Celebrate July 4 around Lake Wylie

Fireworks will rain on Lake Wylie again this Independence Day.

The annual fireworks display begins at 9:45 p.m. July 4. Fireworks shoot off from Camp Thunderbird on the South Carolina side of Buster Boyd Bridge. Viewing options include local restaurants and parking lots, including Buster Boyd Access Area.

How many fireworks there will be is still up in the air.

“We are currently at around $8,000 funds received on a goal of $15,000,” Brad Rippetoe, operations director at Camp Thunderbird, said June 25. “So we’re still a ways away from our goal.”

Camp hosts the event but doesn’t pay for the fireworks; community donations do. In the past, organizers committed to a $20,000 show, but in recent years have been committing to however large a show community donations can guarantee.

“We’d really love to do a $15,000 fireworks show similar to what we’ve done in the past,” Rippetoe said.

Camp continues to accept donations through, and past, July 4. Donations can be mailed to Camp Thunderbird Fireworks Fund, 1 Thunderbird Lane, Lake Wylie, SC 29710, to the attention of Rhonda Auten. Checks should be labeled “fireworks display.”

Other spots for July 4 festivities include Tega Cay and south Charlotte. Tega Cay celebrates its birthday each July 4. This year the Red, White and Blue Golf Tournament begins at 9 a.m., as does the annual land parade on Tega Cay Drive.

A boat parade from Nivens Creek to Windjammer Park begins at 11 a.m., arriving at the park about 12:30 p.m. A canoe joust at Windjammer begins at 11 a.m., with the Carolina Show Ski Team performing at 1 p.m.

The golf club pavilion hosts an event with water slides, bounce houses and other activities for children from 3 to 5 p.m. A Lions Club fish fry runs 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Glennon Center. Cake follows, and the evening ends in Tega Cay with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

At Carowinds, the Celebrate America Fireworks Show begins at 10 p.m. The fireworks display is part of a weekend that includes a Daughtry concert July 2 and free admission with a military ID July 3-5.

Another fireworks tradition each year is Skyshow Charlotte. Billed as the largest fireworks display in the southeast, the show this year follows a baseball game between Team USA and Team Cuba at BB&T Park in Charlotte. The game begins at 5 p.m.

For more information on upcoming events, visit tegacaysc.org, carowinds.com or skyshowcharlotte.com.

Brattonsville, Fort Mill and other York County destinations hold their own July 4 events. A list is available at visityorkcounty.com.

This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Celebrate July 4 around Lake Wylie."