Looking for something to do this 4th of July? Locals have always been patriotic when it comes to participating in July 4th activities, and now you can join in on the fun, too! Put on your red, white, and blue attire and start waving those American flags because the 4th of July is almost here! And if you’re looking for more ways to celebrate America in its 250th year, check out our America250 blog.
Community Celebrations
City of Morgantown 4th of July Parade: Head to High Street at 4 p.m. on the 4th for Morgantown’s America 250 celebration. Rumor has it, there will be hand-built floats, dancing, and other coordinated chaos to celebrate America’s 25oth.
Ruby Amphitheater 4th of July Celebration: Celebrate the Fourth of July from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ruby Amphitheatre in downtown Morgantown. Enjoy live performances, food trucks, face painting, and a fireworks show on America’s 250th birthday.
The park will open to the public at 5 p.m., and the festivities will kick off at 7 p.m. with food trucks, face painting, live music, and more. Stay the whole time and you’ll have the opportunity to watch the free fireworks display at 10 p.m.!
This event is presented by the City of Morgantown, Additional sponsors for the event include Monongalia County and Visit Mountaineer Country CVB.
Palatine Park 4th of July Celebration: Don’t miss Fairmont’s jam-packed Fourth of July celebration at Palatine Park. Kicking off at 6 p.m., the event will feature live performances from Byron “Six Six” Cooper, Motorcycle Drive-By, and Nightrain, a Guns N’ Roses tribute band.
Triple S Harley-Davidson Drive to the Grafton Cemetery: Join Morgantown’s Triple S Harley-Davidson for its Independence Day Ride to Grafton Cemetery on July 4. Kicking off at 11:30 a.m., the ride will span around 70 miles before ending at Dairy Creme Corner.
Watch Fireworks
Hazel Ruby McQuain Park will be concluding the July 4th festivities with fireworks starting at 10 p.m. Come early to enjoy live music and good food in Downtown Morgantown.
Palatine Park will be finishing out their Independence Day Celebration with their signature fireworks display starting at 10 p.m.
Big Bear Lake Fireworks: Located in Bruceton Mills, Big Bear Lake will host a Fourth of July fireworks show fit for the whole family. Additional celebration information will be released at a later date.
Listen to Live Music
Enjoy Fret Buzz at Tropics on July 3 and The Halftime String Band at Chestnut Ridge Park on July 4. Also on July 4, Black Dog Hollow will be performing at Tropics.
Relax on the Water
Take your family or friends to Krepps or Marilla Park for a day by the pool or rent a boat, kayaks, canoes, or paddle boats and enjoy time on the water at Cheat Lake. If you enjoy fishing, there are several fishing areas in Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor Counties, or be adventurous by whitewater rafting on the Cheat River.
If you’re looking for a pool day that doesn’t require packing a lunch, you’ll love Food Truck Friday at Camp Muffly on July 3.
Spend your July 4 weekend floating down Tygart Lake with the Taylor County Adventure Club. Their free lazy river is the perfect way to relax on the weekend, schedule a trip Wednesday through Saturday at 11 a.m. or Sunday at 2 p.m. Message them on Facebook to schedule your trip, it fills up fast!
Reach out to Padlz Canoe & Kayak Rentals to reserve your timeslot for smooth sailing in Bruceton Mills. Appointments can be made on their Facebook page or over the phone and are decided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you are looking for a floating obstacle course to tackle with your friends and family, check out Tygart Adventure Lake in Taylor County. You can make reservations online.
Grafton City Pool and Kingwood City Pool are open for the 2026 season and are the perfect places for family fun during your July 4 weekend. Beat the heat in Taylor and Preston Counties by enjoying a splash in the public pool with concessions to complete the experience. Note that the Grafton City pool is closed during the legal holiday, but will be open for family fun on surrounding days!
Find the perfect spot for you by visiting our Just Add Water guide.
Plan a Cookout
A 4th of July cookout is always more fun while camping! Camp at one of Visit Mountaineer Country’s many campgrounds for a weekend of grilling and outdoor activities. You can also host a cookout at one of the parks that provide picnic areas and allow grilling.
Before you fire up the grill this Independence Day, head to the Morgantown Mylan Park Farmers Market on July 1 for all your cookout essentials! From farm-fresh produce and locally raised meats to homemade desserts and festive sides, you’ll find everything you need to make your 4th of July meal extra special. Keep the celebration going with a trip to the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday, July 4! Grab fresh ingredients for round two of cookout favorites, pick up local treats, and enjoy the festive summer vibes.
Let someone else take care of the cooking! Many great restaurants in Mountaineer Country offer outdoor seating and 4th of July specials, check out some of our Mountaineer Deal partners that will make your experience memorable!
Get a Workout In
Looking for an easy morning walk? Nestled between Morgantown and Cheat Lake, the West Virginia Botanic Garden provides an oasis from city life with over 4-miles of of trails through shaded hemlock and hardwood forest.
Participate in a 4-mile run or walk with Morgantown Running for their July 4th Road Race. Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female runners, along with winners picked from random drawings. A one-mile run for kids will also be held.
Head to the Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park to swim a few laps in the Olympic-sized competition pool or enjoy a bit of relaxing open swim in the community pool.
Get outdoors and enjoy the natural beauty around town! Take a hike at Coopers Rock State Forest and stop by the Almost Heaven Swing to take a picture.
Family Fun
Visit Pricketts Fort, located in Fairmont, WV on July 4 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for their Independence Day Celebration. After listening to a full reading of The Declaration of Independence, go take in the historical significance of the fort. Then, experience 18th-century life through a child’s eyes and return on July 10 and 24 for their Colonial Kids Day from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be fun, educational activities for the kiddos throughout the day. (Kids must be accompanied by an adult.)
Cheer on the West Virginia Black Bears as they take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on July 3 at 7:0o p.m. at the Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Take the family to First Friday for the Arts with the Arts Council of Greater Morgantown on July 3 at 6:00 p.m. Special children’s activities will be happening at Andrew White Guitars with the help of Spark! Imagination and Science Center.
Keep checking back for additional events and activities as we get closer to the 4th of July!
Share your 4th of July fun with us by using #VisitMountaineerCountry and #MountaineerCountryYes on your social posts for a chance to be featured!
