Fireworks, parades and live entertainment are just a few of the ways locals celebrate the birth of the nation in Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Fourth of July Celebration is the city’s biggest patriotic event, with an entire evening of family-fun activities, games, food and live entertainment leading up to the pyrotechnics.

Many city suburbs host all-day celebrations that may include community breakfasts, carnivals and parades in addition to their own fireworks displays. The Ottawa Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids salutes the holiday with the annual Hollyhock Lane Parade, the oldest Independence Day parade in Michigan.

The Fourth of July holiday is also a great opportunity to unwind and enjoy all the things that make summer so amazing in Grand Rapids – from food and craft beverages to outdoor recreation and often-al fresco live music and entertainment.

Come back to this page in June for a detailed list of the things to see and do for the next July 4th!