Finger Lakes Fourth of July and America 250 Celebrations

Join us to celebrate America's 250th anniversary with events happening throughout the county, featuring fireworks, live music, historic exhibits, historical reenactment, family-friendly activities, and more.

Fourth of July Weekend Happenings

Thursday, July 2

6 p.m. | Concert & Fireworks

Victor commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States with an evening of live music, local food and drinks, fireworks, a maker’s market, and family-friendly activities in one of Victor’s most beautiful park settings.

8 p.m. | Concert

Celebrate America’s birthday with The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and enjoy stirring Sousa spectaculars, favorite toe-tappers, and inspiring anthems as the orchestra performs favorite red, white, and blue melodies complete with fireworks at CMAC! *Tickets to KeyBank Headliner Lounge and Corona Cabana are unavailable at this time for this show.*
 

Friday, July 3

8:45 p.m. | Fireworks Display

The annual “Ring of Fire” and fireworks show can be seen from any location around the lake. Fireworks will be launched from a barge offshore near Sandy Bottom Park. 

Saturday, July 4

10 - 11 a.m. | 4th of July Parade 

Come celebrate our nation’s birth in Downtown Canandaigua! The annual 4th of July Parade brings the community together to celebrate independence with service members, floats, local organizations, live music, special guests, and more in a parade from the top of Main Street at City Hall through the business district. 

12 p.m. | Outhouse Park Celebration and Fireworks

Celebrate Independence Day with a full afternoon of classic, family-friendly fun at Outhouse Park. The event features traditional activities such as sack races, a pie-eating contest, tug-of-war, and other classic games, along with food trucks serving throughout the day. Town Historian Leif will kick off the celebration with a lively look at local history. The day concludes with a fireworks display after dusk by Young Explosives.

6 - 9 p.m. | BBQ Bash

Enjoy a mouthwatering summer experience with BBQ Bash at Hotel Canandaigua. Together, with Nolan's Catering, Hotel Canandaigua presents a fun-filled day of food, drinks, and live music. 

Ontario County Trip Ideas

Revolutionary Experiences: America 250 Road Trips 

Follow the steps of history with these self-guided America 250 road trip ideas organized by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Get ready to step back in time and explore the places where history happened, while discovering the people and stories that helped shape the nation.

America’s Gateway Tour is a five-day journey from New York City to Buffalo that follows the Erie Canal corridor and the story of immigration and national growth. The route begins with iconic New York City landmarks, continues through the Hudson Valley’s historic and scenic sites, and moves west along canal towns rich in Indigenous, immigrant, and Revolutionary War history. The itinerary culminates in Niagara Falls and Buffalo’s revitalized waterfront, showcasing the canal’s lasting impact on communities and commerce.

Be Moved by Women and Water is a four-day paddling journey through the Finger Lakes that blends outdoor adventure with powerful women’s history. Explore scenic waterways, waterfalls, wildlife, and canal towns while tracing key sites in the women’s rights movement. Highlights include Geneva and Seneca Lake, historic towns like Waterloo and Seneca Falls, visiting national historic sites dedicated to women’s rights, and finishing through the natural beauty of the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge and canal locks.

Ontario County History

In the Finger Lakes, history comes to life through the people and moments that played a key role in shaping the United States. In Ontario County, you can explore these stories through stories that highlight Seneca Native American culture, the legacy of local women’s suffragists, the impact of the abolitionist movement, civil rights, and more.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at (585) 394-3915 or info@visitfingerlakes.com.