4-H Center Preparing for 40th Annual Fireworks Celebration in Warren County

The Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center is preparing for its annual Independence Day fireworks celebration, marking 40 years of the community tradition this summer.

Katie Tennant, executive director of the 4-H Center, said this year’s event on July 3 will feature an expanded fireworks display as part of the America 250 celebration.

“We’re really excited for a couple of reasons this year,” Tennant said during a recent interview. “It’s our 40th year doing it for the community, and this year, to make it bigger and better because it’s the VA 250, we are partnering with them to make a special, big, better, awesome 250th show.”

The fireworks event has become one of the largest annual summer gatherings in Warren County, drawing families from across the region to the 4-H Center grounds.

Tennant said gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3. The evening will include food trucks, a children’s zone hosted by Play Favorites, and a patriotic performance by the American Legion Band beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The fireworks display will begin at dusk.

“The show’s going to be longer, better finale,” Tennant said. “We’re pulling out all the stops to really celebrate America’s 250th birthday.”

Parking in the lower lot will cost $5 per vehicle, while parking in the upper lot closer to the festivities will cost $10 per vehicle.

Tennant said organizers added portable restrooms in the lower parking area this year after receiving community feedback from previous events.

“Some people just want to tailgate, do a picnic, do their own thing,” she said.

Shuttle vans, hayrides, and golf carts will help transport visitors up the hill before the fireworks begin, though attendees will need to walk back to their vehicles afterward due to traffic patterns.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Gap Fire and Rescue, and Warren County EMS will assist with traffic control and public safety during the celebration.

The fireworks display is supported by several local sponsors, including Warren County VA250, E.E. Reed Construction, State Farm agents Ellen Ayers and Bill Powers, Valley Health, City National Bank, Auto Care Clinic, and the Rotary Club of Warren County.

Tennant noted that the event remains free to the public thanks to sponsor support.

In addition to the fireworks celebration, the 4-H Center continues to host summer resident camps serving youth from 19 Northern Virginia localities stretching from Alexandria to Shenandoah County.

Camp activities include canoeing, archery, yoga, outdoor skills, STEM classes, and traditional camp programs.

The center’s swimming pool is also open to the public on weekends when not being used for camp programs.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for the fireworks show. Alcohol, glass containers, and pets other than service animals are prohibited.

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