Independence Day celebrations are underway across North Carolina.
Gov. Pat McCrory rode in a parade Thursday morning in the small Rowan County town of Faith, where organizers were expecting 30,000 people.
In Durham, the popular Festival for the Eno starts today at Eno River State Park. Laura Nichols of Durham's Parks and Recreation department says the Durham Bulls are also launching fireworks from the outfield after tonight's baseball game.
"After the 7th inning, the gates will open for general admission to the Bulls for free, so anyone can come in. They pull out the wagon and shoot them up right in the air, so anyone at the stadium has a great view," Nichols says.
Raleigh is hosting two fireworks displays; one downtown and another at Red Hat Amphitheater. The city added the second show after some residents complained they could not see the downtown display behind the city's skyline.
"The good view to see those Fayetteville St. fireworks in front of the Duke Energy Center is strictly on Fayetteville St," says Taylor Traversari, who's been managing this year's fetival.
"Once you get behind a building, it's very difficult to see, but then once you get over to the 10:10 p.m. fireworks at the Red Hat Amphitheater, there are much more views from surrounding areas. You should be able to see inside the amphitheater and out."
Chapel Hill residents can go to Kenan Stadium on the UNC campus tonight for music and fireworks. Among other events was a naturalization ceremony Thursday morning at the Old Salem Historic District in Winston-Salem, where records show Independence Day celebrations began in 1783.