Fort Bragg’s Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation is gearing up to celebrate the 4 of July with their “biggest yet” event. For over 20 years, the Red, White and Boom event has brought attendees an unforgettable celebration, and this year will be no different. An impressive lineup of musical artists, patriotic ceremonies, fun for kids, food, and a fireworks show will keep visitors busy from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 28. The event is free and open to the public.
Amanda Cahill, special events Coordinator for the MWR, said she’s excited about the lineup.
“From doors opening, there is just so much entertainment going on. I’m excited for basically everything,” she said.
Doors open at 3 p.m. and Cahill recommends coming early and making sure everyone over 18 has a DoD ID or visitor pass. The event annually draws between 65,000 and 75,000, making preparation and early arrival essential.
At 4:30 p.m., visitors will get their first taste of music for the day when the All American Chorus (replacing the 82nd Airborne Division Rock Band) performs. At 5 p.m., there will be a Golden Knights parachute demonstration. The U.S. Army Parachute Team, also known as the Golden Knights, is “a combination of expert teams and soldiers brought together by their love of skydiving,” according to goarmy.com. They have performed around the world at festivals, airshows and sporting events.
Their demonstration will be followed by a flag ceremony at 5:32 p.m.
“We'll have the traditional five harmony with the Tanna salute, representing all 50 states and US territories. We'll have the colors of the major commands, major subordinate commands, tenant units of Fort Bragg, the colors of the United States Army and the flag of the United States of America,” Cahill said of the ceremony.
Starting at 3 p.m., three highly anticipated artists will consecutively take the stage: Parmalee, Neon Trees, and headliner, Ludacris. Cahill said they’ve received incredible feedback regarding these artists.
“We’ve had tremendous feedback on social media when we announced our artists. Everyone is super excited. We definitely have people that come back year after year and it's been nothing but great responses,” said Cahill.
Parmalee, an American Country Music band from Parmele, North Carolina, is known for its new album Fell in Love with a Cowgirl, including the headline track Cowgirl. The band performs a diverse range of sounds, ranging from traditional-leaning to ultra-contemporary, according to their website.
Neon Trees is a Pop alt-rock band founded in Provo, Utah. Known most recently for their 2024 album Sink Your Teeth, they will perform at 7:10 p.m. following Parmalee.
Atlanta-based rapper and actor Ludacris will headline the event at 8:30 p.m. For individuals with young children, check out Kiddie Land. There, kids will be entertained by summer favorites such as inflatables, slides, and bounce houses.
Families and individuals looking to beat the heat throughout the day can reserve a spot in Tent City. Reservations for Tent City open June 12 at noon. Two options are available for reservations; guests can rent a spot and bring their own tent for $20, or they can pay $50 and have a place with a tent already set up.
Visitors can look forward to plenty of food options offered by vendors.
“We have a variety of different foods, from fair food to hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream—all the good stuff,” Cahill said.
Vendor lists are available online.
Every visitor over 18 who is not a DoD ID cardholder must go online to obtain a visitor pass. April Olsen, Media Relations representative from the Fort Bragg Public Affairs Office recommends visitors do this no later than June 21. To register for a visitor pass, visit https://home.army.mil/bragg/ and select “Online Visitor Pass.” According to Olsen, a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or acceptable alternative identification (birth certificate, passport, etc.) is needed to register for a visitor pass.
“Guests can also obtain a pass in person at the All American Gate Visitor Center on the day of the event, but should expect long lines and delays,” Olsen explained.
Main parking is located at the Womack Army Medical Center, and ADA-compliant parking is available closer to the venue. Cahill recommended visitors review the prohibited items list before attending. Prohibited items include pets (except service dogs), self-defense items, alcoholic beverages, handheld weapons, glass bottles or glass containers, and tents (without permit, event-specific).
The event will end with a “boom,” showcasing 15 minutes of fireworks.
Cahill encouraged the community to take advantage of the free event and plan ahead to avoid unnecessary delays.
“It’s an amazing event for Fort Bragg and the surrounding community to come and celebrate the independence of our nation. We encourage everyone to come out if they’re able to,” she shared.
Access details of the event at bragg.armymwr.com.

(Photo: The Red, White, and Boom event at Fort Bragg celebrates the 4th of July with concerts, parachute demonstrations and, of course, fireworks. Photo courtesy of Amanda Cahill, Fort Bragg FMWR)