Sunday FOMO: New York State’s Fourth of July Celebration
250 years of independence. 50 years of fireworks. Sugar Ray headlines Albany's biggest Fourth.
The Declaration of Independence turns 250 on Saturday. Mark McGrath plans to help Albany celebrate.
New York State’s Fourth of July Celebration — presented for the 50th consecutive year by Market 32 and Price Chopper and recognized as the largest Independence Day event in upstate New York — returns to Empire State Plaza on July 4 with Sugar Ray headlining a free program from 5 to 10 p.m.
The lineup includes three opening acts, a Military Color Guard ceremony, fireworks at 9:15 p.m., America 250 exhibits throughout the Plaza, and more than two dozen food vendors. No ticket required.
Sugar Ray
McGrath co-founded Sugar Ray alongside lead guitarist Rodney Sheppard. The band has sold more than 10 million records, charted four top-10 singles, and accumulated more than a billion streams. Their catalog — “Fly,” “Someday,” “Every Morning,” “Falls Apart,” “When It’s Over” — defined a particular stretch of late-1990s rock radio, and they’ve shared stages with the Rolling Stones, KISS, and the Sex Pistols.
The band has been drawing renewed attention in recent years. Rolling Stone and Billboard have covered their comeback momentum; NPR noted their return to the airy rock sound that first made them famous. Sugar Ray takes the main stage at 8 p.m.
Margo Macero Band
The evening opens at 5 p.m. with Margo Macero Band — and it’s worth arriving early.
Macero, the niece of jazz producer Teo Macero, plays blues-infused rock built on fierce guitar work and a vocal presence that doesn’t pull punches. She spent more than a year off the road following a 2023 car accident. Her return show in Boston drew more than 1 million online views. She’s been on the road since, with recent dates in Chicago, Saratoga Springs, Key West, and points in between.
The Ill Funk Ensemble
At 6:15 p.m., Albany’s own Ill Funk Ensemble takes the main stage.
Frequently compared to The Roots, the group has been part of the regional music scene for more than 17 years. They blend hip-hop, neo-soul, R&B, and rock into a set that works as well on a festival stage as it does in a club. They’ve collaborated with producer Quincy Jones and shared bills with Naughty by Nature and members of the Wu-Tang Clan.
The Full Lineup
DJ Mr. CEO holds the main stage at 7:15 p.m., followed by the NYS Military Color Guard and official program at 7:30 p.m.
The North Stage runs simultaneously, with Averill Park High School Jazz at 5:30 p.m. and Albany Rock Pit at 6:20 p.m.
Scattered throughout the Plaza: America 250 exhibits, American Revolution reenactors, bounce houses, stilt walkers, and Westchester Circus Arts. Food vendors include Ted’s Fish Fry on Wheels, The Skinny Pancake, Emack & Bolio’s, Greek on the Run, and Kona Ice, among more than two dozen options.
Fireworks follow at 9:15 p.m. The event is free.
