Celebrate Independence Day at some of the best events that Wisconsin has to offer.
Between the fireworks, barbecues, concerts, and parades that happen throughout the day, it’s safe to say that the Fourth of July is one of the most fun summer holidays in the United States. It commemorates the United States’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence and its formal declaration of independence from Great Britain.
This year, the holiday is even bigger than usual, as the country is celebrating its 250th anniversary—or semiquincentennial—of its founding on July 4, 1776. Many municipalities are turning their traditional holiday event into a weekend-long, or even week-long, extravaganza packed with fun-filled activities for the momentous anniversary.
From fireworks on the beach to concerts throughout the state, here are some of Wisconsin’s best Fourth of July events to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
1. Fourth on the Shore – Manitowoc
Manitowoc’s annual Fourth of July celebration may be called Fourth on the Shore, but the festivities don’t just happen on July 4. A July 1 concert kicks off a multi-day string of holiday events; children from across Wisconsin will perform America’s Soundtrack, a music initiative created to recognize the country’s 250th anniversary and celebrate the songs, artists, and genres that have come to define American culture and history.
The following day features a screening of the holiday classic “Jaws,” which is set on the Fourth of July, and July 3 will feature concerts in Manitowoc’s downtown. Of course, the highlight of the days-long celebration is the Fourth of July itself, which starts with a 10 a.m. parade through downtown Manitowoc and culminates with a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
2. Minocqua 4th of July Celebration – Minocqua
Normally, visitors and locals gather at Minocqua’s Aqua Bowl to watch the Min-Aqua Bats perform a show on waterskis. On the Fourth of July, they’ll still do that, as the Min-Aqua Bats perform a special Independence Day show. But visitors and Minocqua residents can also stay to watch a nighttime fireworks show at the lakefront Aqua Bowl to celebrate the holiday.
Minocqua’s holiday celebration will also feature two different parades. The kiddie parade kicks off at 3:45 p.m. and gives kids a chance to walk, bike, or ride a scooter along the parade route, no registration required. The town’s Fourth of July parade starts 15 minutes later at the Minocqua Ball Park, marching down Highway 51 and Oneida St.
3. 3rd and 4th of July Celebration – Oak Creek
For the City of Oak Creek, one day’s worth of celebrating just wasn’t enough. Instead, Oak Creek will be celebrating July 3 and 4. The event’s first day will primarily feature a big party at Oak Creek’s Lake Vista Park, featuring food from local restaurants, face painting, live music, a chalk artwork challenge, fireworks, and the finale of Oak Creek Idol—an annual singing competition hosted by the city.
The festivities continue the following day with a parade and activities at the Oak Creek American Legion Post 434, including the Red, White, and Roll competition, where participants are judged on how festively decorated their bikes, strollers, wagons, and scooters are. That’s not all that the city is doing to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. In August, Oak Creek is hosting America’s 250th Classic Car Show in Drexel Town Square, where attendees can check out some of the finest work in American automobile innovation.
4. Summerfest’s Official Celebration of America’s 250th Presented by Harley-Davidson – Milwaukee
There is a good chance that if you’re visiting Summerfest at Henry Maier Festival Park, you’re going to see some on-stage pyrotechnics. Nicknamed The World’s Largest Music Festival, Summerfest has high-energy concerts every night that it’s running, oftentimes with impressive light shows and pyrotechnic setups. But on the Fourth of July, the festival’s impressive spectacles won’t just be on the stage; they’ll be in the sky, too, as the festival partners with Harley-Davidson to produce a 45-minute fireworks show, starting at 9:30 p.m.
The fireworks are just one of the ways that Summerfest is celebrating Independence Day. The festival, which runs over three different weekends, closes for the year on July 4. The action-packed day will feature themed activities to celebrate the holiday, as well as a giveaway for the first 5,000 people to walk through its gates.
5. Old World Wisconsin’s Independence Day Weekend – Eagle
The country celebrating a major anniversary this year offers a great opportunity to learn a bit more about American history, and one of the top places to do that in Wisconsin is Old World Wisconsin, an open-air museum that focuses on the daily lives of 19th-century Wisconsinites. The museum, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is hosting a weekend-long Fourth of July celebration with familiar traditions and a few that are a bit more old-school.
Like most Fourth of July celebrations, Old World Wisconsin is hosting a parade that runs through the museum, along with a picnic and concerts throughout the weekend. Where the festival differs from other celebrations is in some of its more historic festivities, like a spelling bee, where attendees can show off their spelling chops, or butter-churning demonstrations that help attendees appreciate what the people who settled the country had to do to put food on the table.
6. The City of Milwaukee’s Fourth of July Festivities – Milwaukee
Anyone looking to celebrate Independence Day in Milwaukee is in luck, because there are a lot of different events to choose from throughout July 4. Parks across the city, including Humboldt Park, Lake Park, Lincoln Park, and numerous others, will be hosting a variety of daytime activities on July 4, as well as fireworks shows at night. A full list of the city’s park offerings can be found online.
The main highlight of Milwaukee’s Fourth of July festivities is its lakefront drone show. While traditional firework shows can still be found throughout the city and its surrounding suburbs, Milwaukee will be kicking off the holiday early on July 3 with this second annual sensory-friendly show. The 45-minute performance can be viewed from most places along Milwaukee’s lakefront, but it’s best viewed from McKinley Park.
7. Racine 4th Fest – Racine
The Fourth of July is a pretty big deal in Racine. So big, in fact, that the city annually holds Racine 4th Fest, an all-day celebration of Independence Day. The event kicks off with a parade, which runs through downtown Racine, primarily on Main St., for 2.6 miles. Racine’s Independence Day parade is reportedly one of the oldest in the Midwest, running since 1844.
The festivities don’t end after the morning parade—Racine 4th Fest concludes with a lengthy fireworks show that starts after the skies get dark, typically around 9 p.m. While the fireworks can be seen from many places along and near Racine’s lakeshore, one of the best viewing spots is North Beach, where they will be launched.
8. Independence Day Firework Cruise – Middleton
Many Wisconsin fireworks shows take place near a waterfront of some sort, but it’s a bit rarer to watch fireworks from the water itself. It’s possible on the Independence Day Firework Cruise, though. The cruise, which leaves from Marshall Boats in Middleton, Wisc., includes a three-hour captained pontoon ride in Lake Mendota, with views of Madison’s waterfront, and the fireworks show over the lake.
Marshall Boats recommends purchasing tickets early, as the annual event regularly sells out. But don’t fret if you miss your chance to head out onto Lake Mendota; the company offers almost daily boat tours, as well as other exciting opportunities to get out on the water, like stand-up paddleboard yoga classes and floating ice cream parlors.
