Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz invite residents and visitors to enjoy the return of the City’s annual Independence Day fireworks show on Monday, July 4 starting at 9:15 p.m. (Rain date Tuesday, July 5.) The July 4th Freedom Celebration Fireworks Show by Pyrotecnico will be choreographed to recorded music at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park and at nearby locations on the Christina Riverfront. Those who attend are asked to socially distance themselves at the park and along the Riverwalk.
This years activities begin at 2pm and (All Free) include:
Tours of the Kalmar Nyckel ship
Creative Art-making tent
Pony rides
Petting zoo
Live music
Mini train rides
Sports games
Gardening and flower pot-making
Balloon art
Face painting
Fireworks by Pyrotecnico 9:15 PM
Perfect location for picnicking and family initiated games.
Food and merchandise vendors will be onsite
For those not able to attend in person, this year’s fireworks show will be livestreamed by DETV 28 on its website as well as on Facebook and Twitter and will be available for viewing on the City of Wilmington’s Facebook page as well.
EVENT PARKING
Wilmington Police Chief Robert Tracy reminds City residents and visitors that selling or possessing most fireworks is illegal under Delaware law, so please leave the use of fireworks to licensed professionals instead of trying to create your own show. Fire Chief John Looney notes that while fireworks are a fun and exciting part of Independence Day, they can also be quite dangerous – sparklers, for example, burn at a temperature of 1,200 F. Like Chief Tracy, Chief Looney strongly encourages everyone to leave fireworks to the experts, keeping in mind the serious injuries that fireworks in the wrong hands can cause, including burns, lacerations, eye injuries, hearing loss, and the loss of fingers. The State Fire Marshal’s Office reports there were twenty-four fires and eleven injuries blamed on fireworks in Delaware in 2020, which is up from seven fires and two injuries in 2019 and thirteen fires and two injuries in 2018. Most injuries occur around the July Fourth holiday.