Fourth of July
Des Moines has its own shopping districts worth visiting, but plenty of nearby areas are worth a trip, too.
By Cyote Williams
URBANDALE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
July 2-4
7404 Prairie Ave., Urbandale
www.urbandale4thofjuly.org
Urbandale puts on one of the best community celebrations during the Fourth of July weekend. This will be the 70th year that the community has held this event — not quite as long as this country has been around, but impressive, nonetheless. The tradition includes a 2-mile-long parade, a premier carnival, an entertainment garden and live music, as well as a variety of other activities.
JUNCTION STREET PARTY
July 3
137 Fifth St., West Des Moines
www.valleyjunction.com
Historic Valley Junction will host a vibrant celebration of liberty at the Junction Street Party. Live music, culinary delights from local food trucks and a beverage garden will line Fifth Street for this celebration. The festivities kick off during the West Des Moines July 3 Parade and continue throughout the evening.
WAUKEE CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE
July 3-4
Centennial Park in Waukee
www.waukee.org/777/Celebration-of-Independence
This Independence Day celebration is packed full of events over the course of two days. Festivities include a parade and a variety of entertainment, fireworks, inflatables and more. Try your hand — or mouth — at the bubble-gum-blowing contest, if you dare.
GOODGUYS 34TH SPEEDWAY MOTORS HEARTLAND NATIONALS
July 4-6
Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
www.good-guys.com
The weekend is packed with more than 5,000 of the Midwest’s finest 1999 and older hot rods, trucks, customs, muscle cars and classics. Other events during the weekend include: racing series, tire-smokin’ burnout competition, earth-shakin’ Nitro Thunderfest exhibition, apple pie baking contest, live music and, on Saturday night, fireworks.
IOWA CUBS
July 3
Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines
www.iowacubs.com
Fridays are normally reserved for fireworks at the end of Iowa Cubs games. Since the Cubbies will be playing away from home on Friday, July 4, the team has moved the dazzling fireworks display to Thursday, July 3. Enjoy a day at the ballpark and watch one of minor league baseball’s most-storied franchises face off against the Omaha Storm Chasers.
JULY 4TH THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
July 4
11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
www.lhf.org
Celebrate a historic Independence Day in the town of Walnut Hill. 1876 marks the first centennial of the United States, and Living History Farms’ Independence Day activities, including pie pie-eating contest, crafts, reading of the Declaration of Independence, parade, medicine show and historic baseball, give attendees a look into what celebrating the fourth looked like once upon a time.
YANKEE DOODLE POPS
July 3
Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E. Grand Ave.,
Des Moines
www.dmsymphony.org
This is the 31st annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert put on by the Des Moines Symphony. More than 100,000 Iowans enjoy the celebration each year, and it is considered the largest single-day event in Iowa. The group will perform patriotic favorites like “1812 Overture” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” A fireworks display dancing over the Des Moines skyline concludes the night.
Rendezvous ON THE RIVER
July 4
Riverview Park, 710 Corning Ave., Des Moines
www.riverviewevents.org/new-page
Every Friday in June and July, musical acts perform on the Prairie Meadows Riveria stage. This is the 16th year of the free music series. With it come concession stands and food trucks. Make sure to bring your own blanket or chairs. While the series occurs during these two months, on July 4, there will be fireworks and performances by Gimikk and Rebel Queens.
URBANDALE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
July 2-4
7404 Prairie Ave., Urbandale
www.urbandale4thofjuly.org
Urbandale puts on one of the best community celebrations during the Fourth of July weekend. This will be the 70th year that the community has held this event — not quite as long as this country has been around, but impressive, nonetheless. The tradition includes a 2-mile-long parade, a premier carnival, an entertainment garden and live music, as well as a variety of other activities.
JUNCTION STREET PARTY
July 3
137 Fifth St., West Des Moines
www.valleyjunction.com
Historic Valley Junction will host a vibrant celebration of liberty at the Junction Street Party. Live music, culinary delights from local food trucks and a beverage garden will line Fifth Street for this celebration. The festivities kick off during the West Des Moines July 3 Parade and continue throughout the evening.
WAUKEE CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE
July 3-4
Centennial Park in Waukee
www.waukee.org/777/Celebration-of-Independence
This Independence Day celebration is packed full of events over the course of two days. Festivities include a parade and a variety of entertainment, fireworks, inflatables and more. Try your hand — or mouth — at the bubble-gum-blowing contest, if you dare.
GOODGUYS 34TH SPEEDWAY MOTORS HEARTLAND NATIONALS
July 4-6
Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
www.good-guys.com
The weekend is packed with more than 5,000 of the Midwest’s finest 1999 and older hot rods, trucks, customs, muscle cars and classics. Other events during the weekend include: racing series, tire-smokin’ burnout competition, earth-shakin’ Nitro Thunderfest exhibition, apple pie baking contest, live music and, on Saturday night, fireworks.
IOWA CUBS
July 3
Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines
www.iowacubs.com
Fridays are normally reserved for fireworks at the end of Iowa Cubs games. Since the Cubbies will be playing away from home on Friday, July 4, the team has moved the dazzling fireworks display to Thursday, July 3. Enjoy a day at the ballpark and watch one of minor league baseball’s most-storied franchises face off against the Omaha Storm Chasers.
JULY 4TH THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
July 4
11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
www.lhf.org
Celebrate a historic Independence Day in the town of Walnut Hill. 1876 marks the first centennial of the United States, and Living History Farms’ Independence Day activities, including pie pie-eating contest, crafts, reading of the Declaration of Independence, parade, medicine show and historic baseball, give attendees a look into what celebrating the fourth looked like once upon a time.
YANKEE DOODLE POPS
July 3
Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E. Grand Ave.,
Des Moines
www.dmsymphony.org
This is the 31st annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert put on by the Des Moines Symphony. More than 100,000 Iowans enjoy the celebration each year, and it is considered the largest single-day event in Iowa. The group will perform patriotic favorites like “1812 Overture” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” A fireworks display dancing over the Des Moines skyline concludes the night.
Rendezvous ON THE RIVER
July 4
Riverview Park, 710 Corning Ave., Des Moines
www.riverviewevents.org/new-page
Every Friday in June and July, musical acts perform on the Prairie Meadows Riveria stage. This is the 16th year of the free music series. With it come concession stands and food trucks. Make sure to bring your own blanket or chairs. While the series occurs during these two months, on July 4, there will be fireworks and performances by Gimikk and Rebel Queens.