Independence Day 2026

Celebrating America's 250th birthday

Auburn Parks and Recreation invites the community to celebrate Independence Day and America's 250th birthday on Saturday, July 4 at the field behind Duck Samford Stadium.

This free event promises an evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display to close out the night. In honor of the United States of America's 250th birthday, this year's firework's show will feature a showstopping grand finale in red, white and blue.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. with actvities for all ages including inflatables, face painting, free giveaways and more. Enjoy food and treats for purchase from a variety of vendors while dancing along to music from a live band and DJ OZZ.

In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks show will take place on Sunday, July 5.

You're invited: America's 250th birthday party

Save the date! The Auburn Public Library will host a 250th Birthday Party for the United States of America on July 2. The party begins at 2 p.m. and features games, crafts and cupcakes.

At the event, APL will be unveiling an America250 timeline featuring photographs from the Auburn community showing how Auburn fits into the 250 years of American history. Community members were invited to contribute photographs and stories to the timeline until June 4 to help us build a truly special exhibit.

July at the Auburn Public Library

Lunch and Learn - Wednesdays @ 12 p.m.

Join weekly for a lunchtime learning experience all summer long! Every Wednesday, a new guest speaker will visit to share their expertise on fascinating subject matter and allow for Q&A time. Feel free to bring your own lunch. The library will provide light refreshments. Visit auburnal.gov/library to learn more!

Adults Create! - July 14 @ 5:30 p.m., July 18 @ 2 p.m.

Adults who pre-register will hand paint a colorful tea towel to add sunshine to your summer kitchen! Spots fill quickly, so email your name to libraryevents@auburnal.gov to confirm your spot today!

End-of-Summer APL Day - July 30 @ 2 p.m.

Send summer off in the best way! Bring your friends and join us outside for an afternoon of water play. There will be activities, games, cool treats and a special surprise in store.

#ShopAuburn for Back to School Sales Tax Holiday

The 2026 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday will take place July 17-19, giving you a chance to purchase certain items free of state and local sales tax, including:

• Clothing: All apparel suitable for general use is exempt unless it otherwise appears on the taxable list; clothing items must cost $156 or less per article of clothing to be exempt.
• Computers and Computer Software: A single purchase with a sales price of $1,173 or less will be exempt. Items exempt include computers, computer software, and school computer supplies.
• Textbooks: Any book published in volume with an ISBN number with a sales price of $47 or less, per book.
• School Supplies: Any items of $78 or less per item commonly used by a student in a course of study will be exempt. This may include art supplies, reference maps and globes, instructional materials, and textbooks on an official schoolbook list with a sales price of more than $47 but less than $78.

For a full list of what will and won’t be tax exempt, visit auburnalabama.org/tax-holiday or contact the City of Auburn Revenue Office at (334) 501-7239 or revenue@auburnalabama.org.

AWWB annual water report

Each year, the Water Works Board of the City of Auburn (AWWB) distributes its Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report to help keep you informed about the quality and safety of your drinking water. You can find this year's report by visiting auburnal.gov/wrm and clicking “Consumer Confidence Reports.”

The report provides information about the contaminants that may be found in Auburn’s drinking water and how these contaminants may affect customers' health. It’s also a great chance to learn about where your drinking water comes from, how we treat it and the delivery methods we use to ensure compliance with State and Federal laws.

A copy of the report has been mailed to all customers, and print copies will be available at the Bailey Alexander Water and Sewer Complex (1501 W. Samford Ave.) and other City facilities.

Have questions? Contact the Water Resource Management Department at (334) 501-3060 or webwtrswr@auburnal.gov.

Holiday closures & schedule changes

Most City facilities will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. Police, fire and communications will remain on their regular schedules. Garbage, trash and recycling routes will run as usual Monday through Thursday. Keep an eye on auburnal.gov/parks for Parks and Recreation facility closures.