Worth The Drive Independence Day Celebrations
It’s time to get out your red, white and blue! Independence Day is just around the corner. Celebrating America’s birthday with the warm summer sun, delicious cookout food and stars, stripes, and fireworks has always been a great way we show our patriotism for the USA. However, this year is no ordinary birthday for our country—America is turning 250 years old!
To honor this benchmark year, many towns are throwing bigger and better celebrations. More activities, more food, more history, and of course… more fireworks!
Check out these 250th Independence Day celebrations that are worth the drive.
Fourth on the Shore, Manitowoc
When: July 1-5
Where: Along the Manitowoc Lakefront
Happenings: Manitowoc is hosting a full five days of fun for the whole family!
July 1: Kids performance of the American Soundtrack
July 2: Free showing of “Jaws”
July 3: Subfest, featuring submarine tours, historical presentations and more!
Annual July 3 Celebration: Downtown Concert
July 4: Manitowoc Farmers Market, Fourth on the Shore Parade, Street Party, Firework Show
July 5” Final day of Salmon Derby
There will also be live music, food vendors and kid-friendly activities throughout the week!
What makes this event special: This year is no ordinary Independence Day, but rather the 250th anniversary of our country.
“It’s a milestone moment for America. I think a lot of our residents and visitors are looking forward to celebrating the history, and looking back and looking ahead. Manitowoc is positioned really uniquely to be able to do just that,” Courtney Hansen, Director of Tourism, says.
To celebrate this milestone moment, Manitowoc is putting on a bigger and better lineup than ever before. There will be more live music, a larger parade with float judging, more kids’ activities, and a bigger fireworks show.
Manitowoc is also a unique place to hold this celebration, as it is a town rich in history. Manitowoc is an American WWII Heritage City and partners with SubFest to make some of that history accessible to the people.
“There is a unique perspective of going aboard the USS Cobia, a WWII submarine, in the midst of your 4th of July celebration,” Hansen says. “It’s really unique that we have such a rich history, and can incorporate that into our 4th of July celebrations. We’re even lucky to have Sub Vets from across the country who for years have been a part of our 4th of July Parade.”
Bring the family to experience some of America’s history, enjoy fun activities and celebrate 250 years!
For more information, visit www.visitmanitowoc.com/4th
Riverfront Rendezvous, Stevens Point
When: July 3-5
Where: Festival Grounds, Stevens Point
Happenings: The whole weekend will be jam-packed with free live music and entertainment, inflatable games and carnival rides, horseshoe tournaments, and so much more! Friday, play at the carnival and watch live bands perform. Saturday will feature the Parade on Main Street, Market in the Park and the New Drone Light Show. On Sunday, kids can experience the Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, and for the finale, fireworks will be launched from the Wisconsin River.
What makes this event special: To celebrate America’s semiquincentennial, Stevens Point added more items to their 42nd Riverfront Rendezvous Independence Day celebration. For this three-day celebration, they have added more entertainment, an advanced fireworks show and their first-ever drone light show.
“There’s a lot to be excited about this year, but I’m most excited about the drone light show. Not only will it be the first in central Wisconsin and cool as heck, but it also offers an alternative to the loud fireworks display,” Mayor Mike Wiza says. “It’s small, but it provides something we haven’t seen before here.”
This event offers activities for all ages. Bring the family and celebrate 250 years, with live entertainment, fun activities and new sights!
For more information, visit www.stevenspoint.com/409/Riverfront-Rendezvous
Independence Day Celebration, Egg Harbor
When: July 3-4
Where: Harbor View Park, Egg Harbor
Happenings: On July 3, enjoy live music, delicious food and the Rhythm and Roots Marketplace. To bring the evening to a close, enjoy the fireworks display over the harbor. Watch the Independence Day Parade and the UW Marching Band perform 5th Quarter in Harbor View Park on July 4.
What makes this event special: Both Egg Harbor’s firework display and Independence Day Parade are voted The Best of Door County! The fireworks will be shot from a barge on the harbor, offering a beautiful backdrop of open water for the show. To top it all off, the beach will be open and available for firework viewing. Enjoy the festivities and beautiful scenery Egg Harbor has to offer for the 250th Independence Day. These performances and sights are certainly worth the drive.
For more information, visit www.eggharbordoorcounty.org/event/independenceday
Light up the Lake, Green Lake
When: July 4
Where: Downtown Green Lake
Happenings: July 4 is a day full of patriotic celebrations and activities in Green Lake. The day starts off with a pancake breakfast, followed by the pub run/walk for veterans, boat parade, duck races, street parade, petting zoo and so much more! As is tradition, the day will come to a close with a fantastic fireworks display at dusk.
What makes this event special: “Light Up the Lake offers more than just a typical Independence Day celebration. The event combines fireworks, live music, family activities, local food and businesses, and strong community involvement, all in the beautiful setting of Green Lake,” Angie Evans, Director of the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, says.
With activities for everyone, Light up the Lake is a festive way to get the whole family involved in the community and celebrating this year’s milestone anniversary.
“Commemorating America’s 250th anniversary during our Light Up the Lake festival is a meaningful way to bring the community together to celebrate our nation’s history, patriotism and shared traditions,” Evans adds.
Green Lake is the place to be this Independence Day if you’re looking to celebrate 250 years surrounded by family fun, a sense of community and patriotic pride.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4dEdldr
