All The Fireworks Details Are On This Page!

• Bridges to Lewes Beach will be closed to inbound/eastbound motor vehicle traffic on the night of July 4th for safety and traffic control. The bridges will remain open for pedestrians, bicycles, and one lane will be open for outbound traffic.
• The Savannah Road Bridge will close to vehicular traffic at 7 pm
• The Freeman Highway bridge will close to vehicular traffic at 8 pm - Lewes Beach residents wishing to  cross the bridge after 7:00 should use Freeman Highway)
• All traffic will go directly out/westbound on Savannah Road after the show. There will be no turns onto Gills Neck Rd, Pilottown Road, and King's Highway to keep traffic moving efficiently.
• Cars will be held for at least a half hour after the fireworks to move pedestrians and cyclists safely off the roadway before permitting cars. Leaving the show early will just mean you will be sitting in your car waiting longer. All traffic will be held, including private lots. 
• Traffic coming out of the Cape Henlopen State Park will also be held to move vehicles closer to the Freeman Highway out first. 
• Cape Henlopen Drive traffic will leave via the Freeman Highway. All other traffic will leave via Savannah Road.

• We cannot say enough that the BEST way to avoid the traffic jams, if driving, is to ARRIVE EARLY AND LEAVE LATE! 
• All vehicular traffic will be held after the show to allow pedestrians and cyclists to exit and clear the roadways for motor vehicles. 
• Wait until traffic clears or use a traffic app on your smart phone to monitor traffic leaving the beach. Wait for the traffic to clear and then leave. It is much nicer to sit on the beach than to sit in traffic!
• For safety, leaving during the show is not advised as people stand in the lots to view. 
• Park in town and walk to the beach or watch from town if you want to leave right after the fireworks. 
• Scroll down this page for alternate viewing location ideas. There are many locations west of the canal that will have a nice view of the fireworks. 
• Please be polite and patient if you are waiting in traffic. Expect traffic to be similar to traffic leaving Rehoboth after their beach fireworks. Avoid the crush by using an alternate viewing location, walking, or waiting for traffic to clear before leaving. 
•  PLEASE be the kind,  patient, polite, and law-abiding citizens that make Lewes great everyday. These are our fireworks and we need to respect both private and city property, along with the first responders whose job it is to protect and enforce. We can all do our part. 

• Bathrooms- The bath houses at Beach 1 will be converted to ladies rooms and showers will be turned off by 7 pm. There will be additional Porta Potties for men, including handicapped Porta Potties at Beach 1/Savannah Beach and Beach 2/Johnnie Walker Beach. 
• There will be Porta Potties at the Roosevelt Inlet parking lot, on Cedar Ave by the Children's Beach House, and off Savannah Road on the City-owned land across from Cedar Avenue. 
• TRASH...DON'T LITTER!- PLEASE use receptacles for trash or, better yet, CARRY IN AND CARRY OUT! The City of Lewes Maintenance Dept will be emptying trash all day, but they cannot move in and out with the huge crowds. Please clean up after yourself by taking your trash to a can or dumpster, or take your trash home.
• Basically, please don't be trashy! We all love Lewes, so let's keep Lewes Clean by doing our part. Leaving trash on the beach is polluting the ocean. 
• TRASH UPDATE- Due to beach erosion, the trashcans have been moved to the entrances along Bay Avenue. PLEASE, do not leave trash on the beach. It will wash into the bay and can harm wildlife. Bring your trash to the cans on Bay Avenue or carry it out with you. 

• Walking or biking to the Fireworks is a great way to avoid parking and traffic jams, but there are some important safety steps to take.
• Bring Your Own Light! Bring flashlights and wear reflective clothing. The new Rail Trail is NOT LIT, so be sure to bring lights to see your way home in the dark safely. 
• Bicyclists, in addition to wearing reflective clothing/lights, need to observe all traffic laws, drive with traffic/stay to the right, use a headlight at night, and stay off the sidewalks.
• Please refer to the City of Lewes Bicycle and Pedestrian Guide for more information:  2019Bicycle_and_Pedestrian_Map_and_Guide (lewes.de.us)   and the Delaware Bike Safety Council page explains bike rules for Delaware:  Delaware Bike Council - Delaware Department of Transportation (deldot.gov) 
• The police will hold back motor vehicle traffic to move pedestrians and bicycles out first after the fireworks. We ask everyone on foot and bike to leave in as orderly a manner as you can after the fireworks end. Please watch out for each other and exit safely on Savannah Road. 

• All parking regulations will be fully enforced. Observe meters and do not block driveways or roadways.
• No parking will be permitted along  the shoulder of the roadway on Cape Henlopen Drive from Savannah Road to Cape Henlopen State Park and on the shoulder of the Savannah Road from the drawbridge to the beach.  Illegally parked cars on Cape Henlopen Drive contributed heavily to traffic problems in 2018 and will not be permitted. 
• Parking will be strictly enforced on the residential streets in Lewes Beach, as well as on the main roads and parking lots. Please do not park illegally, park on private property, or block access to roadways or driveways. 
• Metered parking will be in effect, and enforced, until 8:00 PM on July 4th at the Beach One and Beach Two parking lots: Savannah Beach/Beach One- http://www.ci.lewes.de.us/index.cfm?ref=12200&ref2=17Beach                       Johnnie Walker Beach/Beach Two- http://www.ci.lewes.de.us/index.cfm?ref=12200&ref2=18 
• Park in downtown Lewes and walk to the beach, if you are able, or park legally on side streets or in the City of Lewes parking lots.  Meters in effect until 8:00 pm. 
• Cape May Lewes Ferry: There may be some parking available in the Ferry parking lot, but it will be first come, first serve. Viewing is not guaranteed from the Ferry! It is all dependent on the exact location of the barge, which is dependent on tides and wave velocity. In other words, the location is out of our control. Watching from the Ferry is a gamble. Some years there is a good view. Other years the view is obstructed. 
• Cape Henlopen State Park: In past years people have viewed the fireworks from the Fishing Pier at CHSP. Sections of the Pier are closed and will not be open for viewing this year. Additional details:  End of Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier to Remain Closed for Structural Repairs - State of Delaware News 

• What Safety Precautions Should I follow? We ask you to use common sense to stay cool, healthy, and safe. It is always hot, so drink lots of water and carry enough water for your group. We do not have vendors on the beach, so bring your drinks and other supplies. Please clean up by carrying out what you carried in! To avoid stepping on others or tripping and falling, please wait until the fireworks are over to leave. The crowd leaving is fast and orderly, so please be patient and go with the flow, plus the cars are held in the parking lot. Watch where you walk and assist your children. Common sense and courtesy go a long way.
• Will there be buses? DART is not providing shuttle buses, but they will run their regular route 204 bus.  Public transportation will have the same hold ups as private vehicles. Click for schedule 
• Will the Lewes Line be running? The Lewes Line is no longer in operation, so that is not a transportation option. 
• Are There Additional Provisions or Services for the Handicapped?  Go Fourth utilizes the existing handicapped accommodations and facilities in the City of Lewes, but does not provide any additional services or aids to watch the fireworks. There is handicapped parking and restrooms at Savannah Beach and Johnie Walker Beach. These are first come, first served, as is all parking in Lewes. Emergency services does bring ATVs to the beach, but these are for patrolling and responding to emergencies only. They cannot be used as a shuttle service, so please do not ask officers to transport you.  Many residents with mobility issues find that watching from the Pilottown Road area is the easiest option. The boat ramp area is another place with easy access. We ask all viewers with medical needs to be prepared for a wait and have any needed medical supplies with them, in case they are delayed. 
• Are Pets Allowed?  We really discourage pets at the fireworks, as it is difficult for most pets and can be dangerous. Scroll down for more information.
•  Is there a rain date? Our rain date is July 5th, but no rain is allowed on July 4th!
• Are there any Fireworks boat cruises? There may be, but these boats are not affiliated with Go Fourth. Check with Lewes charter boat businesses. 
• Are Fires Allowed On The Beach? No. Bonfires are not allowed anywhere on Lewes Beach on July 4th! Bonfires on Lewes Beach require a permit and there are rules for fires. The City of Lewes will not be issuing any permits for bonfires on July 4th.
• Are the Beaches Guarded? Lifeguards will be on duty until 8:30 at Savannah Road and Johnnie Walker Beaches. Lifeguards will whistle to clear swimmers from the water at that time. Beaches are not guarded after 8:30. 
• Can I watch the fireworks from my boat? Yes, but follow all USCG rules and regulations. Stay at least 350 yards away from the barge, per the USCG, who will be enforcing the perimeter:  Federal Register :: Safety Zones; Fireworks Displays in the Fifth Coast Guard District 
• Where can I get updates? Check this page for updates and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more alerts. We post most on Facebook. Click here for our Facebook page.  and Click here for Instagram

Some people have expressed concerns about pets and fireworks. We listened. In fact, members of the fireworks committee are animal rescuers. We love our pets too! That is why we are strongly recommending that you leave your dog securely at home during the fireworks. While dogs are allowed on Lewes Beach after 6:30 pm, many dogs are frightened by fireworks. Dogs must always be on leash on Lewes Beach.  Please see the links below for ideas on keeping your dog safe and happy on July 4th.

Unfortunately, more pets run off on this day than any other, especially dogs. Due to the increased traffic expected on the beach this could be a very dangerous situation. It's not worth the risk. 

For more information: http://www.wideopenpets.com/more-dogs-are-lost-july-4th-than-any-other-day-keep-yours-safe/

AVMA advice: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/July-4-Safety.aspx

ASPCA Tips: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips

Management ideas for pets who are afraid: https://positively.com/contributors/10-safety-and-calming-tips-for-dogs-during-fireworks/