By Beacon Staff
It’s fireworks times for Southeast Iowa.
As the Fourth of July holiday approaches this Sunday, local communities will gather together to celebrate America’s independence – marked by explosions of color in the sky. This year, there is plenty to choose from.
It all starts tonight with fireworks in Danville, culminating with the all day Fourth of July celebration Sunday at West Burlington.
Set to take place in the area of city hall and the West Burlington Fire Department, West Burlington's annual Fourth of July celebration had to be canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The schedule for West Burlington’s event is as follows:
6 to 10 a.m.: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at the fire station
7 a.m.: Craft and vendor show
9 a.m.: Bike races at Westland Mall. Registration starts at 8 a.m.
10 a.m.: Cruise Day Display
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Bingo in City Hall
11:30 a.m.: Kids games in the parking lot behind City Hall
11:30 a.m.: Dunk tank sponsored by West Burlington Athletic Boosters
Noon: River City Baggers bags tournament
1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.: Duck races sponsored by the Fine Art Boosters
3:45 p.m.: Kids Parade. Children can decorate their wagons, bicycles, scooters or shoes and line up at West Burlington Elementary School for a parade. Decorations are not provided and registration begins at 3:15 p.m. in the school parking lot.
4 p.m.: Fourth of July Parade on Huston Street
7 p.m.: The Broadway Bullfrog Race Championship
8 p.m.: Raffle drawing. Those who purchased tickets do not have to be present.
10:01 p.m.: Fireworks.
On the Deery Brothers Outdoor Stage
11:30 a.m.: Live music by Bloom
1:30 p.m.: It's Electric Entertainment Kids Talen Show
5 p.m.: Live music by Bluzzillion
8:30 p.m.: Live music by Final Say
The Rest of Southeast Iowa’s Independence Weekend Events
Friday (July 2)
• Danville Fish-Chicken Fry drive-through meal is 5 to 8 p.m. at the Danville Fire Department, 207 N. Elm St. Call (319) 392-8181 after 4:30 p.m. for delivery. Fireworks will be after dark at the southeast edge of town near the city storage lot and lagoons.
• Oquawka, Ill., will have a fireworks display at 8 p.m. Friday at North Eighth and Knox streets. There will be parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 3), followed by food vendors at 2 p.m. Saturday and a tractor pull at 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Old Blue Jazz Collective will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m at the Art Center of Burlington. There will be gallery show, enjoy talented area musicians and alcohol.
Saturday (July 3)
• Free Kids Patriotic Show starts at 1 p.m. in The Loft on Jefferson Street.
• Fireworks after the Burlington Bees vs. Clinton Lumberkings game at Community Field at 6:30 p.m.
• Lucas Oil MLRA Super LM at 4 p.m. at 34 Raceway, with fireworks to follow.
• The 109th Annual Charlie Korschgen Kiddie Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at 18th Street and Avenue G and end at the Loyal Order of Moose parking lot.
• Keokuk's two-day July 4 celebration starts Saturday with a youth fishing tournament at 9 a.m., a car show from 4 to 8 p.m. and Flannigan’s Right Hook at 7 p.m. at Rand Park in Keokuk. There will be pedal carts and cotton candy starting at 11 a.m. at Lake Cooper.
Sunday
• At 1 p.m., Old Fort Madison in Riverview Park off Avenue H will recreate the military's ceremony for Independence Day, including 18 shots from the fort's cannon.
• After a special city band concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Central Park, fireworks start at 9:45 p.m. over the Mississippi River. U.S. 61 between Sixth and 10th streets will be blocked off for people to set up lawn chairs and watch.
• Whiskey Friends will play at Rand Park Pond in Keokuk at 6 p.m. Sunday. Jordan Granera sings the National Anthem at dusk and fireworks will follow.
• Montrose Fireworks display will be after sunset on Saturday, shot from River Road in front of the cemetery, towards the Mississippi River. The rain date is July 5.
• Morning Sun's Independence Day celebration on Saturday will feature Mile Long Parade at 3 p.m., skydivers at 7 p.m., also a frog jump and fireworks will be at dusk.
• Sperry Fireworks Show and celebration is 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Myers Tree Farm Wedding Barn, 18876 111th Ave.
• Wayland Independence Day celebration will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Fireworks are at dusk at the WACO school football field.
Sunday (July 4)
• The Burlington Golf Club, 2124 Sunnyside Ave., will shoot fireworks Sunday at dusk on the club's driving range.
• Burlington Municipal Band will celebrate the holiday with its free "American Music" concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Crapo Park bandshell. This concert will not include fireworks.
• Hancock County, Ill., Independence Day Parade is 1 p.m. at the Carthage square in Carthage, Ill. Fireworks will end the day's celebrations at dusk near Illinois West High School.
• Donnellson July 4 Parade is 11 a.m. Sunday and runs down Main Street.
• Farmington’s Hometown America Parade will line up at 10 a.m. at the entrance to Indian Lake Park, 28163 Willow Ave., Farmington, and proceed through the campground.
• Franklin’s July 4 celebration starts at 2 p.m. in Franklin Park. There will be live bands, barbecue chicken, raffles, games, an auction, and fireworks at dark. A freewill donation luncheon benefiting fireworks and park improvements is 4 p.m.
• Keosauqua Lions Fourth of July Celebration starts at 7 a.m. Sunday with a pancake breakfast in Keosauqua City Park. A fireworks display will be at dark over the Des Moines River.
• LaHarpe, Ill., July 4 celebration is 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at Lamoine Valley Golf Course, West Archer Avenue, with a full day of events capped off by fireworks.
• Mount Pleasant July 4 celebration will feature fireworks after 9:15 p.m. in McMillan Park, with no daytime activities this year.
• New London July 4 celebration on Sunday starts with Holiday Stroll pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., walking tacos at 11 a.m., and children's games at noon in the park. A parade honoring VFW Post 7641 is 1 p.m., followed by events and food at the VFW Post, 802 E. McKinley St.