Nantucket's 2026 Fourth Of July Events Lineup

The Fourth of July is almost here and we've got a full rundown of what's happening around the island to celebrate Independence Day.

The town's Office of Culture and Tourism is sponsoring events at three locations: Main Street, Children's Beach, and Jetties Beach, which will be closest to the island's fireworks display, shot off from a barge on the water.

Main Street Area

Sustainable Nantucket’s Farmer’s Market: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, Cambridge Street between Federal and South Water Street

Food Trucks: 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Federal Street between Main and India Street

27th Anniversary Reading of the Declaration of Independence: 9 a.m., St. Paul’s Church, 20 Fair St

USA 250th Nantucket High School Drumline Parade: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Main Street

Community Band Performance: 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 am, Main Street

Annual Water Fight: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Main Street

Children’s Beach

P.J. Moody Sings the National Anthem & Other Patriotic Music: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Children’s Beach bandstand

Matt Fee Tea Toss, cornhole tournament & other family-friendly games: 10:00 a.m. - Noon, lawn in front of bandstand

Face painting: 10:00 a.m. - Noon, corner lawn near boat ramp

Magic show with Magic Mark: 10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Children’s Beach bandstand

Kids Music & Movement with Cory Morgan: 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

P.J. Moody: 12:15 p.m.- 12:45 p.m., Children’s Beach bandstand

Bike Parade: 12:20 p.m.- 12:30 p.m.

Family games, including three-legged, wheelbarrow, & potato sack races, ending with a Tug of War: 5:00 p.m, on the beach

Jetties Beach

Fireworks: 9:00 p.m. The show lasts approximately 25-27 minutes and is shot from a barge just offshore.

Transportation to Jetties Beach: Starting at 6:00 p.m., NRTA Wave buses will depart from in front of The Whaling Museum on Broad Street every 10-15 minutes and will return from Jetties Beach after the fireworks up to 10:30 pm.

NOTICE: Activities, locations, and times may be subject to change or cancellation at the last minute.

OTHER FOURTH OF JULY events around town: 

Red, White & Blues- A Celebration of America at 250: From 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Nantucket Dreamland. Celebrate the Fourth of July at the Dreamland with live blues, barbecue, dancing, and one of the best views in town for Nantucket’s biggest summer night! In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Red, White & Blues brings the party to the Dreamland’s beautiful second floor with live music from The Jamie McLean Band sponsored by Bernadette and Tuck Meyer, a full barbecue buffet prepared by Island Kitchen, and, weather permitting, distant views of the fireworks over Jetties Beach. Click here for tickets and more information.

Wavemaker x Dreamland Conversations: America at 250 – The Past, Present & Future (featuring David W. Blight, Susan Glasser, Peter Baker and Michael Schulder): 11:00 am at the Dreamland Main Theatre. Join the Dreamland for this special installment of Wavemaker Conversations with Wavemaker host Michael Schulder, joined by Yale History Professor David Blight, one of America’s leading historians of the Civil War and Reconstruction and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Frederick Douglass. Douglass’ speech at an anti-slavery meeting on Nantucket in 1841 launched his career as one of America’s greatest orators and advocates of abolition. Joining this panel are two of America’s most esteemed journalists: Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the New York Times, and Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker. Tickets here.

Nanpuppets at Something Natural: From 9:30 to 10:00 am. Join Nanpuppets for a performance at Something Natural, 50 Cliff Road! Nanpuppets is a puppetry company featuring hand puppets that are handmade and performed by Lizza Obremski. Enjoy our educational and fun show then get some sandwiches! $10 per person (kids and adults) - kids under 1 year old free. Please bring a blanket to sit on.

Cafe 22 Family and Friends Patio BBQ: From 1:00 PM 5:00 PM, Join Cafe 22 for a cookout lunch before the fireworks. There will be grilling on the patio all afternoon, swing by for lunch, and face painting! This family-friendly BBQ will have beer and wine available for purchase.

Nantucket Clean Team: Every Saturday morning at 8:00 am. Nantucket Clean Team’s mission is to keep our fragile, beautiful island as free of litter and debris as possible through weekly clean-up outings beginning in late April through the last Saturday in October. They look to recruit year-round residents and seasonal visitors to join them on appointed days and times, and to become “adjunk” members, cleaning when and where they are able. Follow @ackcleanteam on Instagram for weekly meeting locations, usually posted a day or two before!