Saturday, July 1 through Tuesday, July 4
Urbandale
Independence Carnival – Lions Park
Monday, July 3
Altoona
Prairie Meadows: Fireworks are at dusk, at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
Ames
Reiman Gardens Celebration: The park is open at 9 a.m., then admission is free for all from 6 p.m. until the end of a fireworks display. The High Society Band will perform from 7-9 p.m. Visitors can bring chairs and coolers.
Downtown Celebration: City of Ames Fireworks starts at dusk @ 1407 University Blvd.
Carlisle
Fourth of July Celebration: Activities including inflatables, rides, games and more start at 5 p.m. at North Park.
Des Moines
Iowa Cub Games: The I-Cubs will take on the Round Rock Express and will end the evenings of July 2 and 3 with fireworks shows, win or lose. Their annual naturalization ceremony, during which new U.S. citizens are sworn in, will be held before the game July 3.
Yankee Doodle Pops: 8:30 p.m. at West Terrace of Iowa State Capitol. The Des Moines Symphony will perform a free concert, which concludes with a fireworks display over the Des Moines skyline. Guests can bring picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs. Vendors will sell food.
Pleasantville
Pleasantville’s festivities will begin the evening of July 3rd with a celebration of “Merica” featuring the Iowa Beer Bus in downtown Pleasantville from 6 to 10 p.m.
Slater
On July 3 there will be a Carnival All Day, Fireworks will be held at Grimm Park and start at 10 p.m.
West Des Moines
All Iowa Bash: At Railroad Park in Valley Junction. Festivities start at 4 p.m. and will celebrate Iowa with local vendors, crafts, music and more after the West Des Moines Independence Day Parade.
Independence Day Parade: at 6:30 p.m. The parade starts at Valley West Drive and Ashworth Road and will proceed east to Vine, then south to 4th Street and will end at Maple Street.
Tuesday, July 4
Altoona
Adventureland: Fireworks will be displayed for park guests at about 9:45 p.m.
Ames
Events include Pancake Breakfast at City Hall, Friendship Ark 5k and Free Kids Run @ Ada Hayden Park, Bill Riley Talent Competition @ Intersection of Main & Burnett Ave, Dog Dock Jumping @ 500 Block of Burnett, and a parade at 11:00 am!
Boone
July 4, Eve of Destruction at Boone Speedway, 6 p.m. Fireworks to follow starting at dusk.
Carlisle
The July 4 activities kick off at 7:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the community building. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. on Garfield Street. A full lineup of Carlisle events is at bit.ly/2rYj9oW. Fireworks 10 pm at North Park Tuesday, July 4th.
Chariton
Carnival, contests and more! Parade at 1:00 p.m. FIREWORKS at NW Park at 10:00 p.m. For more times and locations, visit the Chariton 4th of July Celebration Facebook.
Creston
Events include Dances, Farmers Market, Book Fair, Art Galleries, Bingo, Competitions and more! Parade at Uptown Park, starts at 10:00 a.m. Fireworks at McKinley Park at 9:30 p.m.
Des Moines
Beaverdale Kids’ Parade: Tuesday, July 4th, 10 a.m. Starts at 46th Street and Bel-Aire Road and goes into Westchester Park. Fun Social immediately following the parade, with refreshments, games, and activities.
Military Day Swimming: Des Moines Parks and Recreation thanks military members active, retired, or veterans, with free admission to all Des Moines pools. Family members will receive half-price admission for the day with the presentation of their military or Veterans Administration ID.
Earlham
4th of July Events include Pancake Breakfast, 5k Run/Walk, Games, and more! Parade starts at 10:00 a.m. Fireworks will begin at dusk at the football field,
Grimes
Home Base Iowa Fireworks Show: 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 4., Grimes Sports Complex on South James Street.
Nevada
The Annual 4th of July Parade starting at 10 a.m. Fireworks will be at dusk.
Newton
Lots of great activities throughout the day including a kid zone, live music, and more! Fireworks at dusk at Agnes Patterson Park. Check out the Fourth of July Event on Facebook hosted by Newton Chamber Commerce.
(more July 4 activities on next page)
Norwalk
Parade, activities, and fireworks: 10 a.m., starting at North Street and Cherry Parkway. Fireworks will begin at dusk from the Norwalk McAninch Sports Complex.
Osceola
Parade at 11:00 a.m. Fireworks will begin at 9:45pm sponsored by Lakeside Casino.
Pella
Parade on Franklin Street at 1:30 p.m. Fireworks at dusk.
Pleasantville
Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on the 4th with this year’s theme being “Star-spangled Salute for the Red, White, and Blue.” Different events, vendors, and celebrations will be at Cora Shadle Memorial Park from 5 to 9 p.m. with the fireworks display beginning at dusk.
Urbandale
The parade starts at 10:00 am. Goes from Old City Hall and heads north on 70th Street and west on Aurora to 82nd Street. Fireworks will start at 10:00 pm from Walker Johnston Park on the West Side.
Old Fashioned Fourth: Enjoy an old-fashioned celebration in the town of Walnut Hill at Living History Farms. Activities include pie eating contests, foot races, spelling bees, watermelon seed spitting contests and more. Games begin at 11 a.m. and an 1875-rules baseball game starts at 2:30 p.m.
Waukee
4th of July Celebration: July 4, Centennial Park. The parade starts Tuesday, July 4th, at 3 pm through historic downtown to Centennial Park. Activities will follow into the night. There will be inflatables, live music from the band Abby Normal in the evening, food vendors. Fireworks show starts at dusk.
Windsor Heights
4th of July celebration: at Colby Park. The parade starts 2 p.m. which starts at Sherwood Forrest and 73rd, heads south to University, then south down 66th Street and ends on School Street at Colby Park. The fun continues with activities, food vendors and a beverage garden from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sheltered Reality will perform at Colby Park after the parade. Sons of Gladys Kravitz and Jimmy the Weasel will perform in the evening. Fireworks will end the night promptly starting at 10 p.m.
West Des Moines
Holiday Classic Horseshoe Tournament: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Holiday Park. To enter, contact the West Des Moines Pitcher’s Association at 515-618-1937.
Aquatic Center $3 admission special: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Holiday and Valley View Aquatic Centers.
Community band concert: 7 p.m. July 4, Coneflower Shelters in Raccoon River Park.
West Des Moines Fireworks: Dusk on July 4, Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park.
