Your ultimate guide to the Fourth of July Alabama Bicentennial Fireworks Show at Vulcan Park and Museum. Watch parties, tips and photo contest!

Sponsored

Vulcan Park and Museum, known for the largest and most extravagant Independence Day celebrations in the state, are planning the biggest one yet for July 4th, 2019!  Get ready to be thrilled by a choreographed display of 2,500 fireworks in honor of Alabama’s bicentennial and our nation’s birthday. We’ve pulled together a list of the  best viewing spots in Birmingham, parties and tips for making the most of the extravaganza.

A ‘bigger and better’ fireworks display for 2019

Over 2,500 fireworks (that’s not a typo) will be launched from underneath Birmingham’s Vulcan statue for a spectacular 20 minute show at 9PM on July 4.

LaShana Sorrell, Director of Marketing and PR at Vulcan Park and Museum tells us  to expect “a very unique show, which will be bigger and better than ever before!’

Known traditionally as ‘Thunder on the Mountain’, 2019’s Fourth of July fireworks show, produced by Pyro Shows of Alabama, will be celebrated as The Alabama Bicentennial Fireworks Show.

Happy 200th birthday, Alabama and USA!

On July 4, Birmingham will welcome the entire state to visit and watch in person or via live TV broadcast, a breathtaking show in honor of those who have fought for our independence.

Jay Lamar, Executive Director of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, the organization that selected Birmingham to host the Alabama Bicentennial Fireworks Show, said,

“The Alabama Bicentennial Commission and ALABAMA 200 could not be happier about the partnership with Vulcan Park and Museum, and Spire to make this year’s Fourth of July a celebration of both the nation’s birthday and Alabama’s biggest anniversary,” said Lamar. “It will be one‘for the history books!’

Visit Vulcan Park & Museum until 6PM on July 4

Vulcan Park and Museum will be open as usual throughout the day, but will close at 6PM to safely setup over 2,500 fireworks on the property before the show starts at 9.00PM

Enjoy celebrating Independence Day at Vulcan Park, picnic with the family, and hang out with friends until it’s time to head off the mountain to a safe viewing area.

Tips for watching the Alabama Bicentennial Fireworks Show (starts at 9PM)

Our top tip…you’ll be able to see the fireworks anywhere you have a clear view of Vulcan! Or specifically, the sky above the 56-foot tall iron statue.

Prime viewing spots include Five Points South, Homewood, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, and the UAB Campus among others.

If you’ve not experienced the massive fireworks display in Birmingham before, popular party spots, restaurants and rooftop bars get busy early, and scenic viewpoints do have huge crowds.

Avoid disappointment by staking your spot early!

If you can’t get out that late, or live a bit further away, there will be live TV coverage on WBRC Fox 6.  

Some ideas for viewing spots…

• Rooftop bars (Read our guide to rooftop bars in Birmingham)
• Parking decks
• Parks
• Street parties

Listed Events (Please note that there might be a fee to attend or park)

• Enjoy the fireworks from the poolside at Lab Bar and Kitchen
• Temple Emanu-El have a watch event at their parking deck with a perfect view
• Downtown Homewood is closing off two blocks of 18th Street South and one block of 29th Ave South for a July 4th street party
• Bessie Estelle Park has plenty of space to picnic and enjoy a great view of Vulcan
• Free UAB Summer Band Concert at UAB Basketball arena at 7PM followed by a great view of the fireworks

Do you have some great tips for places to park? Parties to attend? Places to sit back and enjoy the show? Let us know!

Cheesy joke alert: Why are fireworks so cool? It’s because they’re lit!

Don’t forget to tune in to the synchronized soundtrack!

The 20 minute fireworks extravaganza will be choreographed to some great music that you can listen to on the radio (stations listed below).  Remember to tune in to enjoy the full experience.

LaShana explains how the music is selected,

“The organizing committee have selected a soundtrack that will include a little bit of something for everybody. There’ll be some patriotic favorites, a real blend of pop, soul, RnB, country, and rock, featuring artists such as James Brown, Jimmy Buffett and Pitbull.”

Listen to the soundtrack exclusively on iHeart media radio stations;

• 102.5 The Bull
• 103.1 The Vulcan
• 103.7 The Q
• 104.1 The Beat
• Birmingham’s ALT 991
• B106.5
• 105 Hallelujah FM
• Magic 96.5
• News Radio 960 WERC
• News Radio 105.5
• WERC
• La Jefa 98.3

Vulcan Park and Museum’s Photo Contest

Whether you plan on mastering a perfect selfie in the dark, or have your tripod setup to take  artistic images of the fireworks, Vulcan Park and Museum encourages you to try their photo contest.  There will be three categories and prizes include Vulcan AfterTune tickets and a Vulcan swag bag.

Simply upload your best image via www.visitvulcan.com between July 4 at 9PM and July 5 at 9PM.

LaShana said “the Fourth of July is great for families, however,  if you are working in Birmingham and don’t have family nearby, this is such a great opportunity to join friends or check out one of the parties to enjoy this great holiday and occasion with a group of people. Birmingham is such a great city for this event. Everyone is so friendly and there’s great hospitality – the city and the event resonates the unity we have created as a nation”.

On the photo contest, LaShana explained “we want to see where you are and what you’re doing while you’re there. We want to see pictures with your family and friends enjoying Birmingham’s July 4 celebrations. Entry details are on visitvulcan.com ”

The Alabama Bicentennial Fireworks Show is organized by:

Vulcan Park and Museum and presented by Spire with additional support from the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau,  the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County Commission Bicentennial Celebration, the City of Homewood, UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, Pyro Shows of Alabama, WBRC Fox  6 News, iheart media and La Jefa .

For further information www.visitvulcan.com

Sponsored by: