Bang-up guide to July 4 holiday fireworks 2024

With the Fourth of July falling on a Thursday, Eastern Iowa towns will be staging star-spangled spectaculars beginning this weekend and moving on through next week. Here’s a guide to places where you can see holiday fireworks lighting up the night skies. Don’t see your town’s display on the list? Please add it to the calendar of events at hooplanow.com/.

Saturday, June 29

Riverside: TrekFest finale: 9 p.m. June 29, Hall Park, First Street; also, activities all day. facebook.com/riversidetrekfest

Wednesday, July 3

Anamosa: 6 to 10:30 p.m. July 3, Downing Field, Walworth Avenue. Kids games 6 to 8 p.m.; food stand opens at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. Rain date: July 4. facebook.com/events/443716215186925

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Cedar Rapids: Ellis Fireworks on the River: July 3, Ellis Park and Harbor, 2550 Ellis Blvd. NW. Road closure: 6:30 p.m. Ellis Boulevard from Ellis Lane NW to 16th Street NW. Cedar Rapids Special Police Force hired for security. Concessions to buy; fireworks at dusk. cedarboatclub.org

Dubuque: July 3, Fireworks and Air Show Spectacular, all day, AY McDonald Park just below Lock and Dam 11; fireworks at dusk. www.radiodubuque.com/july3rd/

Dyersville: July 3, Commercial Club Park, Second Ave. SE; activities start late afternoon with music, food, games; fireworks at dusk; dyersville.org/events/

Marengo: July 3, activities all day; parade 5:30 p.m.; Dogs on Skis 9 p.m. to midnight at American Legion; fireworks at dusk at Gateway Park, seating west of the football field; details on Facebook under Marengo IA Rotary Club.

Marion: Fireworks & Fireflies: 6 p.m. July 3, Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park, 4500 N. 10th St. Site opens 6 p.m.; music by FunkDaddies, 7 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. Also, bring seating, coolers permitted; food trucks and shuttles available. Leave pets, sparklers, fireworks at home. cityofmarion.org/recreation/parks-recreation/events/fireworks-fireflies

Thursday, July 4

Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival: July 4, pancake breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m., ImOn Ice Arena, 1100 Rockford Rd. SW, $10 or $5 with festival button, free for ages 5 and under; car show, 8 a.m. to noon, near the ice arena; Cedar Rapids Kernels postgame fireworks July 4 and 6; Celebration of Freedom, 5 to 10:30 p.m. with food, music, Kids Zone; concert in the McGrath Amphitheatre with Days Live Music at 5 p.m., Alisabeth Von Presley at 7 p.m. (festival button required); fireworks at dusk, with seating at the amphitheater and on Third Avenue Bridge downtown, festival button required. Also: Corridor Running races, 7:30 a.m. downtown; Five Seasons Ski Team, 7 p.m. at Ellis Park. freedomfestival.com/calendar

Coralville: July 4, 4thFest activities all day, S.T. Morrison Park, 1500 block between Seventh and Eighth streets; parade at 10 a.m.; fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Other activities June 29 to July 3, including free rock concert in the park at 6:30 p.m. July 3, with Trophy Dads at 6:30 p.m. and Yacht Rock Revue at 8 p.m. coralville.org/310/4thFest

Dysart: July 4, activities all day; fireworks at dusk, with rain date July 5. Other activities from 4:30 p.m. to midnight July 3. facebook.com/ClubDysart/

Festina: July 4; parade 10:30 a.m.; Moo-Mobile in the Park 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; chicken dinner drive-thru 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Parish Center; fireworks at dusk. facebook.com/FestinaFireworks/

Grinnell: July 4, parade at 5 p.m.; fireworks at dusk, Ahrens Park; https://www.grinnellchamber.org/en/events/grinnell_on_the_fourth/

Independence: July 4, Celebrate Indee, parade at 9 a.m., activities begin at 10:45 a.m. at RiverWalk Parks, fireworks at 10 p.m. over the Wapsipinicon River; events also June 29 and July 3. https://www.celebrateindee.com/schedule

Mechanicsville: July 4, fireworks at dusk, North Cedar Elementary School, 609 125th St.; cityofmechanicsville.net/

Monticello: July 4, Monticello Fairgrounds, 800 N. Maple St. Firemen’s breakfast at Berndes Center, 6:30 to 10:30 a.m.; parade at 11 a.m.; fireworks at dusk. traveljonescounty.com/event/monticello-celebrates-the-4th-of-july/

Morning Sun: July 4: activities all day; parade at 3 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. Also, RV lighted parade 8 p.m. July 3. msjuly4.wixsite.com/ms4th

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Friday, July 5

Iowa City: July 5, during Iowa City Jazz Festival; 9:30 p.m., Old Capitol Museum, 16 N. Clinton St. downtown. Concerts, activities at begin 5 p.m. downtown. summerofthearts.org/festival/2024-iowa-city-jazz-festival/

Shell Rock: July 5, activities noon to midnight; fireworks 10 p.m. More activities July 4 and 6, with parade at 10 a.m. July 4; facebook.com/shellrock4thofjuly

Sperry: July 5, activities begin at 5 p.m., fireworks at dusk, Myers Tree Farm, 18876 111th Ave.; $10 parking on-site. Also: vendors, music by Jake McVey. facebook.com/sperryfireworks/

Saturday, July 6

Bellevue: July 6, Heritage Days activities all day; parade at 10 a.m.; fireworks at dusk. Also events at Cole Park 4 to 11 p.m. July 5. facebook.com/BellevueHeritageDays

Guttenberg: July 6, Stars & Stripes Celebration & Fireworks, Ingleside Park. Festivities all day; food, music and more in the park at 3 p.m.; parade at 7 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. guttenbergiowa.net/

Montezuma: July 6, fireworks at dusk, Lake Ponderosa. Diamond Trail, three miles west of Montezuma; rain date July 7; lakeponderosa.org/fireworks/

Spillville: July 6, Fireworks 5K check-in 8 a.m. school parking lot; activities at Riverside Park; food booth 2 p.m.; kids games 4 to 5 p.m.; fireworks at dusk; facebook.com/cityofspillville/

Use the Fireworks Finder

We’ve added these listings to holidaylightfinder.com to help you find displays near you:

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com