On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, putting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. Blah, blah, blah...Translation? 233 years later we still have a reason to party! Not that we don’t appreciate our founding fathers, but instead of reading up on historical documents this holiday, nocheLatina’s got the hottest parties for you to drink and dance to until you’re seeing stars. It doesn’t matter if you’re going to be in Los Angeles, New York City, or Miami to celebrate, put on your favorite Betsy Ross-inspired fashion and get ready to party. Here are the top 4th of July parties happening in your ciudad!

NEW YORK CITY

#1 Heineken Art Crawl at Mamajuana Café
Thursday, July 2

Jumpstart the 4th of July festivities at the 2nd installment of this year’s Heineken Art Crawl. Celebrate the many prominent Dominican artists adding some color to our city with the official Heineken Art Crawl in Manhattan’s Washington Heights. Not only will you mingle with hundreds of patrons, but you’ll view spectacular artwork and drink some ice cold Heineken. Did we mention that this is one of the hottest Latin events happening in New York City? Click here to get on the VIP list.

#2 Firecracker at Hammerstein Ballroom
Friday, July 3

Hit up the Fourth of July electronic music extravaganza, Firecracker, at the famous Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, July 3, 2009. With the summer in full swing there is no better way to celebrate the holiday weekend than with an all-out electronic music blowout, the likes of which the city has not seen in a very long time. The event will feature Victor Calderone, Steve Lawler, Hercules & Love Affair, Tiefschwarz, Damian Lazarus, Audiofly and more. Click here for more info and tickets.

#3 4th of July IndepenDANCE Cruise at Paddle Wheel Queen
Saturday, July 4

Don't miss your chance to witness New York City's breathtaking fireworks display on the water, while sailing alongside the Statue of Liberty & the amazing city skyline. To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage to what would become New York, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks this year will move to the Hudson River...and the Paddle Wheel Queen will sail from the East River to the Hudson River in order to view this Spectacular Fireworks Display. NYC's Elite DJ's will spin the Best of 80's, 90's and contemporary hits for the 4th of July IndepenDANCE Cruise. The event includes a 5 hour top shelf open bar, complimentary appetizers and a free disposable camera. Click here for more info and tickets.

LOS ANGELES

#1 Gridlock “I’m on a Boat” at The Queen Mary
Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5

Beginning Friday at 7 p.m. and ending Sunday at 10 p.m., this party truly has us saying “God Bless America.” There’s not much better than three straight days of partying, except when those three days include live performances, DJs, mimes, magicians, food, drinks and The West Coast’s Biggest Fireworks Show, like they do at the Gridlock “I’m on a Boat” party. Unless you get seasick, there’s no excuse for missing out on this one, because even if you already have plans for the Fourth you can get tickets for Friday or Sunday. We imagine we’re about as excited for this as Louis and Clark were when they headed out on their westward adventure. Click here for more info and tickets.

#2 This is Avaland feat. Sander Kleinenberg and Joachim Garraud at Avalon Hollywood
Saturday July 4

Venue voted best “LA Big Time Club.” The world’s best DJs. This is Avaland lasts until 7 a.m. Sander Kleinenberg has been a hotshot on the scene for years, but with the recent addition of projected imagery to his spins, his show has truly become an experience you can’t obtain anywhere else. Joachim Garraud, well-known for collabs with David Bowie, Moby and Kylie Minogue, always brings a high-energy set with a keyboard. Hey, if you miss this and everyone’s talking about how this was the party of the summer, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Click here for more info and tickets.

#3 DTOX Sundays at Radisson Hotel Whittier
Sunday, July 5

The largest Southern California pool party for the weekend features the Starkillers and Austin Leeds with other hot hip-hop and rock acts also taking the stage. We’d be sold at this – but to tack on there’s three floors of dancing and this is the grand opening for Independance weekend practically already has us going to ticket check-out. You may just want to tell your employer you won’t be making it to work the next day now, because this is going to be some of the most insane day-drinking experiences of the year. Hey, the Monday following the Fourth is National Hangover Day anyway, isn’t it? Click here for more info and tickets. 

CHICAGO

#1 Blake Jarrell Extended Set at Vision
Saturday, July 4

Blake Jarrell is one of the few DJs keeping the EDM scene in the windy city alive and well. Spend your 4th of July on the dance floor while Jarrell spins top 40 beats, along with some house and mash-ups in the mix. You can party with Jarrell at Vision, a maze of a nightclub that may be a bit intimidating to newbies, but will immediately entrance you with its giant penthouse area and a crowd that ranges from ravers to bar kids looking to mingle. With Vision once holding the crown as the “Number One Mega Club,” we guaranteed that you’ll be celebrating all the way through Monday morning. Click here for more info and tickets.

#2 Surreal Saturdays Summer Sound Sessions at Stone Lotus
Saturday, July 4

Just because it’s 4th of July, it doesn’t mean that the non-stop summer bash at Stone Lotus disappears for the weekend. Rather, the unforgettable weekly sessions reign supreme, especially for the holiday. Dlazardi of Miami’s Club Space makes a special trip to Chicago for a one-night-only performance here he’ll play all your favorite hip-hop and house tracks. Stone Lotus, known as a luxurious high-end “liquor spa,” provides 4-star dining, exclusive lounges for your posse, imported bottles, and a luxurious, yet serene Asian setting where you can wind down or dance the night away. Click here for more info. 

#3 Saturdays at Green Dolphin Street
Saturday, July 4

As you celebrate your independence this Saturday night, don’t forget to add some sultry, sexy Latin songs to the melting pot. DJ’s Eddie 2 Raw, Omar Perez, 331/3, and more are beloved by the city’s elite for delivering the best Latin music that Chicago’s nightlife scene has to offer. This Saturday is no exception and patrons should only expect reggaeton, bachata, merengue, and salsa. The Green Dolphin Street was once a car shop, but it’s since been transformed into a 1940’s elegant supper club. Not only is admission known to be relatively cheap, but live bands are known for making surprise appearances and bringing down the house. Click here for more info.

MIAMI

#1 Top 4th of July Party in Miami: Ecco Beach at Shine-The Shelborne Beach Resort
Friday, July 3

A lot of nightlife venues tend to get the peak of their attention during Winter Music Conference, and Shine at the Shelborne Beach Resort was commonly seen as one of these clubs. However, this year not only did they bring in the best lineup of WMC 2009, but they’ve continuously been bringing in big DJ names into their venue week in and week out. This 4th of July they’re continuing the trend as they present Ecco Beach with music by Josh Wink and Behrouz. While Behrouz will draw the crowd that loves its house music, Josh Wink will definitely be bringing all of the techno heads out. Expect this event to be a big seller. Click here for more info and tickets.

#2 Erick Morillo at LIV Nightclub
Saturday, July 4

One of the biggest nightclubs to ever come out of Miami is hosting one of the biggest DJs to ever come into Miami. This 4th of July if you’re looking to have a swanky night out then look no further than LIV Nightclub located inside of the infamous South Beach Fontainebleau Resort. This mega-club may have you thinking that you’re in Vegas, when in reality you’re much closer to the Atlantic. This weekend they’re bringing in world renown DJ Erick Morillo. While many may have thought that his sets would only be limited to Club Space parties, think again. This time he’s opting for a little change of scenery and crowd as well, but he still makes his way to Space by the end of the night. Click here for more info and tickets.

When it comes to Sunday nights in South Beach, one of the best and most exclusive nightclubs you can find is right on Lincoln Road, SET. Packing a punch when it comes to sound, design and service, SET always pleases the city’s A-list crowd and socialites, but on Sunday nights their infamous Sundance party is only for those true music heads. Constantly bringing in names like Laidback Luke, Dirty South and Steve Angello, they’re event this weekend is just as good as any other as they present TV Rock. Week in and week out this place is always packed, but expect there to be a little something special in the air on this night. Click here for more info and tickets.

LAS VEGAS

#1 Top 4th of July Party in Las Vegas: Naked Las Vegas at Playground
Friday, July 3

As soon as the word ‘naked’ is the title of any event, you know that it’s going to get some attention. This Friday night the infamous Playground nightclub will be hosting a stellar Independence Day weekend party, Nake Las Vegas, and they’re bringing in a solid lineup of DJs to provide the sound. DJs Ruff, David Delano, and Paul Ahi will all be taking turns on the ones and twos. This is a special after hours event, so only true party people will be in attendance when the doors open up at 2AM. This is the Naked eight-year anniversary, so you know the crowd will turn up in the droves. Click here for more info and tickets.

#2 Perfecto with Paul Oakenfold at Rain
Saturday, July 4

Even if you don’t know who the hell he is, chances are you’ve heard of the name Paul Oakenfold before…that is unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past fifteen years. A legend in electronic dance music, Oakenfold made headlines when he announced his residency in Las Vegas, and now it has become one of the most popular parties in the city, and this weekend it will most likely be the most exciting event. One of the biggest DJs in the world is playing one of the most popular nightclubs on the planet on a weekly basis, so you can definitely bet that a majority of the crowd will be visitors from out of town. Tickets start off at $40 and work their way up depending on packages. Click here for more info and tickets.

#3 This Is Daylife Sundays at Wet Republic
Sunday, July 5

Miami was lucky enough to witness a great Sander Kleinenberg performance last weekend at Mansion, now this week it’s Las Vegas’ turn. This Sunday he’ll be providing all of the sound at one of the best pool parties in the nation, Daylife Sundays at Wet Republic. Sander’s bringing his insanely infectious EDM beats to the MGM Grand and to a venue where clothing is limited, and the sun always shines bright. We’re used to catching Sander in a dimly lit nightclub, so it’ll definitely be interesting to see how he performs when the natural spotlight is one him. Click here for more info and tickets.