Carlsbad will be celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday by doing what it does best—holding an expanded weekend Independence Day celebration featuring fireworks, parades, and musical acts.
Celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial—a term as hard to pronounce as it is to spell—will begin in the Cavern City on July 3rd. The United Way of Eddy County will host a GLOW Mini Golf Tournament that evening, while two local bands, Last Child and Grupo Maldad, will perform at the Beach Bandshell (6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively). Food trucks will be set up in the area on both Friday and Saturday. The annual Independence Day parade will again be hosted by Carlsbad MainStreet the morning of July 4th. The parade will wrap up at the downtown Cavern Theatre where Mayor Rick Lopez and other delegates will honor local veterans during a brief ceremony.
“In past Fourth of July celebrations, we have had the privilege of honoring veterans from different eras, including Vietnam, World War II, etc.,” noted Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez. “For the 250th anniversary, we wanted to take a broader approach and ensure we recognize all veterans who have served our country, regardless of war or branch of service. It is important to us that every veteran is included and honored for their sacrifice and commitment.”
Every summer, tens of thousands of residents and visitors pack Carlsbad’s beach area for a day of family and fun, and there is no doubt that the beach area will again be a highlight of this year’s activities. The City of Carlsbad, thanks to several generous sponsors, will enhance the experience by offering face painting, hair tinsel, and GellyBall. A watermelon eating contest is also on the agenda, as is music by DJ G Money.
Concert performances on July 4th will begin at 4:30 p.m. with an hour long performance by the Teague Brothers (a Rock and Country group). From there, the stage will be turned over to Grupo Veneno, a popular band featuring local performer Jody Vasquez. Finally, country artist Jacob Stelly will wrap up the evening’s musical performances.
The marquee event of the evening, of course, is Carlsbad’s annual fireworks display, which was expanded last year (and this) to include a state-of-the art drone show. “As part of our 250th Fourth of July celebration, we are excited to bring the community together at the bandshell and beach area for a full day of activities, live music, and entertainment, culminating in a fireworks and drone show that continues to build on what we introduced last year,” Lopez concluded. “This year’s display will be the biggest and best Carlsbad has seen, and we look forward to everyone coming out to enjoy a safe and memorable celebration together.”
Article written by Kyle Marksteiner and originally published in Focus on Artesia 2026 Summer edition.
Kyle Marksteiner
Kyle Marksteiner is the executive director of the United Way of Eddy County. He is also the editorial director of The Carlsbad Local. Marksteiner previously served as the Public Information Officer for the City of Carlsbad. He has more than 25 years of experience in media and communications. He may be reached at director@uweddyco.org.
