WILLIAMSBURG — As the Fourth of July daytime activities wind down, everyone looks to the sky for dazzling fireworks displays across the country and Colonial Williamsburg is no different.
Ahead of the show tonight, WYDaily spoke with Rob Currie, Executive Director of Performing Arts and Special Events at Colonial Williamsburg, for a special preview of the crackles and colors to come.
Currie, who also works on designing the annual Grand Illumination fireworks show, described the Fourth of July experience, “The Colonial Williamsburg July 4 fireworks show is a blend of large, high-altitude shells mixed with the intensity of our signature Grand Illumination fireworks. The Lights of Freedom is the best of both worlds.”
Attending the show, which takes place over the Palace every year, has been a tradition for many area families. Attendees have come to expect a reading of the Declaration of Independence and patriotic music, but Currie and his team actively work to add new elements each year.
“Each year, we try to add something new and exciting to the show. Over the past few years, we have added additional staging and lighting to make the Palace Green feel like one big venue. We have a talented team of creative people, and we all collaborate to design and refine the show,” Currie explained.
The team’s top priority? Safety.
“Safety is our number one priority. We work closely with the Williamsburg Fire Department and our own Department of Public Safety to ensure that our events are executed safely for both our guests and staff. We also work with our Landscape and Conservation teams to protect our historic sites, collections, and gardens,” Currie said.
On the day of the show, Currie and his team are hard at work from sunup to sundown.
“July 4 is a long day for our team. Between producing a full day of special Historic Area programs and preparing for the big evening show, our team works hard to support one another throughout the day and to ensure that all our stage performers are ready to go. Late in the day, we gather for a final safety briefing and provide updates for all those working at the event. I am fortunate to have a talented team of dedicated professionals to work with who make it all look so easy,” Currie said.
The 2025 show will feature the Virginia Chorale, the Commonwealth’s chorus, for a performance of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Currie also said there will be a few special effects surprises in store.
“We have a great deal of respect for our history and traditions, so we always strive to honor what has come before us while imagining new and innovative ways to tell our stories. It is a delicate blend of modern technology and 18th-century aesthetics. We have this incredible historic environment to work with, so if we add something new, we hope that it enhances the magical feeling of Colonial Williamsburg at night,” Currie said.
Planning for the 2025 show started the day after the 2024 show ended, and the 2026 show will be no different, as the country gathers to celebrate its 250th birthday.
“Folks can expect one of the most ambitious and inspiring July 4 celebrations ever produced here at Colonial Williamsburg,” Currie says of the 2026 show.
Fireworks will begin over Colonial Williamsburg tonight at 9:30 p.m. over the Governor’s Palace. To learn more, visit colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/lights-of-freedom.