Capitol 250: North Carolina Freedom Fest on July 4

The North Carolina State Capitol, at 1 East Edenton Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, is hosting Capitol 250: North Carolina Freedom Fest on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is a FREE family event.

This downtown Raleigh celebration will complement a morning parade organized by the N.C. Department of Labor and evening fireworks at Dix Park organized by the City of Raleigh.

The gathering at the N.C. State Capitol will celebrate Independence Day and America’s Semiquincentennial and features:

• Musical performances (see below)
• Carolina hurricanes KidZone
• Trolley tours of historic downtown Raleigh
• Living history
• Special exhibits
• More than 50 vendors and food trucks
• Independence Day Ceremony
• Much more!

Entertainment by:

• Tift Merritt
• Rissi Palmer
• Nest of Singing Birds
• 82nd Airborne All-American Brass Quintet
• Wake & District Raleigh Pipe Band
• N.C. Governor’s School Choir
• Poet Zack Zachary

Schedule

• 10 a.m.: Trolley Tours of Historic Raleigh
• 10 a.m.: Carolina Hurricanes Kids Zone opens
• 10 a.m.: Exhibitors and Vendors open
• 10-10:30 a.m.: 82nd Airborne All American Brass Quintet on Main Stage
• 10:45-11:15 a.m.: Governor’s School Choir on Main Stage
• 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Wake & District on Main Stage
• 12 p.m.: Vietnam Veterans Monthly Ceremony
• 12:30 p.m.: Ceremony (with music by the Raleigh Concert Band, Color Guard, National Anthem, wreath laying, reading of Declaration, more)
• 1:40 to 2 p.m.: Poet Zack Zachary on Main Stage
• 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.: Nest of Singing Birds on Main Stage
• 3 to 3:45 p.m.: Tift Merritt and Rissi Palmer on Main Stage

Exhibitors

• Carolina Hurricanes Kid Zone
• Carolina Ballet
• City of Raleigh Historic Resources and Museums
• Raleigh Sons of the American Revolution
• Baker Co. Women’s Army Corps
• Moores Creek National Battlefield
• Bricks & Minifigs Downtown Raleigh
• NC Department of Adult Correction
• North Carolina Office of the State Auditor
• NC DMVA
• NC Department of Insurance
• NC Commerce
• NC Department of State Treasurer
• NC Office of State Human Resources
• NC Department of Transportation
• NC Department of Information Technology

Vendors

• Claudia Pastry LLC
• Faye’s Sweet Shack
• The Burrow
• WearEvers Jewelry
• The Daisy Butterfly
• Swift Creek Giftworks
• Beetle Hollow
• Printed by Patti
• Sacred Honor
• MOH Associates
• Thornback Treasures
• Bricks & Minifigs Downtown Raleigh
• Ex’s and Oh’s Studio
• Toushea Skincare
• Humblehandz
• NC Aquarium Society
• Henry’s Hot Chicken
• Pamela Washington Jewelry
• Two Roosters Ice Cream
• Jolley’s Snackbox
• Mr. Puebla Tacos
• Jolly’s Catering
• Bulgogi Korean BBQ