21 Jun 25 Ways to Celebrate July 4 in the Lake George Region

The Lake George Region is a happenin’ place to celebrate Independence Day. There is so much going on, and we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of just about everything that is happening in the area, from fireworks shows to live music, festivals, museum exhibits, sporting events, and more!

It wouldn’t be July 4^th without fireworks! ????

Fireworks over Lake George are the perfect way to celebrate the fourth, and there are several opportunities to experience the beautiful sights and sounds throughout the weekend.

The Village of Lake George puts on an epic fireworks display each year that can be viewed along the waterfront. This year it will take place on Tuesday, July 4, at around 9:30 PM. Shepard Park and the Lake George Village waterfront along Canada Street and Beach Road are the best places to view the show. Note that thousands of people will be in town for this event, so plan accordingly! We recommend going a few hours early to secure a parking spot and waiting a bit after the show ends to leave so you can avoid heavy traffic congestion.

If you like music along with your fireworks, be sure to check out the Glens Falls Symphony’s annual Summer Pops Concert at Crandall Park. The family-friendly free show will be on Monday, July 3, at 7:30 PM. Attendees are encouraged to come early, set up blankets and chairs, and enjoy food and beverages from a variety of local vendors. The music ranges from patriotic favorites to selections from West Side Story and arrangements from popular movies like Justice League. The concert will conclude with a fireworks display set to John Williams’s “Summon the Heroes” and Sousa’s “Starts and Stripes Forever.”

Bolton’s Independence Day Celebration will take place on July 4 from 7 – 10 PM at Rogers Memorial Park in Bolton Landing. The festivities include music from DJ Andy Pratt, a magic show from Jim Snack, and the evening will wrap with a fireworks extravaganza.

The Best 4th in the North Celebration in Ticonderoga is back for 2023! There is something going on each day, July 1 – 4, including food trucks, live music, a musical tribute to Elvis, a rock-climbing wall for kids, a petting zoo, a parade, and more! The celebration will culminate with a grand fireworks display on Tuesday, July 4, at dusk at Percy Thompson Bicentennial Park. Check out the detailed event activities here.

Want to ride the coasters while watching fireworks? Check out Coca-Cola July 4^th Fest at Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury. (Don’t forget we’re one of the best campgrounds near Great Escape – just down the road!) Check back for more details, but you can expect discounted tickets, fireworks, and thrilling rides when celebrating the holiday weekend with Great Escape.

Get out on the water. ????

Lake George Steamboat Company is offering all three boat cruises on Sunday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 4. Cruise the lake aboard the Minne (9 – 10:15 PM), the Mohican (9:10 – 10:25 PM), or the Saint (9:15 – 10:35 PM) and enjoy the best view you can get of the fireworks while sipping on cocktails and snacks. Adult and senior tickets are $35, and kids ride for $18.

If you are looking for an extra unique experience, Wade Tours is offering a festive Lake George dinner and fireworks cruise aboard the Lac du Saint Sacrement on the evening of July 4. At $150 per person, the event includes transportation to and from, live entertainment, and a delicious buffet dinner.

Not all events have to be patriotic in nature. ⚾

Stop by the Summer Farmer’s Market at West Mountain in Queensbury on Sunday from 9 AM – 12 PM. The event is new this year and features scenic chairlift rides, mountaintop picnic packages, aerial adventure tours, mountain bike rentals, clay pot painting, mountaintop yoga, cornhole, and live music, along with a plethora of local vendors offering all sorts of goodies from dairy to veggies, pastries, flowers, maple products, home décor, candles, pottery, jewelry, body products and more. Some activities require pre-registration at www.westmountain.com, so plan accordingly if you want to participate.

The Bolton Art & Craft Festival will take place this year on July 1 and July 2 at the 5 Cross Street parking lot from 10 AM to 5 PM. Come check out the work from 25+ local artisans and craft vendors. Additional weekends for the craft festival include September 2 – 3 and September 23 – 24, in case it doesn’t fit into your holiday weekend activity schedule.

The Lake George Land Conservancy’s annual Hike-A-Thon is held every year on July 5^th to showcase our parks and preserves and promote appreciation for and protection of the outdoors and the land surrounding Lake George. The hike-a-thon consists of volunteer-led hikes and paddles that take place simultaneously at 20+ sites around Lake George. The event after-party is open to the public and will take place at the Bolton Community Center from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM on 7/5.

Join the Lake George Land Conservancy and Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center in learning about the insects found in the Adirondacks. This event will be a hike up the Pinnacle Preserve at Edgecomb Pond Rd in Bolton Landing on Friday, June 30 at 9:30 AM with a Naturalist from Up Yonda to look for signs of insects. How many different creatures will be spotted? The hike is 1.2 miles and rated moderate, so make sure you and your kiddos are up for the challenge.

Catch a baseball game at East Field in Glens Falls. The Glens Falls Dragons baseball team is a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League affiliate in conjunction with Perfect Game USA, baseball’s largest scouting service. You may be watching future MLB stars starting their baseball careers! There will be games on 7/1, 7/2, and 7/4 at noon, so there are ample opportunities to get in on the fun.

Stop by the Chapman Museum in Glens Falls and check out their exhibit, From Practical to Posh: Steamboat Travel in the Adirondacks, available through 7/9. The show details the history of steamboats in a fascinating and engaging way. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 for adults and children under 12. Veterans and active military members get in for free. You can check out their other current and upcoming exhibits here.

Visit the Widlund Gallery at Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek, NY, to see Timeless Nature by Nicole Fiato and Wayne Law. The exhibit runs through Saturday, July 1; gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM and Saturday from 12 – 4 PM. If you are interested in nature photography, you won’t want to miss this!

Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake (ADKX), is opening its newest permanent exhibition, Artists & Inspiration in the Wild, on July 1. This exhibit celebrates how the natural features of the Adirondacks, like the light, forests, water, and mountains, have inspired generations of painters, sculptors, and artisans. You can even make something to take home at the ADKX Art Lab! Tickets can be purchased online here and are good for the entire day (10 AM – 5 PM) on the date you select.

If you are a history buff, a special event is happening at Grant Cottage in Wilton, NY, on Sunday, July 2, at 1 p.m. Join James Longstreet, General CSA retired (portrayed by Grant Cottage tour guide and living historian Steve Trimm), as he reminisces about his old friend U.S. “Sam” Grant. It’s well known that, during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant and James Longstreet fought on opposite sides. Less well-known is that, in the early 1840s, they were cadets together at West Point, where they became close friends. And while you are there, be sure to take a tour of the cottage itself!

You can’t celebrate a holiday without some live music. ????

The Adirondack Bluegrass Festival takes place this year on July 1 and 2! Enjoy two full days of fun and live music from NY’s best bluegrass musicians, including the Adirondack Song Dogs, High Peaks Bluegrass Band, the Hilltown Ramblers, and Washington County Line. The event will be at The Barn at French Mountain Road and includes vendors, food trucks, a bounce house, a cornhole tournament, and more. Fun for the whole family! You can purchase single-day or weekend passes here (children under 12 are free).

West Mountain’s Music on the Mountain Concert is not to be missed! The concert will feature live music from Jukebox Rebellion, and attendees are welcome to bring blankets and chairs to sit on during the show. There will also be food, activities, fireworks, and more. The event will be on Saturday, July 1, from 6 – 10 PM at West Mountain, 59 West Mountain Road in Queensbury. Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased in advance here.

Bolton’s own high-energy class rock Blue Moon Band is putting on a free show on July 5 at Rogers Memorial Park Bandstand at 7 PM. Put on your dancing shoes and take a trip down memory lane!

Enjoy a piano recital by 25-year-old pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner on Saturday, July 1, at 7 p.m. at The Sembrich in Bolton. Sanchez-Werner, the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Competition winner, presents a program entitled “Innovators,” featuring works by Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Ponce, and Stravinsky. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.

Grab a lawn chair and head to Stony Creek for their free Music in the Park Concert Series. The July 4^th show will feature Randy Rollman’s All-Star Revue. FYI there are concerts every Tuesday in July and August – check out the full schedule and artist lineup here. Concerts are rain or shine and begin at 7 PM at the Stony Creek Town Park on Harrisburg Lake Road.

Check out Food Truck Fridays at Mill Pond for some delicious grub from various local food truck vendors and live music! Grab a hotdog from AOK Hot Dogs, fish and chips from Moby Dick’s Fish Fry, a cone from Chilly Willy’s Ice Cream, or a slice from Extra Mile Pizza while you enjoy tunes from local artists. This weekly event (every Friday from June 30 – September 1) takes place at the Town of Horicon Community Center, 6604 State Rt 8, Brant Lake, NY, from 5 – 8 PM.

The Park Theater presents its third Summer Series Concerts this year at the Crandall Park Bandshell in Glens Falls every Friday evening (7 – 8:30 PM) from June 30 through July 28. All concerts are free and feature local musicians. The show on 6/30 will feature The Ladles, a three-part female group that first came together at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Few things go together like brunch and live music, and Adirondack Winery is offering an acoustic brunch with musician Chuck Kelsey on Sunday, 7/2, from 11 AM – 2 PM at their Queensbury tasting room. Chuck is a local singer/songwriter with a smooth guitar and dynamic vocals. Your $40 reservation includes their “Brunch Experience”: your choice of our signature Mimosa Flight or 2 Bloody Marys, plus a mouthwatering brunch board featuring locally sourced waffles, wine-infused jellies, biscotti, croissants, and more!

Now you know all of the wonderful things to do in Lake George for the holiday weekend. And if you’re coming from out of town, we have last-minute lodging available at Lake George Campsites! Book a cottage, tent, or RV site to return to after a long day on the town celebrating. The pool will be open the whole weekend. Plus, we have on-site activities planned for our campers, including a DJ dance party, patriotic crafts, giant tic tac toe, and more!