How to watch Fourth of July fireworks at home

The Fourth of July isn’t canceled, but it sure does feel like it. 

With cities all over the U.S. holding off on any huge celebrations as the coronavirus outbreak resurges, many sanctioned fireworks displays are going dark.

Short of setting off a fireworks show in your backyard or from your front stoop, your phone or computer (or VR headset) can dazzle you with the sights and sounds that the pandemic very unpatriotically took from us.

Whether it’s an augmented reality app adding a layer of exploding color to your living room or opening the Snapchat app, the Independence Day spirit isn’t gone. It’s just digital this year.

Filter it

Snapchat is offering special Fourth of July lenses on the disappearing messaging platform this weekend. Your background will be popping with red, white, and blue.

Snapchat copycat apps like Instagram and Facebook also usually celebrate with festive, thematic add-ons in Stories, so it’s easy enough to make your next post look like you were there.

Augmented Reality fireworks come to you

Freedom Fire 

The Freedom Fire AR app for Android and iOS devices brings the fireworks wherever you are. Open the app, point where you want to see a show, and select one of the fireworks options like “Purple Rain” or something more 1776 with Founding Fathers and American flags lighting up the sky.

Total AR

Download this free smartphone app and watch a show on July 4 just like you planned. The app will be streaming the grand finale through the app that night starting at 9 p.m. ET. On the days leading up to the holiday you can watch a sample firework show or browse other AR scenes like floating hot air balloons or colorful rainbows.

Get Immersed with virtual reality

Pick up your Oculus (or other personal VR) headset and head to the YouTube VR app. From there you can find past livestreams of fireworks shows — right in front of your eyes. Any 360-degree videos work in the app, like this one from inside a firework show. If you don’t have any extra equipment you can still watch the 360 videos on your phone or computer.

Just stream it

If enhancing or changing reality doesn’t fool you, just watch some spectacular pyrotechnics from past years. Various YouTube streams offer enough eye-popping explosions to keep you satisfied until New Year’s. If you’re up for fireworks of any kind (not just Independence Day shows), channels like this are full of colorful shows from around the world and updated regularly.

Almost the real thing

While not completely digital, these LED rocket fireworks are almost like the real, fiery thing. Launch the colorful lights 300 feet up and use an app to control where they’ll land. 

Turn on the TV

Local news stations will bring something to the TV screen on Saturday night to celebrate America’s 244 years even if your local firework show is canceled. If it’s a real snoozer, you can always flip to Hamilton.