This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

UPDATED: 2011 Fourth of July Guide for Loudoun

List of local firework shows, fire marshal approved retail stands and Fourth of July fun facts.

UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL EVENTS 11:45 p.m. July 2

Parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues will mark Independence Day across the country, and of course, Loudoun is no exception. Ashburn Patch has prepared a guide, complete with a few fun facts, to help celebrate the Fourth in style. [Photos and video are from the Ashburn Farm Summer Kickoff.]


Find out what's happening in Ashburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Where to See Fireworks

Local firework shows begin with the . On Saturday, the and the are hosting fireworks shows. Sunday night, take in displays in and at the

Find out what's happening in Ashburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For the big day, July 4th, shows are scheduled at:

Please remember that personal fireworks of any type are PROHIBITED at these venues.

 

Parades and Other Events

July 2

  • Independence Day Festival Celebration in Sterling at the Sterling Park Golf and Swim Club starting at 11 a.m.
  • Annual Independence Day Celebration in Hillsboro at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School starting at 6 p.m.

July 3

  • Lovettsville Independence Day Celebration in Lovettsville at the Community Center starting at 4:30 p.m.
  • Fireworks Extravaganza in Leesburg at Lansdowne Resort celebration starting at 6 p.m.

July 4

  • 21st Annual Independence Day Parade in Leesburg at Ida Lee starting at 10 a.m.
  • Ol’ Time Fourth of July Celebration in Sterling at the Claude Moore Park starting at 11 a.m.
  • Waterford Independence Day Parade in Waterford on Factory Street starting at 11 a.m.
  • Fourth of July Parade in Purcellville on N. Maple Avenue starting at 12:30 p.m.
  • Independence Day Celebration in Purcellville at Franklin Park starting at 6 p.m.
  • 21st Annual Independence Day Celebration in Leesburg at Ida Lee starting at 6 p.m.

 

Where To Buy Fireworks

Permissible fireworks for personal use may be purchased at stands throughout the county, and may only be used on private property with the consent of the owner. To protect yourself and others, only buy fireworks from permitted stands in Loudoun County. These fireworks have been tested and approved.

 

Fun Facts #1: Patriotic-Sounding Locations

  • Thirty-one places across the country have "liberty" in their names. The most populous one as of 2010, is Liberty, MO (29,149). Iowa has four places with the work in their names, including Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty. Locally, Fauquier County has Liberty High School, while drivers in Loudoun may sometimes fill up at a Liberty gas station.
  • Thirty-five places have "eagle" in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, TX (26,248).
  • Eleven places have "independence" in their names. The most populous one is Independence, MO (116,830).
  • Nine places have "freedom" in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, PA (4,464). And, of course, Loudoun has Freedom High School.
  • There is one place with "patriot" in the name, Patriot, IN. And the George Mason University Patriots play at the Patriot Center in Fairfax.
  • Five places have "America" in their names. The most populous is American Fork, UT (26,263).
  • In 2010, $98.3 billion was traded between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.

 

Fun Facts #2: America Then and Now

  • On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation.
  • In July 1776, 2.5 million people lived in the newly independent nation.
  • In July 2011, 311.7 million people are living in the United States.

 

Fun Facts #3: Fireworks

  • In 2010, $190.7 million dollars were spent on imported fireworks from China, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($197.3 million).
  • In 2007, U.S. manufacturers' shipped $231.8 million worth of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc).

 

Fun Facts #4: Fourth of July Cookouts

  • There is a 25 percent chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19.0 million hogs and pigs as of March 1, 2011. This estimate represents more than one-fourth of the nation's estimated total.
  • Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for 6.8 billion lbs., or about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (4.6 billion lbs.) or Kansas (4.1 billion lbs.).
  • Odds are that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 36 percent of the nation's dry, edible beans in 2010. Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia, Washington and New York together accounted for 68 percent of the fresh market sweet corn produced nationally in 2010.

Download the movie

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?