July 4: Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony

Guests attending the ceremony will park at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) or Monticello High School and then ride a shuttle bus to Monticello. Carefully read your confirmation letter for your parking location. Guests with earliest reservation times will park at Monticello High School, while later times will park at PVCC.

Each reservation has a shuttle time. Please arrive early to your parking location to ensure time for parking, security screening, and boarding your shuttle on time.

The last shuttle reservation time is 8:15 a.m. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. 

Buses will run between PVCC, Monticello High School, and the Monticello mountaintop throughout the morning. Return shuttles will run until 2:30 PM. 

Those with government-issued disabled parking permits will be allowed to park at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center at Monticello.

All guests will go through a security screening, including magnetometers. 

For your safety, we require CLEAR bags to attend the Naturalization Ceremony with exceptions for medical bags. All bags will be inspected.

Prohibited items include:

• All weapons, including firearms, knives, or sharp objects
• Placards, signs, or banners, including flags on poles, that cannot be stowed in a small bag
• Bags and containers larger than 11” X 15” X 6” (28 X 38 X 15 CM)
• Drones, artificial noisemakers, coolers, lawn furniture, animals, and fireworks or firecrackers
• Clothing that contains offensive or abusive language or symbols as determined by Monticello staff 

Please leave all prohibited items at home or in your vehicle. Those arriving at the Monticello visitor center with prohibited items will be required to shuttle back to their vehicle before being admitted to the event. Monticello, Albermarle County Schools, and Piedmont Community College are not responsible for lost or stolen items left in vehicles.

Please see our guest policies for more information.

House tours will be offered starting at 12 p.m. Separate tickets are required, and are available for purchase online or at the Monticello Ticket Office at the visitor center.

Explore our tour options and purchase your tickets in advance on our Tickets Page here »

A limited number of day-of tickets will be available at the Monticello Ticket Office on a first-come, first-served basis. Please purchase tickets in advance to guarantee your spot on a tour.

Drinks, snacks, and light meals will be available from a concession stand on the West Lawn and the Farm Shop under the North Terrace. Complimentary soda floats will be available after the ceremony while supplies last.

Only certified service animals are allowed on the property on July 4.

The ceremony will take place under a large tent, but guests are encouraged to bring ponchos or raincoats if rain is in the forecast. 

Should there be a thunderstorm, guests will be asked to seek shelter off of the West Lawn, at the direction of Monticello staff and security.

Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, and please stay hydrated. Water bottles and sunscreen are welcome and encouraged.

Shirts, bottoms, and shoes must be worn at all times. Swimsuits are not considered appropriate.