Here's where to celebrate the Fourth of July around Dallas County

Perry, Minburn and Waukee offer a variety of ways to celebrate America's independence with music, parades and fireworks.

Here's how you and the family can celebrate July 4 around Dallas County.

Perry’s celebration includes a parade, fireworks

Perry’s Fourth of July celebration will return on Thursday with a slate of traditional activities, including a parade, vendors in the park, live music and a fireworks show.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce will kick off the annual festivities with the parade at 10 a.m. Line-up will start at 9 a.m. at East Perry Plaza. The parade is free to enter and registration is not required, though rules and an optional sign-up is available online.

The parade will travel down Willis Avenue to Pattee Park.

Vendors will be set up at Pattee Park following the parade, with a variety of food options, crafts and more. New this year, the Perry Elks will host bingo from 1-4 p.m. in the park's shelter house.

Kids can cool off with water activities hosted by the Perry Volunteer Fire Department on the bandshell side of the park while the Perry Fine Arts Committee will host its annual Musical Extravaganza and Ice Cream Social at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.

Community members are invited to bring their lawn chairs, games and baskets down to Pattee Park in the evening to enjoy live music. Stranger Than Fiction will perform from 6-9:30 p.m. in the bandshell, followed by the fireworks show.

Find more information at perryia.org/july-4th-celebration or on the Perry Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

Minburn offers live music, meals at Meek Park

Minburn’s Fourth of July festivities will kick off with free skating and live music Wednesday in Meek Park. A free-will donation meal will be served by the Friends of the Minburn Public Library from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The skate shack will be open and kids will be able to skate for free at the outdoor rink. The Meet Me in Minburn concert series will feature live music by Kick from 7-9 p.m.

The festivities continue on Thursday with rolls at the food shelter in Meek Park, followed by the parade at 9 a.m. The parade line-up will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Heartland Co-op. No registration is needed and everyone is welcome to participate.

Family games will be played in Rogers Park after the parade, along with a bags tournament at Mudders. American Legion Osborne Post 99 will host an all-wheels show on Baker Street, with check-in at 10 a.m. Area residents are invited to bring their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks and there is no fee to participate.

The American Legion Auxiliary will serve a noon meal at the Meek Park Food Shelter. Food trucks will also be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Meek Park.

Bingo will be played at 1:30 p.m. at the food stand and Zoo Crew will have ride-along animals available starting at 2 p.m. at the skating rink. Teams can check in at the skate shelter for the Amazing Race competition, which starts at 2 p.m. A puppet show will be held at 3 p.m. on the stage in Meek Park, followed by open skating and a balloon artist.

The evening meal will start at 5 p.m. at the Meek Park Food Shelter, followed by the raffle drawing. Raffle tickets are $1 or 6 for $5, with all proceeds going to Minburn’s Fourth of July celebration. Tickets are available at the Minburn Public Library, Mudders Bar, Heartland Co-op and Minburn City Hall.

The Minburn American Legion Pie Auction will be held at 7 p.m. Pies can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 4 to the legion hall to be included in the evening auction. The pie contest is open for adults and kids and cash prizes will be awarded in each category. Each pie baker 17 and under will receive a $10 prize.

The Fourth of July festivities will wrap up with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Find more information at minburn.org/4th-of-july-2024 or on the Minburn Iowa- Annual 4th of July Celebration Facebook group.

Waukee features skydivers, fireworks

Waukee's Independence Day Celebration returns on Wednesday and Thursday in Centennial Park. Enjoy classic American summer activities from a pancake breakfast to a pie-eating contest to professional fireworks and a parade. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

Wednesday's activities include the Waukee Farmers Market, yard games, a pie eating contest, an adult co-ed sand volleyball tournament and bingo. "Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1" will be played in the park at 8:45 p.m.

The festivities continue on Thursday with a 5K at 7:45 a.m., followed by a pancake breakfast. The parade will kick off at 10:30 a.m. Afternoon activities include inflatables from 12-8 p.m., an adult bags tournament and live music from 4-9:30 p.m. The Des Moines Skydivers will perform at 8 p.m., followed by the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

Find more information at Waukee.org/July.