Friday is the Fourth of July.
The Fourth — Independence Day — is a federal holiday, which means government offices, banks, schools and the stock market will be closed as well as some other businesses.
Here’s where to find local Fourth of July celebrations from festivals to parades to fireworks.
Afton: The Fourth of July parade will be held at 1 p.m. Friday along Main Street. After the parade, there will be music, food and a bounce house in Town Square Park. For more information, go to aftonparade.com.
Apple Valley: The Apple Valley Freedom Days celebration features a fireworks display on Friday, following a pre-fireworks party at Johnny Cake Ridge Park East. The party is from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and the fireworks will begin around 9:30. For more information, go to applevalleymn.gov/297/Freedom-Days.
A girl holds a flag as she looks at the crowds gathering along St. Croix Trail in Afton from inside a trolly before the start of the Afton Fourth of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Cottage Grove: The Cottage Grove Lions Club is hosting a picnic on Sunday, July 6, with fireworks at Kingston Park. There will be food including hot dogs, burgers and ice cream, along with bike raffles for kids. The night will end with a fireworks show at dusk. For more information, go to cottagegrovemn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=236.
Eagan: The Eagan 4th of July Parade begins at 10 a.m. Friday at the west end of Yankee Doodle Road. A fireworks display is scheduled for 10 p.m. Friday at the Eagan Festival Grounds, 1501 Central Parkway, as part of the city’s July 4th Funfest, which begins Wednesday evening and runs through July 5. For more information, go to eaganfunfest.org.
Forest Lake: The Forest Lake Independence Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. Friday. Fireworks are planned at 10 p.m. at Lakeside Memorial Park. For more information, go to ci.forest-lake.mn.us/190/4th-of-July.
A flutist with the Forest Lake High School Marching Band wears her patriotism proudly as the band performs during the Forest Lake Independence Day Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Hastings: Fourth of July celebrations include a parade starting at 7 p.m. Friday on 15th Street, running from General Sieben Drive to Westview Drive. There will be live music and food vendors at the Hastings Golf Club and Hastings Public House starting at 7:30 p.m., as well as fireworks. The fireworks display will be the culmination of the day’s festivities. For more information, go to hastingspublichouse.com/4th-of-july-parade.
Hudson, Wis.: The four-day Booster Days celebration starts at 4 p.m. Thursday with a carnival in the evening at Lakefront Park and a beer garden, bingo, bands and other activities. The carnival continues at noon Friday. At 11 a.m. Saturday, there will be a parade at Second Street to downtown Hudson and the carnival continues at noon. Fireworks will be launched at dusk on Sunday, July 6. For more information, go to hudsonboosters.org.
Lake Elmo: The Fourth of July Kids Parade will begin with a lineup at 9:30 a.m. and parade at 10 a.m. Friday at the VFW ballfields on Layton Avenue. The parade concludes at Lions Park. An ice cream social follows the parade. For more information, go to connectlakeelmo.org/4th-of-july.
Lakeville: A Fourth of July festival will be held from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday with pre-fireworks entertainment including face painting, live animals and photo booth as well as live music with the Riverside Hitmen and food trucks. A fireworks display will take place at dusk. For more information, go to panoprog.org/events/fireworks-and-more-1-2.
Maplewood: The city is transitioning from the Fourth of July Celebration to a fireworks event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 19 at Hazelwood Park. For more information, go to maplewoodmn.gov/885/July-4th—Light-It-Up-Event.
Mendota Heights: Fireworks are planned from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Friday at Mendakota Park at 2111 Dodd Road.
From left: Raelyn Ostertag, 3 and her brother Wyatt are joined by Livia Johnson, 4, and Caroline Lenander 6, at the Afton Fourth of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Stillwater: There will be Civil War cannons with live firing demonstrations at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday on Mulberry Point in Lowell Park. Also on the Fourth, there will be a free concert from Capital Sons at 5:30 p.m. followed by Audio Circus at 8 p.m. at the Amphitheater Stage in Lowell Park. And, the St. Croix Jazz Orchestra will be at the Pioneer Park Bandshell from 7 to 9 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dusk — around 10 p.m. — over the St. Croix River and Historic Lift Bridge. A designed viewing area is available for veterans at the Pedestrian Plaza in Lowell Park. All paid parking lots are $10 per day on July 4. For more information, go to events.discoverstillwater.com.
St. Croix Falls, Wis.: Food trucks, face painting, swimming and bounce houses will be available at 3 p.m. Friday at Big Rock Creek. Live music starts at 3 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m. For more information, go to bigrockcreekwi.com/event/the-4th-at-big-rock/.
St. Paul: The St. Paul Saints are playing in Georgia on Friday but there are still events planned for CHS Field. The heavy metal tribute band Hairball will perform at 6:45 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $102. Fireworks will follow. For more information, go to chsfield.com/events/detail/rock-the-4th.
St. Paul: At Dock & Paddle at the Como Park Pavilion from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, the St. Anthony Community Band will perform, followed by the Como Pops Ensemble from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
St. Paul: In St. Anthony Park, Fourth of July celebrations kick off at 8 a.m. Friday in Langford Park with a two- or four-mile race. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Luther Place south on Como Avenue toward Langford Park. Following the parade, a program including the Spirit in the Park Award winner takes place at the bandstand in Langford Park. Also at noon, food trucks will be available along with horseshoes, volleyball and pickleball tournaments. Live music will be performed from 1 to 6 p.m. on the bandstand. For more information, go to 4thinthepark.org/.
White Bear Lake: The Manitou Days boat parade starts at 1 p.m. Friday along Mahtomedi Beach. A patriotic band concert begins at 8 p.m. at West Park. There will be a vintage Navy aircraft flyover at 8:30 p.m. on the north side of the lake and fireworks at 10 p.m. Recommended viewing spots include County Beach and West Park. In the event of rain, the program will be moved to July 10 with the same times. For more information, go to manitoudays.com.or Facebook.com/whitebearlakefireworks.
Woodbury: The Hometown Celebration is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at M Health Fairview Sports Center. There will be outdoor concessions and food trucks. Families can bring a football or a frisbee and enjoy the evening on green space or play at Madison’s Place playground and the free outdoor splash pad — open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. A fireworks display will be at 10 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own seating and blankets. For more information, go to woodburymn.gov/1327/Fourth-of-July-Hometown-Celebration.
Valleyfair: The Star-Spangled Night kicks off at 9:45 p.m. Friday at Valleyfair in Shakopee featuring fireworks and other entertainment. For more information, go to valleyfair.com/events/star-spangled-night.
Radio: WCTS Radio is presenting a locally produced commemorative special beginning at 10 a.m. Friday with an encore broadcast at 5 p.m. The program will feature patriotic music and the spoken word, including religious and historic readings as well as Orson Wells’ rendering of the Declaration of Independence. The voices and stories of veterans of war will also be featured. There also will be on air fireworks display. Programming is on 1030 AM, 97.9 FM and streaming at WCTSRadio.com.
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