4th of July Parades & Fireworks
Afton: The parade will start down Main Street at 12:30 p.m. Get a spot early, officials advise. Parking is limited. Afterward, there will be food, drinks, music and events for kids in Afton’s Town Square Park. A bike pre-parade is being held on July 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. Website.
Apple Valley: Apple Valley Freedom Days will kick off with the Freedom Days Fun Run, a series of runs beginning at 8 a.m. The parade will start at 1 p.m. at Fireside Lane and Pennock Avenue. At Johnny Cake Ridge Park East, there will be a carnival from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and pre-fireworks activities starting at 6 p.m. with music and games. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. Website.
Bloomington: There will be a sandcastle building contest and other games starting at noon on Sunday, June 30, at Bush Lake Beach. Summer Fete on July 3 features two stages of entertainment starting at 5 p.m., food vendors and fireworks just after 10 p.m. Website.
Coon Rapids: Three-day 4th of July Celebration features bingo, carnival rides and live music. Activities will be centered around the Coon Rapids Ice Center. A July 2 parade kicks off the fun at 6 p.m. On July 3, the annual “Car Show to Remember” will take place from 5 to 11 p.m. July Fourth will feature racing events early and fireworks at about 10 p.m. Website.
Delano: Minnesota’s oldest July 4 festival will feature games, amusement rides, music and more over several days, beginning July 3. On the Fourth, a 5K race will start the day at 9:10 a.m. The big parade will start on River Street at 10:30 a.m. A 27-minute fireworks show on July 6 near Central Park will cap the celebration. Website.
Eagan: Funfest will take place on the Eagan Community Center festival grounds with carnival rides, music and fun on July 3 (4 to 11:59 p.m.) and July 4 (noon to midnight.) On the Fourth, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. and march along Yankee Doodle Road, and fireworks will begin about 10 p.m. Website.
Edina: Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with a parade that runs along 50th Street. There will be live music in Rosland Park beginning at 8:30 p.m. that will set up the big fireworks display at 10 p.m. Website.
Elk River: Elk RiverFest will be held downtown on Saturday, July 6, starting at 2 p.m. with food, music and other activities. Fireworks will be shot off at 10 p.m., with best viewing spots in Lion John Weicht Park. Website.
Excelsior: Lake Minnetonka 4th of July Celebration will happen at Commons Park in downtown Excelsior. There will be runs starting at 7:30 a.m., a sand sculpture contest at 9 a.m. and a kids parade at 11 a.m. There will be music and food throughout the day and a free petting zoo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk. Website.
Forest Lake: On July 3, a carnival will run from 4 p.m. to midnight and there will be bingo from 6 to 10 p.m. Music will be featured in the evening as well. On the Fourth, a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Lakeside Memorial Park will start at 9 a.m. The parade will step off at 10 a.m., followed by more bingo, carnival activities and music. It all leads up to the fireworks display at 10 p.m. The carnival, food, bingo and music will continue through July 7. Website.
Hastings: Patio party at Hastings Public House will begin at noon, with live music playing all the way up until the fireworks at 10 p.m. Website.
Historic Fort Snelling: Annual Independence Day celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with cannon and musket salutes, military dress parades, and fife and drum music. There will also be learning stations exploring what freedom has meant throughout American history. Minnesota Historical Society members can attend for free, while everyone else must pay $6-$12 admission fee. Website.
Hudson, Wis.: Hudson Booster Days at Lakefront Park kicks off the fun on July 3 with carnival rides beginning at 4 p.m. The rides will remain through Sunday, July 7. Beginning July 4, there will be food, live music and bingo through Sunday. Highlights include fireworks at dusk on Friday, July 5, a parade on Second Street at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6, and a car show on July 7 at noon. Website.
Lake Elmo: The parade will begin at noon, traveling from Lake Elmo Avenue and 32nd Street to Lions Park. There will be other fun activities throughout the day. Website.
Lakeville: The summer festival Pan-O-Prog will host Lakeville’s July Fourth festivities. The fun will start at 6 p.m. with food, kids activities and live music at Lakeville North High School. Fireworks will start at dusk. As for Pan-O-Prog, the bulk of the festivities, including the carnival, parade and cruise night, will take place the following week. Website.
Maple Grove: Fireworks will start at dusk at the Maple Grove Community Center. Website.
Maplewood: Light it Up Maplewood will begin at 4 p.m. in Hazelwood Park. There will be food trucks, music, an adult beanbag tournament and plenty of other activities. Fireworks will be at 10 p.m. Website.
Marine on St. Croix: Fireworks will be on July 3 at 10:00 p.m., with viewing in Burris Park. Festivities on the Fourth will begin with a pair of runs in the morning, a kids parade and the annual Fourth of July parade at noon. Website.
Mendota Heights: Fireworks will be launched from the Mendakota Country Club at 10 p.m. Website.
Minneapolis: Red, White and Boom festival returns to the downtown riverfront. There are a number of races in the morning. At 6 p.m., live music, vendors and family activities will begin at 6 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. Website.
Mystic Lake Casino: The Prior Lake casino will host its free “Rock and Rockets” celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. Open to all ages, but guests younger than 18 must be with a parent or guardian. Musical acts will perform throughout the night, headlined by G.B. Leighton. There will be food trucks and a beverage tent. Fireworks start at 10 p.m. Website.
Plymouth: Live music and activities will be held on July 2 at the Hilde Performance Center, including the Minnesota Orchestra at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks at 10:05 p.m. Website.
Richfield: Red, White and Blue Days will start on July 2 with a Kiddie Parade, kids dance party, Nerf war, Diaper Derby and Movie in the Park, starting at 5 p.m. July 3 will feature a car show, street vendor fair, silent auction and street dance event (starting at 9 a.m. and going until midnight). The Fourth will start with a 10 a.m. wreath laying at Veterans Park. It will be followed by a parade along 70th Street starting at 1:15 p.m. Live music starting at 6 p.m. will lead up to the fireworks display at 10 p.m. Food trucks will be available July 2-4, and a beer garden will be open on July 3-4. The events will primarily take place in the Richfield Ice Arena parking lot. Website.
Roseville: Central Park will be the site of the Roseville’s July 4th Party in the Park. There will be food, games and other activities beginning at 1 p.m. A variety of bands will play from 2:45 to 10 p.m. Fireworks over Bennett Lake will begin at 10 p.m. Website.
St. Paul – St. Anthony Park: The annual 4th in the Park festivities will begin with a pair of races in the morning, followed by the Grand Parade at 11 a.m. down Como Avenue. Following the parade, there will be music, food trucks and games at Langford Park until 6 p.m. Website.
St. Paul – downtown: On July 3 at CHS Field, the St. Paul Saints take on the Lincoln Saltdogs. There will be fireworks after the game. The game will start at 6:05 p.m. and tickets start at $8. Notably, the city of St. Paul will not have an official fireworks display. Website.
Stillwater: Musical acts will play throughout the day in Lowell and Pioneer parks, with festivities mostly getting started around 4 p.m. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. on the St. Croix River in downtown Stillwater and are musically choreographed through a sound system in Lowell Park. Website.
Treasure Island Resort and Casino: The Kidz Bop World Tour 2019 will make its way to Treasure Island on July 3 along with inflatables, concessions and 3-D fireworks glasses. The fireworks display will include synchronized music. Website.
White Bear Lake: The cap to Manitou Days on the Fourth will include Marketfest downtown from 6 to 9 p.m., an Ice Cream Social at 8 p.m. at West Park, and beginning at 8 p.m., a celebration at Memorial Beach that includes music, a flyover of T-6 planes and fireworks at 10 p.m. Website.
Woodbury: Hometown Celebration at HealthEast Sports Center will feature outdoor concessions from 6 to 10 p.m., a Kids’ Zone from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and live music beginning at 7 p.m. until the fireworks blast off at 10 p.m. Website.
From: Twincities.com