Where to go for Burlington-area Independence Day fireworks shows and other celebrations

Julie Peitz Nickell, The Hawk Eye
·7 min read

WEST BURLINGTON — if you are looking for family fun, free entertainment, good food, and a fantastic fireworks display, you'll be sure to find them at West Burlington's Fourth of July celebration.

Here is a schedule for the event set to take place Monday, mostly on Broadway Street around City Hall and the fire station:

  • 6 to 10 a.m.: Pancake Breakfast at the fire station;

  • 7 a.m.: Relay for Life Craft and Vendor Show;

  • 9 a.m.: Bike races at Westland Mall. Registration starts at 8 a.m.;

  • 10 a.m.: Cruise Day Display;

  • 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Bingo in City Hall;

  • 11:30 a.m.: Inflatables, Dunk Tank and Kids Games;

  • Noon to 3 p.m.: Little Squirts water fights;

  • Noon: River City Baggers bags tournament;

  • 3:45 p.m.: Kids Parade on Huston Street. Registration is at 3:15 p.m., with lineup at 3:30 p.m. at the elementary school;

  • 4 p.m.: Fourth of July Parade on Huston Street, starting from Westland Mall;

  • 7 p.m.: The Broadway Bullfrog Race, after a bullfrog sale;

  • 8 p.m.: Raffle drawing of four prize packages. City Hall has advance tickets;

  • 10:01 p.m.: Fireworks by J and M Displays.

  • Performing on the Deery Brothers Outdoor Stage:

  • 11:30 a.m.: Live music by Sean Kistler;

  • 1:30 p.m.: It's Electric Entertainment Kids Talent Show;

  • 5 p.m.: Live music by Jarrod Hogan and South 55;

  • 8:30 p.m.: Live music by First Dance.

More celebrations are planned around the area:

Friday, July 1

Danville

Danville Fire Department, 207 N. Elm St., Fish and Chicken Fry is 5-8 p.m. Friday. Deliveries will be available by calling (319) 392-8181 after 4:30 p.m. Fireworks will follow at dark.

Saturday, July 2

Bonaparte

Bonaparte's fire department will serve pulled pork sandwiches at 1 p.m. A dog show is 2 p.m. in City Park. Bingo is 3-8 p.m. in the opera house. Mercer Crazy Train is 6-8 p.m. Parade through the downtown district is 5 p.m., lining up at Bonaparte Pottery. Elijah Boyer will sing at 7:15 p.m. Fireworks are at dusk.

Carthage, Illinois

The Hancock County Independence Day Celebration will kick off on Saturday with a Street Dance on featuring South 35. The band will take the stage, located on the 400 block of Main Street in Carthage at 8 p.m.

On Monday, the celebration will continue around the historic square in Carthage and culminate with a fireworks display that evening near Illini West High School.

Oquawka, Illinois

Oquawka will have a parade at 10 a.m., and FFA tractor pull early evening at Indian Park. On Sunday, there will be fireworks at dusk at Indian Park.

Sperry

Sperry Fourth of July celebration is 5 to 10 p.m. at Myers Tree Farm, 18876 111th Ave., with Ferris wheel rides, face painting, crafts, magic tricks, petting zoo and inflatables, several food vendors, and fireworks. Special commemorative T-shirts celebrating the event's 20th anniversary will be available.

Sunday, July 3

Burlington

Burlington Municipal Band will have a free, patriotic-themed concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Crapo Park band shell. This concert will not include fireworks. Symphonic Blast by Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra is 8 p.m. July 9 at the park.

An addition to the concert will be the appearance of the Nauvoo, Illinois, Pageant Bagpipe Band which hasn't appeared for two years because of COVID. They will appear at 6:15 p.m., presenting their own independent performance and then will combine with Muni Band for several selections.

Monday, July 4

Burlington

Burlington Golf Club, 2124 Sunnyside Ave., will shoot fireworks Monday at dusk on the club's driving range.

Donnellson

Donnellson Fire Department, 616 N. Main St., freewill donation Fundraiser Breakfast is 6-10 a.m. People can register for the 7:30 a.m. 5K Run/Walk. The parade is 11 a.m. on North Main Street, followed by an American Legion lunch fundraiser in the Pilot Grove Savings Bank Community Room.

Farmington

Hometown America Parade will line up at 10 a.m. Sunday at the entrance to Indian Lake Park, 28163 Willow Ave., Farmington, and proceed through the campground.

Fort Madison

The 110th Charlie Korschgen Kiddie Parade will start at 10 a.m. at 18th Street and Avenue G and end at the Loyal Order of Moose parking lot.

Old Fort Madison in Riverview Park will recreate the military's ceremony for Independence Day, including 18 shots from the fort's cannon, at 1 p.m.

The weekly farmers market will take place from 4-6 p.m. in Central Park. A special city band concert in the park follows at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:45 p.m. over the Mississippi River. U.S. 61 between Sixth and 10th streets will be blocked off so people can have a front-row seat.

Keokuk

Keokuk's two-day celebration is in Rand Park starts Sunday with a car show from 4-8 p.m. near the Chief Keokuk statue.

Monday events will feature a Youth Fishing Tournament at 9 a.m., $5 Keokuk Saddle Club pony rides from 10 a.m.-noon, inflatables and dunk tank from noon-6 p.m., along with Horse N Around Farms Miniature Donkey Game, and Riff Raff Band at 7 p.m., followed by Nauvoo Bagpipers playing "The Star Spangled Banner" at 9 p.m., right before fireworks.

Celebrate early on Friday with Main Street Keokuk's First Friday "Patriotic Concert Series" featuring John-Paul Jones Group live at the American Legion at 6:30 p.m. Downtown Keokuk businesses will have deals, dinner and drink specials.

LaHarpe, Illinois

LaHarpe July 4 celebration sponsored by LaHarpe Park District is 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Lamoine Valley Golf Course, West Archer Avenue and N.E. St., with a full day of events, ending with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Lomax, Illinois

The Yellow Rose Saloon, 1085 Russell St., will have a free fish and chicken fry from 1-3 p.m. and live music from The Boys from 3-7 p.m.

Morning Sun

Morning Sun's Independence Day celebration will feature an American Legion pancake breakfast at 6:30 a.m., Firecracker Frog Jump at 9 a.m., games and balloon toss at 11:30 a.m., Mile Long Parade at 3 p.m., ice cream social at 5 p.m., evening entertainment at 6:30 p.m., and fireworks will be at dusk.

Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant Community Celebration is in McMillan Park. The parade is at 5 pm. Then at 5:30 p.m., meet your local heroes. Free activities include trolley and carousel rides and face painting. Food will be available including meals by the Cattlemen, cotton candy, pineapple whip, and other snacks and goodies. Fireworks will be at dusk.

New London

VFW Post 7641 Auxiliary July 4 parade and Fun in the Park Day is Noon-2 p.m. New London Stroll Committee will serve hot dogs and cotton candy and provide games.

VFW 7641 Auxiliary will have lemonade shake-ups, karaoke for kids singing the National Anthem Contest, a bike rodeo and fingerprinting of children. A parade will go down Main Street to New London Specialty Care at 2 p.m.

Wayland

Wayland's July 4 celebration will have a Lions Club breakfast from 6:30-9:30 a.m.; a parade, rain or shine, at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street; Lunch at WACO high school, 706 N. Pearl St., from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and fireworks at dusk on the WACO school football field.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Burlington-area 4th of July fireworks, parades and events in 2022