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While the 4th of July will look different for much of the Outer Banks this year with professional fireworks shows in Dare County canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19, families can still enjoy their traditions and celebrations in a re-imagined way.

It may be more tempting than ever to shoot off your own fireworks, but leaving the patriotic pyrotechnics to the professionals is always a wise idea. If you are familiar with the Outer Banks, you know it can be quite windy and many of the beach cottages and homes in the area have wooden shingles. “Wind, wood, dry dune grass and fireworks are not the perfect combination for a festive 4th of July!” states a Dare County press release. “Opt for the beach, sun, waves and stars instead! This 4th of July, grab a blanket (and some bug spray) and head out to your favorite beach to watch for shooting stars.”

All fireworks are illegal in the following areas: the towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Nags Head and Manteo and some sections of unincorporated Dare County, including Hatteras Island.

Before lighting any fireworks, visit darenc.com/fireworks to find each town’s ordinances and specific rules and regulations.

Illegal fireworks in the state of North Carolina include devices that leave the ground, such as bottle rockets and mortars, and have a report or “bang.” Examples of these include firecrackers and M80s. These types of devices are not legally available in North Carolina.

The use of legal fireworks is allowed in the towns of Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills as well as the unincorporated areas of Roanoke Island and the Dare mainland villages.

Pyrotechnics commonly known as “safe and sane” fireworks are the only fireworks legally allowed in areas of North Carolina where local ordinances don’t prohibit their use entirely. These devices include caps, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, trick noise makers, sparklers and other sparkling devices such as fountains.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

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