Whether you come for the spectacular fireworks, to celebrate our youthful country’s independence or just to take in all that the Queen City has to offer, Burlington’s Waterfront Fireworks are guaranteed to be a good time. Activities will kick off at 5:30 p.m., so come early and experience all the food, music, and fun before the 9:30 p.m. show. An overview of the entertainment and activities can be found here.
Looking for a stress-free and enjoyable experience? Aren’t we all. There are a few things you should know about navigating parking and traffic on the day of the show. Read on.
When it comes to parking, there are a few options that are recommended. Lakeview and College Street garages will have $5 event rate parking starting at 4 p.m. If you choose this route, remember that College and Battery Street exits will be closed from 9:30-11 p.m. by order of the Burlington Police Department. To leave during that time, you will need to use the Cherry Street exit located on the fourth floor.
Perkins Pier lot will be $10 for cars and $20 for trailers. The Waterfront Parking Lot is available for handicap parking and seasonal boaters on a first come first serve basis. Handicap parking spaces can also be found at Perkins Pier and Lake Street Extension next to the A_Dog Skatepark. Keep in mind that these spots might fill up later in the night.
Don’t want to drive downtown? Park at the University of Vermont Gutterson Parking Garage and take the shuttle down to the waterfront for $1 round trip tickets. The shuttles will run continuously from 3:45-11:30 p.m.
For those who decide to ditch parking completely (highly recommended), Local Motion will be providing free valet parking for bikes. Valet bike parking will be located north of the Waterfront parking lot on Lake Street.
Don’t want to drive or bike? There is another way. Check out Vermont Railway’s Independence Day Flyer, with stops in Charlotte, Shelburne, and South Burlington.
After the event, please be patient and be aware that heavy traffic will occur by the waterfront and throughout the downtown. Pedestrians and shuttle buses will take priority on the roads, so cars that have parked at the waterfront should be prepared to wait at least an hour after the show has ended.
Traffic flow on College, Cherry or Pearl streets will be directed to Colchester Avenue or Route 127. Motorists are highly encouraged to use the designated streets mentioned, and avoid neighborhoods or cross town routes. All parking lots off Lake Street will exit up Depot Street at the end of the night.