The Fourth of July has become synonymous with epic fireworks shows. While it is illegal to set off fireworks in Johnson County without a permit, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday.
Here are six events celebrating Independence Day and the ensuing weekend in Johnson County.
Fireworks at Penn Meadows Park
Celebrate the Fourth a day early at Penn Meadows Park in North Liberty. The celebration begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 3 with a classic car show hosted by Classy Chassy Cruisers. The fireworks show starts at 9:30 p.m. The city of North Liberty encourages guests to bring lawn chairs and pack a picnic basket. Alcohol is not permitted at the park.
Oxford Fireworks
Oxford is hosting a fireworks display on July 3. The show begins at dusk at Creekside Park along Mill Street.
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Coralville 4thFest
Fourth of July comes early with the return of Coralville 4thFest, which begins on Saturday, June 29 and ends on Thursday, July 4 with a glittering fireworks display. The week with a 5k walk or run on Saturday, which starts at the Coralville Recreation Center at 8 a.m.
The 4thFest carnival will start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 2 and will be open on July 3 and July Fourth. The carnival will be at the Coralville Community Aquatic Center parking lot. Ride tickets can be purchased through Friday at the Coralville City Hall and the Coralville Recreation Center or they can be bought day of.
S.T. Morrison Park at 1513 Seventh St. will host food vendors from noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4. Participating vendors include Americana Concessions, Kona Ice of Cedar Rapids LLC, La Mexicana Grocery Store & Restaurant, Papa Johns Pizza, Rodney's Jamaican Jerk, and Sno Biz of Iowa City.
The festival will also have a vendor fair from 2 to 9 p.m. on July 3 and from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4. Participating vendors include Ana Hualpa, Devrana LLC, Face Painting by Hailey, Fire Flower, Leaf Home Bath, Let Us Color for Peace, Schriek Arts, and Two Grammas Quilting.
Trophy Dads will open the music festivities at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3 at S.T. Morrison Park. The local Solon group covers hits from the early 19990s.
Yacht Rock Revue will take the stage at 8 p.m. Rolling Stone deemed this 10-piece ensemble the "world's premier soft-rock party band." Yacht Rock Revue brings hits from the late 1970s and early 1980s alive with its covers of the golden era of yacht rock, from Hall and Oates to The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.
The Coralville 4thFest parade begins at 10 a.m. on the Fourth of July. The parade will navigate a two-mile route east on 9th Street and 8th Street, south on 14th Avenue, east on 7th Street, south on 12th Avenue, west on 5th Street, north on 20th Avenue, and west on 8th Street.
Other 4thFest events include bingo, a petting zoo and a kids' tractor pull. The full event schedule can be found at Coralville.org.
July 4 Concert in the Park
Head over to one of Iowa's most patriotic towns in West Branch, the hometown of former President Herbert Hoover. The Hoover Presidential Foundation is hosting a free Independence Day concert at The Village Green, a site a part of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Iowa Brass will play a concert at 2 p.m. which will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a tradition that dates back to the 1800s.
Fourth of July at Tin Roost
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Tin Roost in North Liberty with an all-day party. The restaurant will host face painting and a giant Slip N' Slide from noon to 3 p.m. They'll also have an extended happy hour menu from 3 to 7 p.m. along with other drink and food specials. Fireworks follow a live music performance by Full Circle Band at 7 p.m., a local Cedar Rapids group specializing in covers from classic rock hits to modern classics.
Jazz Fest
Iowa City's Jazz Fest is one of the longest-running annual festivals in town. It returns Friday, July 5 through Sunday, July 7. It is a great way to wrap up the holiday weekend. Hosted by the Summer of the Arts, the festival celebrates jazz with three days of live jazz performances on a pair of downtown stages and delicious food. The festival highlights upcoming artists and nationally renowned talent and will feature a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 5 over the Old Capitol.
This year's Iowa City Jazz Festival lineup can be found online at summerofthearts.org.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached atJRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
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