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A dangerous heat wave is causing some local organizations to alter plans, including some celebrations for the Fourth of July.
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The heat wave, which began Thursday, will bring triple digit temperatures with a heat index of 107 degrees on July 4.
“It’s definitely a not great time to be having a heat wave with all the outdoor activities that we’re having,” said Laura Helock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Raleigh Office. “Even overnight temperatures are expected to be relatively high, so that won’t help cool down much during the night.”
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Garner’s Independence Day Celebration: The North Carolina Symphony no longer will perform in Garner on July 3 or Cary on July 4.
“The North Carolina Symphony is sorry that we will be unable to perform at the Garner Independence Day Celebration at Lake Benson Park on Friday, July 3, or the Cary Presents Independence Day Celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 4, due to the forecast of record-breaking heat,” the symphony said in a statement on its website.
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Gates open in Garner at 5 p.m. Food vendors, Veterans Memorial tours, and a kids zone are on the schedule. Brickhouse will perform from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Cary’s Independence Day Celebration: Doors will now open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, instead of at 3:30 p.m. as originally scheduled.
Performances are now limited to the Scouts of America presenting the colors, the NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green sharing a poem written for the 250th anniversary and the “Well, I Declare: America at 250.” All the food trucks originally scheduled for the event will still be there. The after party will still include a DJ and raffle.
The North Carolina Symphony said in its statement that this is the first year it won’t participate in Cary’s July Fourth.
Lake Benson Boathouse: The Lake Benson Boathouse will only be open from 7 a.m. – noon July 3-5 due to the extreme heat. The last boats will go out at 11 a.m., according to the town of Garner.
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This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM.