JULY 4 ACTIVITIES IN BEL AIR, MARYLAND
Welcome to Bel Air's July 4th Celebration!
There's nothing like spending Independence Day in Bel Air, Maryland! From dawn to dark, we promise you will experience a clean, lively community and a progressive spirit. Professional and service organizations, churches, museums, historic landmarks and schools are concentrated in our town, which is also the county seat of Harford County.
We offer fun, family-friendly events all day!
For the complete schedule of what is going on in Bel Air on July 4, see our SCHEDULE PAGE,
Daytime events include a Pancake Breakfast, Horseshoe Pitching, Water Balloon Tossing, Bocce Fun and Instruction, a Bicycle Rodeo, Watermelon Eating, and Uncle Sam Says, and it all begins with a patriotic FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY, complete with "Call to the Colors," and the Star-Spangled Banner (our National Anthem).
Evening events include our fabulous PARADE, followed by a spectacular fireworks display!
Come See Our Parade!
Our next parade is Thursday evening, July 4, 2024, beginning at 6:00 pm. Our theme for 2024 is Bel Air — the Next 150 Years!
Even though this date is far off, we are nonetheless taking applications for it — see below for links to the Parade Rules (which all must read in advance) and the actual Parade Application.
Planning on Seeing the Parade? Great! Please plan ahead!
The Bel Air July 4 Parade is one of the largest in the state, and features floats, bands, marching units, car clubs, notables, Beauty Queens, Volunteer Fire Companies and much, much more. It's great fun, and takes place over a mile-long route: from Idlewild and S. Main to E. Gordon and N. Main.
HERE is a map of the 2023 Parade ROUTE and the Fireworks that follow!
Our light-hearted, competitive events are all free and open to anyone, including Watermelon Eating, Horseshoe Pitching, Uncle Sam Says, and much more. And of course, there's the traditional PANCAKE BREAKFAST at Bel Air High School! See our schedule page for all the information and details, including maps and parking info!
ROAD CLOSURES in Bel Air on July 4
Staging and deploying a large parade, followed by a fireworks display, necessarily causes disruption of regular traffic flow through the Town of Bel Air and even in the surrounding area.
Parking is, frankly, challenging, in and around the parade on July 4. Some roads are closed. Many people are coming into town. So, plan ahead! The Hickory Street parking garage lower levels are all open and free, and only one half block from the parade route — that's a good place. Final word — leave early and plan ahead!
If you plan to drive through town on July 4, it may well be necessary to plan an ALTERNATE ROUTE. Here is a map showing road closures and suggesting alternate routes to take to avoid the downtown area.
Use our link squares below, and our link topics above, to see what we have to offer, in celebration of our nation and our community. We look forward to seeing you in Bel Air on July 4! Please use our "July 4 Contact Form" to ask us a general question. Follow the links to apply to be in the parade!
Thanks to You, It Happens!
The Bel Air July 4th Celebration is managed by an independent, non-profit committee: the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc., which must raise the money that it takes to bring the whole day together and celebrate our glorious holiday in fitting style.
Won't you help us? You can DONATE safely on line, using PayPal or any major credit card! Just select the button above! All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Thanks and we hope to see you on the 4th! For complete information, browse through our official 2023 program!
