John Adams believed July 2nd would be celebrated for generations to come (not July 4th). On July 2nd the Continental Congress voted for independence from Great Britain. It was on July 4th the delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of America sine 1776, but it was only been a federal holiday since 1941.
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
-John Adams 3-July-1776 : to his wife Abigail (source)
Interested in seeing fireworks? The following list is from CTVisit.com
Thursday, June 30th
- Westport
WPAL Independence Day Fireworks – Compo Beach (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/1/2016
Friday, July 1st
- Danbury
SummerStage & Fireworks – Danbury Fair (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/2/2016 - Derby
Derby Fireworks – Downtown Derby/Shelton (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - Hamden
Hamden’s 23rd Annual Fireworks Display – Town Center Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/2/2016 - Killingly
Red, White and Blue BBQ – Owen Bell Park: Rt 101 at Rt 12 (Conclusion of Event). Rain Date: None - Middletown
Fireworks & Concert– City Hall/Harbor Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/2/2016 - Naugatuck
Fireworks Celebration – Old Firehouse Road (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/2/2016 - New London
Fireworks – Ocean Beach Park (8:00 PM). Rain Date: None - Oxford
The 2016 Quaker Farms Fire Co. Annual Carnival – 30 Great Oak Road (9:45 PM). Rain Date: None - Shelton
Derby-Shelton Fireworks – Housatonic River Area-Derby (9:20 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - Simsbury
Talcott Mountain Festival – Celebrate America – Proforming Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows (Following Concert). Rain Date: 7/2/2016 - Stafford Springs
Independence Day Celebration w/ Fireworks – Stafford Motor Speedway (After Completion of Feature Events). Rain Date: None - Stratford
Stratford Fireworks – Short Beach Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/5/2016 - West Haven
West Haven Fireworks – Bradley Point (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016
Saturday, July 2nd
- Bristol
Independence Celebration – Lake Compounce Family Theme Park (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/8/2016 - Darien
Fourth of July Fireworks – Darien High School (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - Fairfield
Independence Day Fireworks – Jennings Beach (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 or 7/4/2016 if necessary - Greenwich
Fireworks Display – Greenwich Point Park & Binney Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - Lakeville
Salisbury Rotary club Independence Day Fireworks – Lime Rock Park (Dusk). Rain Date: None - Manchester
James “Dutch” Fogarty 4th of July Celebration – Manchester Band Shell (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - New Britain
Independence Day Fireworks Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - New Milford
Fireworks Celebration – Town Green (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/29/2016 - Orange
Independence Day Concert and Fireworks Display 2016 – Orange Fairgrounds Gazebo (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - Warren
July 4th Fireworks – Lake Waramug (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 - Washington
The Last Blast – Shepaug Valley Middle High School (Conclusion of Event). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Sunday, July 3rd
- Madison
Madison CT Fireworks – Waterfront area off of West Wharf Beach (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/8/2016 - Waterbury
Independence Day Fireworks – Holy Land (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/10/2016
Monday, July 4th
- Cheshire
July 4th Fireworks – Kurtz Farm, Peck Lane (Dusk). Rain Date: None - Haddam
Search for Fireworks Sunset Cruise – Eagle Landing State Park (Departs at 7:30 PM). Rain Date: None - Middlebury
3D Fireworks – Quassy Amusement Park (After Dark). Rain Date: None - New Britain
The Great American Boom – Stanley Quarter Park (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016 - New Haven
Fireworks – Wilbur Cross High School (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/9/2016 - Norwalk
Rowayton Civic Association Fireworks – Bayley Beach (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016 - Norwich
July 4th Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - Weston
Weston’s Family 4th Celebration – Weston Middle School Field (9:20 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016
Wednesday, July 6th
- Rockville
July in the Sky – Henry Park (9:40 PM fireworks, festival starts at 6:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/7/2016
Friday, July 8th
- New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks Fire Department Carnival – Veteran’s Memorial Park (9:30 PM). Rain Date: None
Saturday, July 9th
- Groton
Fort Griswold Celebration on the Thames – Fort Griswold State Park (9:20 PM). Rain Date: None - Guilford
Community Picnic & Fireworks – Fairgrounds on Lovers Lane (7:00 PM). Rain Date: None - New London
Sailfest-Fireworks Extravaganza – Waterfront Park and State Pier (9:30 PM). Rain Date: None
Sunday, July 10th
- Enfield
Fireworks Extravaganza – Town Green (9:45 PM). Rain Date: None
Saturday, July 16th
- Canaan
Canaan Railroad Days Fireworks – Lawrence Field (9:00 PM). Rain Date: None - Newington
Extravaganza – Mill Pond Park (Conclusion of Event). Rain Date: None - Niantic
Celebrate East Lyme – Pennsylvania Avenue/Main Street (End of Festival). Rain Date: None
Friday, July 22nd
- New London
Fireworks – Ocean Beach Park (9:00 PM). Rain Date: None
Saturday, July 23rd
- Bridgeport
Fireworks – Bridgeport Bluefish – The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Friday, July 29th
- New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - Thomaston
Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department Fireworks – Carnival Ground on Sanford Field (9 PM). Rain Date: None
Saturday, July 30th
- Portland
Fireworks – Portland Fairground (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/31/2016
Friday, August 5th
- New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Saturday, August 6th
- North Branford
Potato & Corn Festival – Auger Field (9:15 PM). Rain Date: None
Friday, August 12th
- New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None - New London
Fireworks – Ocean Beach Park (9:00 PM). Rain Date: None - Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Saturday, August 13th
- New Britain
Fireworks – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Saturday, August 20th
- Bridgeport
Fireworks – Bridgeport Bluefish – The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (End of Game). Rain Date: None - Clinton
Clinton Summer Fest and Fireworks – Clinton Town Beach (Sunset). Rain Date: None
Friday, August 26th
- Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Friday, September 2nd
- New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Saturday, September 17th
- Bridgeport
Fireworks – Bridgeport Bluefish – The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (End of Game). Rain Date: None - New Britain
Fireworks – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
– See more at: http://www.ctvisit.com/articles/connecticut-fireworks-2016#sthash.itXSrlwQ.dpuf