Charleston's 2026 Independence Day celebration filled Waterfront Park from 4 to 10 p.m., with fireworks at about 9:40 p.m. The 2027 plans are not out yet.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year. The city has not announced its 2027 Independence Day plans, so the details below are from the 2026 celebration, as published by the Charleston Police Department on July 2, 2026. We will replace them when the 2027 plans are out; in 2026 the police published them July 2.

In 2026 Charleston marked the Fourth with the free, family-friendly SC250 Waterfront Independence Day Celebration at Waterfront Park, from 4 to 10 p.m., with live entertainment and a fireworks show at about 9:40 p.m. over Charleston Harbor.

Who to call

  • City event and parking questions: Citizen Services Desk, 843-724-7311
  • Police non-emergency, on the night: 843-743-7200
  • Emergency: 911
  • Event updates: the city’s news page

The 2026 celebration at a glance
When Saturday, July 4, 2026, 4 to 10 p.m.
Fireworks About 9:40 p.m.
Where Waterfront Park, downtown
Cost Free

Road closures

From 7 p.m. on July 4, 2026, police closed:

  • East Battery Street, from South Battery Street to Murray Boulevard
  • Murray Boulevard, from East Battery Street to King Street

The pedestrian walkway on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge closed at 7 p.m. from both the Charleston and Mount Pleasant sides until the event ended. Parking was banned around White Point Garden from 8 a.m.

Parking

The city offered $10 flat-rate parking from 2 p.m. at three downtown garages, with exits opening at 9 p.m.:

  • Aquarium Garage, 24 Calhoun St.
  • Cumberland Street Garage, 1 Cumberland St.
  • East Bay/Prioleau Garage, 25 Prioleau St.

Police said garages are not fireworks viewing areas and asked people not to gather inside them. City garages and rates for any day are on the city’s parking page.

Watching from the water

A 1,000-foot safety zone surrounded the fireworks barge from 7 p.m. July 4 until midnight. Boaters could not enter, pass through, anchor or stay inside it without permission from the Coast Guard’s Captain of the Port Charleston or a representative, and had to follow instructions from officers on the water.

Fireworks at home

City and state rules on personal fireworks are set by ordinance and state law; ask the Citizen Services Desk, 843-724-7311, before setting off your own inside city limits.

What this means for you

  • Expect the celebration at Waterfront Park again, but check the 2027 plans before you go.
  • Fireworks start after dark, around 9:40 p.m.
  • Garages are for parking, not watching.

Related guides: getting around Charleston, things to do this month and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the Fourth of July fireworks in Charleston?

In 2026 the city’s free SC250 Waterfront Independence Day Celebration was at Waterfront Park, with fireworks fired from a barge in Charleston Harbor. The 2027 details have not been announced.

What time are the Charleston fireworks on July 4?

In 2026 the fireworks began at about 9:40 p.m., at the end of a celebration that ran from 4 to 10 p.m.

Where can I park for the Charleston fireworks?

In 2026 the city offered $10 flat-rate parking from 2 p.m. at the Aquarium Garage, the Cumberland Street Garage and the East Bay/Prioleau Garage. Garage exits opened at 9 p.m., and garages were not viewing areas.

Can I watch the Charleston fireworks from a boat?

Yes, but in 2026 a 1,000-foot safety zone surrounded the fireworks barge from 7 p.m. July 4 to midnight, and boats could not enter it without permission from the Coast Guard’s Captain of the Port.