Pittsburgh & Partners to Host Landmark 250th Independence Day Celebrations
Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Pittsburgh is gearing up to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with its annual Independence Day Celebration and a series of regional events honoring the history of Pittsburgh and the United States. Today, Mayor Corey O’Connor joined partners to announce an exciting line up of events happening around the Fourth of July and America’s 250th.
"After recently being voted the best Fourth of July celebration in the country, this year the City and our partners will be hosting more special events from our neighborhoods to our riverfronts to welcome families from across the region to honor the history of Pittsburgh and 250 years of the United States,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor.
Mayor O’Connor was joined at a press conference today by partners in regional events and activities including Allegheny County, America250PA, BNY, National Flag Foundation, Piatt Companies, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Senator John Heinz History Center.
City of Pittsburgh Independence Day Celebration
After being voted USA TODAY’s number one Fourth of July Celebration in the country last month, the City of Pittsburgh’s iconic Independence Day Celebration will return to Point State Park, Downtown, North Shore and Mount Washington on July 4, 2026.
The celebration will feature local food vendors, family-friendly activities, veterans wellness space, stages with entertainment, hot-air balloon, vendor marketplace, and more. Attendees will be able to see the festivities from above with the “Piatt Companies Salute to Service Wheel.” The Ferris wheel will run from July 1 through July 5 on the North Shore. Tickets are on sale now and 50% of all proceeds will be donated to the Veterans Leadership Program. Tickets can be purchased at: pittsburghpa.gov/july4.
The BNY Main Stage at Point State Park will be rocking with entertainment starting at 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 4. Headlining the BNY Main Stage at 8:00 PM is Grammy and Tony Award nominated national pop rock band the Plain White T’s. Shows are free and open to the public.
As part of the National Flag Foundation’s Light to Unite, the city’s skyscrapers will be illuminated in red, white and blue across Downtown at 9:00 PM. This nationally-organized tribute will light up buildings, landmarks and streets across the country.
Sponsored by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, 2026’s fireworks spectacular is set to be the city’s largest fireworks display in decades. For the first time, there will be a drone performance immediately before the fireworks start. The fireworks show will utilize six barges on all three rivers – and some rooftops. Fireworks will begin at 9:35 PM on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
The Time Capsule of Tomorrow
With the support of BNY and the City of Pittsburgh, the search has been on for the long-lost time capsule in the City-County Building that was placed at the time of the building’s construction in 1916. City staff has been working to locate it and is hopeful to soon excavate the capsule to inspect the contents.
Today, Mayor O’Connor announced that a new time capsule will be sealed in the City-County Building and invited residents to share their hopes and ideas with the City Archives for what to put in the capsule for the Pittsburgh community 100 years from now. Ideas for “Pittsburgh’s Time Capsule of Tomorrow” can be submitted here from now until July 1, 2026.
Regional Partnership Events and Activities
This year, the City has partnered with local and national organizations to enhance Pittsburgh’s celebration throughout the days leading up to the Independence Day Celebration.
June 25: History After Hours: America’s 250th
The Heinz History Center in the Strip District will host a special “History After Hours: America’s 250th” program, featuring five floors of cocktails, vintage shopping, crafts, American history trivia, interactive experiences, and revolutionary fun.
June 27: Andy Warhol Bridge 100th Birthday Bash
From 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, June 27, join Allegheny County to celebrate the iconic Andy Warhol Bridge’s 100th anniversary. The bash will include an afternoon of music, food, games and art.
June 27: America250PA’s Commonwealth Concert Series
America250PA is ringing in the nation’s 250th year with a series of concerts throughout the Commonwealth. On June 27, Nelly and Third Eye Blind will take the stage in Point State Park with special guest Frzy and feature a state-of-the-art drone show.
June 27 – July 5: Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Market Square America’s 250th
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will celebrate in the newly refurbished Market Square with special programming running from June 27 through July 5. Join them for family-fun events, trivia, concerts and:
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June 30: Paint & Sip Special Edition in Celebration of America’s 250th
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July 1: Wind Down Wednesday
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July 2: Farmers Market America’s 250th programming
July 1 – July 4: National Flag Foundation Flag Sojourn
The National Flag Foundation will welcome unique and meaningful American and Pennsylvania flags to Pittsburgh. An American flag that has flown in every state in the Union – and a Pennsylvania Flag that has flown in each of the Commonwealth’s counties - will arrive in one of their final stops during their flag “Sojourn 250.” They will travel around the city and region before departing for Washington, DC and Harrisburg, respectively, on July 4.
July 2, July 3, July 4, and July 5: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Concerts
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be hosting a series of free concerts:
July 3: Sing 250 Choral Series Concert
In partnership with the Philadelphia Youth Choral Ensembles, America250PA is bringing the power of music and community storytelling to audiences across the Commonwealth through the America250PA Sing250 Choral Series. Pittsburgh's performance will bring the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh together with the South Hills Chorale at the O’Riley Theater in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.
July 4: Fourth of July at Arts Landing
Kick off America’s 250th birthday with the Fort Pitt Museum and join costumed re-enactors, local veterans, scouts and elected officials to ceremoniously raise a 36-foot American flag as part of a moving patriotic ceremony at 11:00 AM. An annual Fourth of July tradition in Pittsburgh, the ceremony will take place at the Fort Pitt Block House, owned by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Spend the afternoon immersed in Revolutionary-era excitement with booming cannon firings, martial music, living history demonstrations and hands-on family fun in Point State Park.
More details and timings will be announced leading up to the events and can be found here.
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