Jefferson County-area residents should have a blast celebrating the Independence Day holiday this weekend.
The following outlines everything from fireworks and concerts to parades and other holiday activities taking place this Thursday through Monday.
Jefferson
Fireworks will start at dusk on Saturday, July 3, at Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson.
Co-sponsoring the display are the City of Jefferson, Festival Foods of Fort Atkinson and Jefferson County Fair Park.
The gates will open at 8 p.m., with the free fireworks show starting at dusk, around 9:30 p.m.
Visitors will not be allowed to drive through the fairgrounds, as setup for the county fair is under way. Rather, they should enter via the adjacent roads, coming in from West Spangler Street or Pitzner Parkway.
The fireworks will be shot off on West Spangler Street, with a portion of that street closed during the display.
Fort Atkinson
The Hoard Historical Museum and National Dairy Shrine in Fort Atkinson will host its 46th annual Independence Day Ice Cream Social on Saturday, July 3.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the free activity will be a curbside pickup of a family-fun packet and dairy products from 1 to 3 p.m.
The family-fun packet will include patriotic puzzles, coloring sheets and patriotic-themed novelties. Also included will be a no-contact scavenger hunt focused on Fort Atkinson and local historic sites. Participants will have to visit the site to find the answers, all of which are visible from the road or the public sidewalk.
The museum will hand out ice-cream sandwiches, courtesy of event sponsor PremierBank.”
The curbside pickup will be along the south side of South Fourth Street East, alongside the museum. From Main Street, head east onto South Third Street East, turn right onto Merchants Avenue and then left onto South Fourth Street East. Visitors will leave the pickup area by turning north on Foster Street.
The 100 block of South Fourth Street East will be closed to through-traffic during the event.
The Hoard Historical Museum and National Dairy Shrine Museum will be open Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Meanwhile, “America, Patriotic Pops,” is the theme for the Fort Atkinson Community Band concert on Monday evening, July 5, at Barrie Park.
The program will include a potpourri of patriotic songs, selections by American composers and a poem titled “Bullets & Bravery,” written by Fort Atkinson’s “Radio Ron” Stelse.
Director Wayne Crook will wave the baton starting at 7:30 p.m. at the bandshell in Fort Atkinson’s Barrie Park. A colorguard comprised of members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America will present the colors for the “Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by a salute to all men and women who served their country in the armed forces with an arrangement entitled “Salute to Freedom.”
There is no admission charge and chairs will be provided by the Fort Atkinson Parks Department; persons also may bring their own lawnchairs.
Vicky Daniels will perform a piccolo solo with band accompaniment titled “Penny Whistle Jig.” A brass sextet with Adrian Pierce and Lou Larson on trumpet; Andrea Haffelder, French horn; Tom Cook, baritone; Lisa Amacher, trombone; and Jordan Nelson, tuba, will perform “Memories of Steven Foster.”
The complete concert program includes: “Star-Spangled Banner,” “Salute to Freedom/Bullets & Bravery,” “An American Spectacular,” “Broadway Tribute,” “Memories of Steven Foster,” “Navy Hymn,” “Lady of Spain,” “Penny Whistle Jig,” “School Room Dixie,” “Irving Berlin Songs of America” and “Sounds of Sousa.”
The Fort Atkinson Community Band’s other summer concert dates for this summer include July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 16 and Aug. 23.
Johnson Creek
Johnson Creek will hold its Independence Day fireworks display on Friday, July 2, at Centennial Park, 620 Midge St.
The village-sponsored fireworks by Spielbauer Fireworks Co. Inc. will begin at dusk, weather permitting, and should last approximately 15 minutes.
Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.
Event-goers will find some parking at Centennial Park, with additional street parking. Maps, helpful tips, and links to local ordinances will be on the village’s website at www.johnsoncreek-wi.us and the tourism website at www.visitjohnsoncreek.org.
Whitewater
The Whitewater Area 4th of July Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, July 1-4, at Cravath Lakefront Park with the theme of “Celebrating our Hometown Heroes.”
Christman Family Amusements returns to the park with carnival rides, games, and food all four days. All-you-can-ride wristbands cost $20, with schedule times listed on www.whitewater4th.com.
The annual Miss Whitewater Pageant is back. To find out how to enter the pageant, contact organizers at misswhitewaterpageant@yahoo.com.
“Celebrating Our Hometown Heroes features a raffle to benefit Pets for Vets, the Whitewater Fire Department and the Whitewater K-9 Unit.
The community’s 36th Annual Fourth of July Celebration Car Show is slated for Saturday, July 3, from 2 to 7 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Spectator admission is free. Vehicles entered into the show pay $10 that day.
Saturday evening features the band Wunderlich, which plays originals and covers from Metallica, Foo Fighters, Tool, and songs from the 1990s through today.
Fireworks will be launched at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday’s activities begin with the Whippet City Mile race at 11:45 a.m. Entry forms are at http://www.whippetcitymile.com/.
The Fourth of July parade starts at noon, hosted by the Whitewater Lions Club.
After the parade, the Steve Meisner band will perform polka music at the park.
Rounding out the festival, Cold Sweat and the Brew City Horns, an eight-piece show band playing the best current and classic pop dance music, will play leading up to a second night of fireworks at 10 p.m.
Palmyra
On Blue Spring Lake in Palmyra Saturday, July 3, there will be a 6 p.m. ski show with fireworks at dusk.
A 1 p.m. boat parade is slated on Lower Spring Lake Sunday, July 4, with a boat parade on Blue Spring Lake at 6 that evening.
Lake Mills
In Lake Mills, fireworks will take place at dusk on Sunday, July 4, on the front lawn of Seljan Company.
Waterloo
Fireworks will take place at dusk on Saturday, July 3, at Fireman’s Park in Waterloo.
Watertown
Watertown’s Fourth of July festival is taking place Saturday and Sunday, July 3 and 4.
Saturday will feature music, food and drink at Riverside Park, with fireworks there at dusk.
Sunday kicks off with the Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. Starting downtown, it will travel via Fourth and Labaree streets to Riverside Park, where there will be live music, food and drink, as well as wrestling starting at 2 p.m.
Edgerton
Fireworks will be held at dusk Saturday, July 3, at Race Track Park in Edgerton.
Milton
Fireworks will be held around 8 p.m. or when it gets dark on Sunday, July 4, at Milton’s Schilberg Park.
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