The Fourth of July is right around the corner – and to make sure your Independence Day is the best day, here's a guide to parades and firework shows around Milwaukee and beyond. 

Have fun and stay safe this Fourth of July – and the rest of the Great Milwaukee Summer!

Parades

Alcott Park
3751 S. 97th St.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Located outside of Greenfield, make sure to arrive early to secure the perfect spot to view the parade stepping off at 9:45 a.m. (Assembly begins at 9:15 a.m.) Have fun cheering on parade floats, catching candy and showing off your Independence Day spirit. Enjoy the flag ceremony, cannon salute and ice cream around 10:30 a.m. followed by a bike display, raffles, crafts, games, free hot dogs for the first 300 people, contests, tattoos, concessions and more throughout the day.

Brookfield
Calhoun Road between North Avenue and Gebhardt Road
https://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us
Make sure you find a spot and set up early: Calhoun Road will close at 9:30 a.m. for the parade to step off at 10 a.m. Bike decorating will begin July 3 at 11 a.m. in Brookfield’s Public Library east parking lot for the children’s parade hosted the next day. Enjoy Independence Day activities, flag raising ceremony and a family fest following the parade.

Cedarburg
Several Cedarburg locations
https://business.cedarburg.org
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and travel through historic downtown Cedarburg, giving parade-goers a sight to see! Following the parade is a day-long picnic in nearby Cedar Creek Park with food, beverages, live music and more! 

Cudahy
East Grange and Packard Avenue through Layton and Lake Drive
https://www.cudahy-wi.gov
Although the children’s parade begins at 11:30 a.m., the full Cudahy parade will begin at noon starting at South Packard Avenue and East Grange Avenue then concluding at East Layton Avenue and South Lake Drive. Afterwards, head over to Library Square for music from the 5 Card Studs, games and food from 1 to 6 p.m. A veterans reception will also take place at 1 p.m. at the library.

Enderis Playfield
2978 N. 72nd St.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
The party begins early with parade registration at 8:30 a.m. and step-off at 8:45 a.m. followed by the welcome and flag ceremony at 9:30 a.m. There will be an American trivia contest at 9:45 a.m. and music, games, crafts and more at 10 a.m. until noon. Stick around, as parade winners will be announced and trophies will be awarded at 11 a.m., followed by the Milwaukee Fire Department handling the water cannon display at 11:30 a.m. 

Franklin
West Loomis Road and Forest Hill Avenue
https://www.franklinwi.gov
Franklin’s festivities are spread across several days this year, starting with live music, food and the Declaration of Independence on Wednesday. Then, on the day itself, the parade will take off at 11 a.m., down Loomis Road with the children’s parade stepping off a little earlier at 10:30 a.m. Afterward, enjoy community social activities such as a carnival, face painting, trampoline fun, line dancing, karaoke and more following the parade at city hall's north lawn.

Glendale
Milwaukee River Parkway
https://www.glendale4thofjuly.com
The City of Glendale, ab Data and Bank Five Nine invite you to celebrate the Fourth of July with them this year! The children’s parade will kick off the celebration at 10 a.m. with the main parade extravaganza marching at 10:30 a.m. The celebration isn’t over after the parade – come back at 4 p.m. for a food truck festival, live music from Failure to Launch, bouncy houses, afternoon activities and more until the fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Gordon Park
2828 N. Humboldt Blvd.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Parade participants: Parade set up begins at 9 a.m. at Bremen and Clarke, while the full parade to Gordon Park will begin at 11 a.m. followed with the theme, "Working Together for a Better USA." Enjoy parade entertainment and activities afterward – like ice cream and root beer, music, family-friendly activities, art and more – until 3:30 p.m. 

Greendale
5798 Broad St.
https://www.greendale.org
Greendale has a whole week of Fourth of July festivities – including the parade itself, which will take off at 9:30 a.m. after a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Stay tuned throughout the day – and the days before and after the Fourth – for live music, games, amusement rides, carnival fun and more, all found by the gazebo on Broad Street in Historic Downtown Greendale.

Greenfield
East Layton Avenue to Konkel Park
https://www.gfjuly4.com
Stepping off at 12:15 p.m., find a seat anywhere up and down East Layton Avenue toward Konkel Park with the House of Harley leading the way to start the parade. Enjoy a mile of parade fun and amusing parade entertainment like “High Noon” HOGs, the children’s parade and more. The celebration will conclude with free ice cream at the AMP Haus and hear the Badger band around 1:30 p.m. 

Hales Corners
Starting at Scharles and Forest Home, ending at 116th and Godsell
https://www.halescorners.org
Spend the entire day in Hales Corners attending the numerous events they have planned for the day – including the Firecracker Four at 8 a.m., an antique car show from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Holz Motors, a patriotic pet contest at 11 a.m., a pie contest at noon, the traditional bed races at 1:30 p.m., a hot dog eating competition at 1 p.m. and of course the parade itself taking off at 4 p.m. For the full slate, click here. 

Humboldt Park
3000 S. Howell Ave.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Head over to Humboldt Park this year! The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. at South Kinnickinnic Avenue and East Lincoln Avenue. Registration for the decorated vehicle contest (for children ages 2-12 years old) will then take place between noon and 12:30 p.m. But the party is still only getting started, as there will be a donut and donut hole eating contest in front of the park pavilion at 12:15 p.m., children’s entertainment at 12:30 p.m., a talent show at 2:30 p.m. and so much more throughout the day. 

King Center
1531 W. Vliet St.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
While there is no parade, there will be free Fourth of July celebrations at the Dr. MLK Center, beginning at 10 a.m. with arts and crafts and a meaning of the Fourth of July presentation at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by a talent show at 12:30 p.m. 

Lake Park
3233 E. Kenwood Blvd. 
https://city.milwaukee.gov
The parade begins at 9 a.m. at Riverside Park and Maryland Avenue School (Prospect and Bradford Avenues). Ice cream, games, bikes and trikes, and more will then celebrate the big day from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Enjoy all your Fourth of July fun before the fireworks shows later in the evening.

Mitchell Park
2600 W. Pierce St.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
The parade begins at 9 a.m. – or parades, as there are three locations for the school parade: National Avenue and 4th Street, Mitchell Street and 23rd Street, and Scott Street and 30th Street. The parade will be followed by the flag raising, costume, bike and trike, and more kicking off at 10 a.m. then games for children and adults at 11 a.m., a pie-eating contest will take place at 11:45 a.m. and live DJ music from 6-9 p.m. 

Oak Creek
8545 S. Shepard Ave.
https://www.oakcreekwi.gov
Beginning right at 9 a.m. near Edgewood Elementary school, find a seat anywhere from East Groveland Drive, East Puetz, South Mayhew Drive and South Shepard Avenue to enjoy this vast parade. Before, during and after the parade, there will be a number of activities for kids and adults to get involved in – like a coffee and donut social, vendor fair, face painting, farm train rides, raffles and more. 

Shorewood
Oakland Avenue toward Atwater Elementary School
https://www.villageofshorewood.org
The Shorewood parade will step off at 3 p.m., beginning at Kensington and Oakland before heading south on Oakland, turning onto Elmdale Court and ending at Atwater Elementary School, where kids can find a playground for post-parade fun. The party doesn’t stop there; later in the night, there will be more celebrations at Atwater Park with live music and more.

Wauwatosa
92nd Street to North Avenue
https://www.wauwatosa.net
Once again, Wauwatosa’s Independence Day parade route will begin at the Hoyt Pool parking lot at 9 a.m., heading north on Swan (92nd Street) before turning onto North Avenue and ending around 80th Street. After the parade, the afternoon activities – including free ice cream and decorated bikes, trikes and other kid-friendly vehicles – will run from 1-3 p.m. at the City Hall parking lot, as Hart Park is under construction. 

West Allis
77th Street and Greenfield Avenue
https://www.westalliswi.gov
The City of West Allis and West Allis Events Committee invite you to their Independence Day celebrations and the parade, starting early on Tuesday, July 2 at 7 p.m. and filled with marching bands, vintage cars, live music performances, floats and more. The festivities will continue Wednesday night with a double feature on Becher, showing "Finding Nemo" at 4 p.m. and "Jaws" at 7 p.m. in between 68th and 69th Street. West Allis will wrap things up on the Fourth of July itself with festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m. with food trucks, live music from the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and fireworks.

Wilson Park
1601 W. Howard Ave.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Parade line-up and check-in begins early at 8:15 a.m., followed by the parade stepping off at 9 a.m. at South 20th and West Howard Avenue before ending at Wilson Park. An ice cream social will begin at 9:45 a.m. followed by a flag ceremony, games, a bounce house, music, balloon art and more throughout the day until the evening's fireworks show.

Fireworks

Alcott Park
3751 S. 97th St.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4.

Brookfield
19990 River Road
https://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us
Fireworks will begin at 9:17 p.m. at Mitchell Park on July 4. 

Cedarburg
N62W5865 Columbia Ct
https://business.cedarburg.org
Fireworks will begin at dusk at Adlai Horn Park on July 4. 

Cudahy
4800 S. Lake Dr.
https://www.cudahy-wi.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. at Sheridan Park, east of the pond, on July 4. 

Franklin
8713-8743 W. Drexel Ave.
https://www.franklinwi.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. at Lions Legend Park on July 4.

Glendale
6560 N. Milwaukee River Parkway
https://www.glendale4thofjuly.com
Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. on July 4.  

Gordon Park
2828 N. Humboldt Blvd.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4.  

Greendale
6801 Southway, near the gazebo on Broad Street
https://www.greendale.org
Fireworks will begin at dusk on July 4. 

Greenfield
5151 W. Layton Ave.
https://www.gfjuly4.com
Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m. at Konkel Park on July 4. 

Hales Corners
5765 S. New Berlin Rd.
https://www.halescorners.org
Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. at Hales Corners Park on July 4.

Humboldt Park
3000 S. Howell Ave.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks begin at 9:15 on the east side of the lagoon of Humboldt Park on July 4.

Jackson Park
3500 W. Forest Home Ave.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks being at 9:15 p.m. on July 4. 

Lake Park
3233 E. Kenwood Blvd. 
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks being at 9:15 p.m. on July 4. 

Lincoln Park
1301 W. Hampton Ave.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4.

Milwaukee Lakefront
1300 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
https://county.milwaukee.gov
The July 3rd lakefront fireworks are unfortunately canceled for 2024. For more information, click here. 

Mitchell Park
524 S. Layton Blvd.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4.

Noyes Park
8235 Good Hope Rd.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4. 

Oak Creek
4001 Lk Vis Pkwy
https://www.oakcreekwi.gov
Fireworks will begin at dusk at Lake Vista Park on July 4. 

Shorewood
4000 N. Lake Dr.
https://www.villageofshorewood.org
Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. at Atwater Park on July 4. 

Washington Park
1859 N. 40th St.
https://county.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4.

Wauwatosa
7300 Chestnut St.
https://www.wauwatosa.net
Wauwatosa's Fourth of July fireworks have been moved to later this summer – Wednesday, Aug. 7 – in Hart Park. 

West Allis
11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
https://www.westalliswi.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. at the West Allis Athletic Complex at Nathan Hale High School on July 4.

Wilson Park
1601 W. Howard Ave.
https://city.milwaukee.gov
Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m. on July 4.