Fourth of July in Johnson County is coming in with a bang. Here are four can’t-miss ways to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, from longtime traditions to sky-high family fun.
Coralville’s 4thFest Brings Big & Rich and Fireworks
Coralville’s long-standing tradition, 4thFest, returns Wednesday, July 1, through Saturday, July 4. The carnival begins at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday in the Aquatic Center parking lot, with tickets available Coralville City Hall and the Coralville Recreation Center.
The festivities resume at noon on both Friday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, anchored by the carnival and other activities at S.T. Morrison Park, with food vendors and other non-food items available for purchase. Other 4thFest events include bingo, a petting zoo and a kids’ tractor pull.
A pair of free concerts will rock the stage on Friday, July 3, at S.T. Morrison Park. Local country music artist, KC Bruner, will perform at 6:30 p.m. while country music legends, Big & Rich, best known for the chart-topping hit “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” will rock the stage at 8 p.m.
A fireworks display will cap off the festival at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at S.T. Morrison Park.
4thFest’s full event schedule can be found at Coralville.org.
North Liberty’s Fanfare and Flight to light up the night sky
Kick off celebrations early on Thursday, July 2, at North Liberty’s Centennial Park for Fanfare and Flight. The free event starts at 7 p.m. and welcomes guests to indulge in the park’s amenities and food vendors, including Moo Moos Ice Cream and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck. The Iowa Brass band takes the stage at 8:30 p.m., followed by 150 choreographed drones performing a light show at 9:30 p.m.
The city is offering a free shuttle from GreenState Credit Union, 2355 Landon Rd., from 7-10:30 p.m.
Iowa City Jazz Festival returns for three days of action
Iowa City’s Jazz Festival, July 3-5, is one of the longest-running annual festivals in the state. Hosted by the Summer of the Arts, the festival celebrates jazz with three days of live performances on two downtown stages and delicious food. A fireworks show will be held at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, over the Old Capitol.
This year’s Iowa City Jazz Festival lineup is available online at summerofthearts.org.
Sip and Celebrate at Cedar Ridge’s Bourbon and Blues
Head to Cedar Ridge Distillery for the annual Fourth of July Music Festival, Bourbon and Blues. The three-day event runs from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, featuring local artists and bands playing soulful blues. The action begins at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 3, and is free to attend.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Four ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in Iowa City
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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By Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
