAFETY ZONE around the What’s Up Annapolis Fireworks Barge.

Immediately after the fireworks, the What’s Up Annapolis Fireworks Barge will be underway to clear the harbor. All boaters are urged to heed the instructions of safety and law enforcement officials including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Natural Resources Police, the Annapolis Police, the Annapolis Fire Department, the Annapolis Harbormaster and others.

Contact the Harbormaster’s office (410-263-7973) for more details.

SAFETY

Use of fireworks: During the 4th of July events, citizens are asked to refrain from using any fireworks in the downtown area. Also, the firing of pyrotechnics and flares from spectator boats and land areas is not only illegal; it presents a high-risk safety hazard.

Alcohol: The consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets and sidewalks of the City is prohibited.

FOR UPDATED EVENT/PARKING INFO

Radio: Tune into 1620 AM and/or WNAV 1430 AM.

DONATIONS

Individuals and businesses wishing to help defray the costs of this community event are urged to do so by sending their tax-deductible donation to: July 4th Annapolis Inc., c/o First Citizens Bank, 890 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

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