Fireworks, parades, games: Here’s how to celebrate Fourth of July 2024 in, around Wichita
Whether you enjoy fireworks, food, performances or competitions, this Fourth of July will offer no shortage of opportunities to celebrate America’s independence in the Wichita area.
If you have any Independence Day events to add to this article, you can email Marcia Werts at mwerts@wichitaeagle.com.
Wichita
THURSDAY, JULY 4
Bradley Fair, 2000 N. Rock Road, 6 p.m. – The Summer Concert Series, a weekly live music event, will come to its conclusion on the Fourth of July. Local food trucks will be available for dinner along with kid-friendly pre-show activities. Daydream, a local funk/fusion horn band, will begin performing at 7:30 p.m.. After the show, the fair will host a fireworks finale, which will begin around 9:30. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs. Attendance is free. Limited plaza seating is available, along with lakeside picnic-style seating.
Riverfront Stadium, 275 S. McLean Blvd., 6 p.m. – The Hyatt Lawn and Riverfront Stadium will host a Red, White and Boom event with food trucks, a live performance and a fireworks show. Admission is free. Wichita dance band The Astronauts will perform at the stadium, followed by a fireworks display at 9:40 p.m. Guests can sit in the stadium or bring blankets and chairs to sit on Hyatt Lawn.
Boats & Bikes, 150 N. McLean Blvd., 8:30 p.m. – Boats and Bikes at River Vista is hosting a fireworks show where people can watch from the water. The location has a map of safe places to stay and watch. Reservations can be booked by emailing boatsandbikes@wichita.edu.
SATURDAY, JULY 6
Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd., 11 a.m. – You can Celebrate America with an old-fashioned event at the Old Cowtown Museum. The museum will have old-time medicine shows, performances by the Daisy Longstem Saloon Girls and a vintage baseball game. For those who like to compete, there will be horseshoes and sack races. Entry costs $15 dollars for adults, $13 for ages 62 and up, $8 for people aged 5-17 and free for those 4 or younger.
Derby
THURSDAY
High Park, 2801 E. James St., 7:30 a.m. – The Derby Running Club is holding its 43rd annual Firecracker Race. Runners can enter a four-mile race at 7:30 and/or a one-mile race at 8:30. Registration costs $40 for adults and can be done online. The fastest male and female runner in each race will earn $50, with additional age group awards also being issued.
Derby’s Independence Day Parade, hosted by VFW Post 7253. The 10 a.m. parade will begin on Bulldog Drive, head west on Madison, south on Georgie and east on Market towards Westview. Afterward, Fire Station 81, 715 E. Madison Ave., will host an open house with fire trucks on display. The deadline to enter floats is Tuesday, July 2.
High Park, 2801 E. James St., 6 p.m. – Derby’s Fireworks in the Park event will feature food trucks, a free photo booth and a fireworks show scheduled to begin at 9:40 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and lawn chair.
Goddard
FRIDAY, JULY 5
CDS Baseball Fields, 200 S. Walnut St., 7 p.m. – The Goddard Lions Club is sponsoring an Independence Day Celebration for the day after the Fourth. Free hot dogs, chips, ice cream, watermelon, icy pops and water will be served as attendees enjoy a live performance by the Jake Lauer Band. After a fireworks show, the Goddard Municipal Pool will host a free pool party until midnight.
El Dorado
THURSDAY
East Park, 100 S. Woodland, 9 a.m. – El Dorado has a full slate of activities and fun planned for their Independence Day Celebration. At 9 a.m., children ages 4-12 will have a bike parade for bicycles decorated in red, white and blue in East Park. From 10 to 11 a.m., the park will host turtle races and fun with water balloons, alongside a dunk tank and inflatable obstacle course. From 1 to 4 p.m., the El Dorado Municipal Pool will have a free swim. At 5:30, the evening activities at McDonald Stadium will kick off with a concert from retired Petty Officer Shannon Book. At 6, there will be a ceremony recognizing Veterans, Active Duty members and First Responders for the military, along with a presentation of service dogs. Finally, the summer baseball team El Dorado Walnuts will take on the traveling U.S. Military WarDogs team at 7, with a fireworks show closing out the night.
Haysville
THURSDAY
Riggs Park, 706 Sarah Lane, 8 a.m. – Haysville’s 4th of July Celebration day of events will have new activities at Riggs Park every hour. A parade kicks off the day at 8 a.m., followed by a cornhole tournament and fishing derby at 9. There will be frog races at 10 and hot dogs served at 11, with pool games occurring from 11 to noon. The evening events will begin with a concert by Rusty Rierson at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:45. Attendance is free.
Mulvane
THURSDAY
Mulvane Main Street Park, 301 E. Main St., 11 a.m. – Mulvane’s 4th of July Parade and Community Social will offer cash prizes to the top three floats. The parade will start at Munson Primary School and end in Main Street Park. Kids can also enter decorated bikes into the parade, with all participants earning a free pool pass. After the parade, free watermelon and patriotic prizes will be offered in the park. Floats can be registered at mulvanechamber.com.
Park City
THURSDAY
Hap McLean Park, 1198 E. 69th St. North, 9 a.m. – Park City’s 4th Celebration will include a parade, car and pet show, concert and fireworks. The parade begins at 9 a.m., and will run east on 61st St., and north on Hydraulic to McLean Park. The car and pet show is set to begin at 11. Registration is $15 for the car show but not required for the pet show. In addition, the park will host inflatables, food and games and a pickleball tournament in the morning. Matt Bauer will perform music at 12:30 p.m. and the Llew Brown Band will play at 7. At 10, the event will conclude with a big fireworks show.
Augusta
SATURDAY, JUNE 29 29
LakePoint Augusta, 901 Lakepoint Dr., 2 p.m. – A 4th of July Picnic will feature music and outdoor games. McConnell Air Force Base Color Guard will kick off the event with a performance at 2 p.m. Free hot dogs, chips and watermelon will be provided.
Garden Plain
THURSDAY
Garden Plain City Park, 620 Section Line Road, 7 a.m. – Garden Plain has a full schedule of events for its Independence Day Celebration in City Park. The day will begin with a 5k or 1 mile run at 7 a.m., along with games such as horseshoes, volleyball, wiffle ball and pickleball. At 11, there will be a parade running along Main Street, followed by a lunch. In the afternoon, there will be inflatable play structures, along with a washer and cornhole tournament that require registration to enter. At 5 p.m., there will be a watermelon eating contest. Finally, the evening will see a dance from 7 to 11 p.m. and a fireworks display at 10.
