Where to find Fourth of July fun in and around Wichita
As the Fourth of July approaches, Wichita-area communities are prepping for a long weekend packed with parades, pyrotechnics and plenty of patriotic fun.
Several annual celebrations, as well as a few new traditions, are planned in and around Wichita for the Fourth of July, so break out your blankets and lawn chairs and check out these upcoming Independence Day festivities.
WICHITA
Thursday, July 3
Bradley Fair, 2000 N. Rock Road, 6 p.m.
For a quarter of a century, the Bradley Fair Summer Concert Series has brought five free nights of live music to Wichitans every year, complete with a firework finale on the closing night. This year will be no different.
The series will wrap up on July 3 with performances by indie soul band Rudy Love & The Encore. While the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., attendees are invited to participate in an assortment of family-friendly activities beginning at 6 p.m. The firework show, courtesy of Victory Pyrotechnics, will start at 9:30 p.m. Attendance is free, but coordinators are asking attendees to RSVP via Eventbrite.
Friday, July 4
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, 700 N. Nims, 9 a.m.
Start your Fourth of July morning with pancakes, popsicles, a kids parade and native Kansas critters at the Riverside Citizens Association’s 4th of July Breakfast and Children’s Parade.
Breakfast is served at 9 a.m. and costs $10 for adults, $5 for kids and is free for children 3 and under.
At 10:30 a.m., kids are invited to join the parade procession with their decorated bikes, trikes, scooters or strollers. Afterward, Friends of the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit will pass out free popsicles and offer fun facts about the animals housed at the wildlife exhibit.
Wichita Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway, 9 a.m.
To kick off Independence Day, the Veterans Memorial Park Board will commemorate the holiday with a presentation of traditional military customs at Wichita’s Veterans Memorial Park. Marine Corps veteran John Caviale will present a speech on the significance of the Fourth of July before the US Marine Corps League fires a 3-volley salute. A bugle rendition of taps will bring the hourlong event to a close.
The commemoration is open to the public and attendance is free. Limited seating will be available, but lawn chairs are recommended.
Equity Bank Park, 275 S. McLean Boulevard, 6:35 p.m.
At the conclusion of the Wichita Wind Surge’s first game in a weekend series, the sky above Equity Bank Park will light up with festive Fourth of July fireworks. Beginning on July 4 and lasting until July 6, the Wind Surge will play against the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the three-game series.
The July 4 game will start at 6:35 p.m., with fireworks to follow the game’s conclusion. Ticket prices start at $13 and can be purchased via the Wind Surge’s website.
Kennedy Plaza at Century II, 6 p.m.
Wichita’s largest and most extravagant fireworks display, Red, White and Boom!, is back to light up the city’s skyline. But this year, the annual show will be held at a different location.
Presented by Evergy, the show will be held at Kennedy Plaza at Century II. Starting at 6 p.m., food vendors will set up down Douglas and north of Century II. At 9:30, fireworks will be shot off from the top of the Garvey Center towers. The firework show will be choreographed to music, and viewers can download the Pyrocast app or scan a QR code at the event to listen and watch along.
While the event is free, tickets are for sale for balcony access at the performing arts and convention center via Century II’s Select-A-Seat.
Additionally, the following intersections will close at 4 p.m. and reopen around 10:30 p.m., at the conclusion of the firework show:
Douglas & Waco
Douglas & Main
Douglas & Water
Douglas & N. Wichita
Saturday, July 5
Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Boulevard, 10 a.m.
After enjoying modern Fourth of July festivities, step back in time and celebrate like the pioneers did at Old Cowtown Museum’s “Celebrate America!” event on July 5. The open-air museum’s grounds and building fronts will be adorned with red, white and blue decorations, and historic reenactors will be celebrating Independence Day just like patriots did in the 1870s.
The event will feature a gunfight, an old-time medicine show, a vintage baseball game, historical presentations, wagon rides and horseshoes and sack race competitions. The Victorian era song and dance troupe Daisy Longstem Saloon Girls and volunteers with Empire House Players will also perform throughout the day.
“Celebrate America!” begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (62+), $8 for youth (5-17), $5 for Old Cowtown members and free for kids 4 and under.
Sunday, July 6
South Botanica Parking Lot, 1975 N. Sim Park Drive, 8 a.m.
Run, jog or walk off Fourth of July hamburgers and hot dogs at the All American 4 & 8 Mile races starting at South Botanica Parking Lot.
The event will feature six different races — a kids dash, a 1 mile race, 4 mile race, 8 mile race, a run for volunteers and a virtual race where runners can participate from anywhere at any time. Live results and awards for top finishers in each race will also be available.
Registration is required and ranges from $20.83 to $46.28. A custom bib, designer shirt and finisher medal are included in the registration cost for the kids dash, virtual race, 1 mile, 4 mile and 8 mile races.
Augusta
FRIDAY
Augusta Lake, 2923 Ohio St., Around 9 p.m.
Check out an Independence Day firework show above Augusta City Lake at dusk.
Benton
FRIDAY
Benton City Community Center, 806 Dale Ave.
Benton will celebrate Independence Day with a community breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon in the city’s park. Afterward, a flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. will signal the start of the kids parade, which will leave from United Methodist Church and go down 9th Street to Dale Ave. At the parade’s conclusion, ice cream will be served and trophies will be awarded to kids who signed up prior to the day’s festivities. Registration can be completed via the city’s website.
Derby
FRIDAY
High Park, 2801 E. James St., 7:30 a.m.
The Derby Running Club will host its 44th Annual Firecracker Race on Independence Day morning, complete with certified 4-mile and 1-mile courses that start and end at Derby’s High Park.
A $50 cash prize will be awarded to the fastest male and female runners in each race. Additionally, custom awards will also be awarded to the top three runners in each age group. All runners will receive a finisher medal, and the first 400 registrants will be guaranteed a t-shirt.
Registration for adults is $40 per race, or $45 to participate in both races, and can be completed on runsignup.com. Registration for kids between the ages of 1 and 12 starts at $20 per race, or $25 for both races.
South Rock Christian Church Powerhouse, 302 N Georgie Ave., 10 a.m.
This year’s Independence Day Parade in Derby will follow a different route than usual due to road construction. However, the parade still promises the same procession, floats and merriment that returning spectators are familiar with.
Starting just north of Market St. at the South Rock Christian Church Powerhouse parking lot, the parade will proceed north on Georgie to Madison Ave. before turning right and going east toward Derby Middle School.
After the parade, Fire Station 81 will host an open house from 10:30 to noon at 715 E. Madison Ave. Fire trucks will be on display, as well as the fire safety house where participants can test their house-fire readiness. And, if you’re hungry, Little Busters will host its second Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, where five competitors will chow down for the title of Hot Dog Champion of Derby 2025.
More information about the parade can be found on the VFW website.
High Park, 2801 E. James St., 6 p.m.
Derby’s Fourth of July festivities will end with a bang as celebrators return to High Park for Fireworks in the Park.
Starting at 6 p.m., an assortment of food trucks will be available, as well as other family friendly activities. The firework show will begin at 9:40 p.m.; no outside fireworks are allowed.
El Dorado
FRIDAY
100 S. Woodland, 9 a.m.
An entire day’s worth of Fourth of July festivities are planned in El Dorado, from 9 a.m. until late into the evening.
To kick off the day, a fleet of red, white and blue bicycles will roll through East Park. Kids between the ages of 4 and 10 are invited to decorate their bikes in patriotic colors and line up for the parade at 9 a.m.
If you have or can find a turtle by 10 a.m. on Friday, you may want to enter it in El Dorado’s annual Turtle Races. Sign up for the races at 9:45 a.m in East Park.
Throughout the day, other activities will be available at East Park, including a dunk tank, an inflatable obstacle course and yard games.
From 1 to 4 p.m., the El Dorado Municipal Pool at 900 N. Taylor will host a free swim. At 5 p.m., the gates at McDonald Stadium will open for a veterans ceremony scheduled for 6:15 p.m. and a ballgame at 7 p.m. At the conclusion of the game between the El Dorado Walnuts and the McConnell WarDogs, a fireworks show sponsored by Experience El Dorado will light up the evening sky.
Additional information and a full list of El Dorado’s Independence Day Celebration activities can be found on the city’s park and recreation Facebook page.
Garden Plain
FRIDAY
620 Section Line Road, 6:30 a.m
Garden Plain’s annual Independence Day Celebration is packed with activities, starting at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast at the local Senior Citizen’s Center until 10 a.m.
The 5K Freedom Run and 1 Mile Fun Run are scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., games of basketball, horseshoes, wiffleball and pickleball will be held. At 11, the parade will run down Main Street with a pulled pork, fried chicken and hot dog lunch awaiting attendees.
From noon until 5 p.m., there will be an array of Fourth of July activities, including a washer and cornhole tournament, turtle races, and a watermelon eating contest. The evening will come to an end with a dance from 7 to 11 p.m. and a fireworks display starting at 10 p.m.
Goddard
SATURDAY
CDS Baseball Fields, 200 S. Walnut, 7 p.m.
The Goddard Lions Club and City of Goddard will bring the Fourth of July to the ballfields north of Clark Davidson Elementary on July 5, complete with live music and free food. From 7 to 10 p.m., free hot dogs, chips, watermelon and ice cream will be served while the Jake Lauer Band performs. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome for a fireworks display planned for 10 p.m.
Haysville
FRIDAY
Riggs Park, 706 W. Sarah Lane, 8 a.m.
Haysville’s fourth annual Fourth of July Celebration kicks off Friday at 8 a.m. with a parade starting at Haysville Middle School and ending at Haysville United Methodist Church.
Afterward, attendees can participate in a cornhole tourney or a kids fishing derby at 9 a.m., race frogs at 10 a.m., enjoy free hot dogs for lunch around 11 a.m. and splash around in an array of water, raft and pool activities until food trucks arrive at Riggs Park around 6 p.m.
Rock group Jet City will perform from 7:30 p.m. until the firework show at 9:45 p.m.
A complete schedule of activities can be found on the city of Haysville’s Facebook page.
Friday-Sunday
Keever-Wire VFW Post 6957, 7507 S. Broadway
The Keever-Wire VFW Post 6957 will host a weekend celebration over three days to celebrate the Fourth of July.
On Friday, from 1 to 7 p.m., the post will host a free potluck at its South Broadway building.
On Saturday, a bounce house and games will be available all day at the post building to celebrate Independence Day. From 1 until 7 p.m., hamburgers, hot dogs and bratwursts will be served, and from 2 to 4 p.m. free face paintings will be available.
The VFW Post will bring its weekend celebration to a close Sunday evening with a pool party at the Haysville pool from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. There is no entry fee.
Mulvane
FRIDAY
204 E. Main St., 11 a.m.
Classic cars, public safety vehicles and an assortment of other floats and local groups will take to Mulvane’s Main Street on Friday morning for the city’s annual Fourth of July parade and community social.
The parade will start at Munson Primary School before moving south down 2nd Avenue and left onto Main Street before ending at Main Street Park. Kids are invited to decorate their bicycles and ride alongside the parade. The three best-dressed bikes’ owners will win gift certificates and medals. Additionally, cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the three best parade floats before the celebration resumes at Main Street Park with free watermelon and activities.
Park City
FRIDAY
Hap McLean Park, 6801 N. Hydraulic, 11 a.m.
Check out a car show, play pickleball, enjoy the flash of fireworks and more at Park City’s full day of Fourth of July activities at Hap McLean Park.
At 9 a.m., a parade will travel east from the corner of Independence Drive and 61st Street before turning left onto Hydraulic and ending at Hap McLean Park. From 10 a.m. on, attendees can participate in the Salute to Freedom Car Show, a pickleball tournament, a pet show, a magic show and other Fourth of July events.
A detailed list of activities and times can be found on the Park City website.
Newton
THURSDAY
415 Commons Parking Area, 1035 SE 3rd St., 8:15 p.m.
Celebrate the Fourth of July a day early in Newton with Kansas Christian Home’s Independence Day Celebration. Popsicles, watermelon, yard games and light refreshments will be available at 8:15 p.m. At 9 p.m., a sundown fireworks display will conclude the evening of entertainment.
FRIDAY
Kidron Bethel Village, 3001 Ivy Drive, 8 p.m.
For more fireworks, Newton in collaboration with Bluestem Communities will be hosting a Fireworks Extravaganza starting at 8 p.m. Outdoor events, games, giveaways and food will be available until the firework show begins at 9:45 p.m.
Rose Hill
FRIDAY
Shorty Cox Park, 629 E. School St., 8 p.m.
Rose Hill will have fireworks and ice cream at their annual Independence Day celebration. Ice cream will be available at 8 p.m. and fireworks will go off at dusk.
