Our community is celebrating Independence Day this weekend, marking the Fourth of July with a variety of festivals and activities. Unlike last year, when the pandemic forced widespread shutdowns and cancellations, many of those events will be in person again – and a few will also be streamed online, for those of us who’d still prefer not to venture out.

Here’s a list of what’s happening this weekend in and around Orange County:

Town of Chapel Hill

Fourth of July fireworks are back this year in Chapel Hill. Everyone’s invited to bring blankets and chairs to Southern Community Park on Sunday, July 4, with parking opening at 7 p.m. Owing to the pandemic, this year’s event will smaller-scale with no musical performances or kids’ activities, but the fireworks will still go off around 9:20 p.m.

Town of Carrboro

The town of Carrboro is marking July 4 with events both online and in person. Sunday at noon, the town will host a public reading of Frederick Douglass’ famous 1852 address “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro” at Carrboro Town Commons, with an introduction by former State Supreme Court chief justice Cheri Beasley. Local musician Tre. Charles will perform live following the reading at 2:00 pm. There will be an ice cream truck on hand for in-person attendees at both events. Both events will also be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel.

Later in the afternoon, Mix Tape Grab Bag will play a livestream show at Cats Cradle from 4-6 pm.

Town of Pittsboro

The town of Pittsboro is hosting its annual Summer Fest on Sunday, July 4, from 5-9 pm, downtown in the parking lot between Salisbury, Fayetteville, and Hanks Streets just west of 15/501. Summer Fest will feature food trucks, crafts, family activities, music from the Dowdy Boys at 5:30 and 8-Track Minds and 7:00 – and a Beard and Mustache contest as well.

City of Durham

The city of Durham is celebrating the Fourth of July with events all weekend long.

Beginning Thursday, July 1, the city is launching the Durham Summer Wine & Food Festival, a four-day festival from July 1-4 that showcases the Triangle’s food, arts, music and culture. Highlights include live music from Chatham County Line at Motorco, Friday and Saturday nights at 6:30, and special tasting events at restaurants all over town. Proceeds will benefit several local food programs including TABLE and the Durham Community Food Pantry. Visit DurhamSummer.com for a full schedule and ticket information.

EnoFest is also back this Fourth of July weekend! Saturday and Sunday, July 3-4, head to West Point on the Eno City Park for the 42nd annual Festival for the Eno featuring art, food, crafts, and more than 40 musical performances on multiple stages, including Blue Cactus, Rissi Palmer, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Honey Magpie, the Hamiltones, and the Tan & Sober Gentlemen. Proceeds support the Eno River Association.

In addition to the two big festivals, the city is also hosting a 30-minute patriotic laser light show at Durham County Stadium, Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 pm.

And if you’re looking for fireworks, the Durham Bulls have you covered: head to their game against Gwinnett at the DBAP on Sunday, July 4, and stick around for fireworks afterward.

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