The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Fireworks will start at exactly 10 p.m., and typically last 30 minutes. Vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m.

Space in the park is available on a first come, first served basis. Come early to choose your spot! We do not allow the use of ropes or stakes to reserve space.

We encourage you to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the events; seats are not provided.

Local food, craft beer, and beverage vendors will have a variety of options for sale. Vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m. ATMs will be available in the park.

The Virtual Pet Parade is a pet-friendly way to include your animal companions in the 4th of July festivities. The parade is a video slideshow that will be played on a jumbo video screen and accompanied by music.

To include your animal companion (or companions!) in the 4th of July parade, please email their photo to publicmusic@rochestermn.gov by Wednesday, June 26, and include “Virtual Pet Parade” in the subject line.

If you’d like your pet’s name displayed, please include their name in the body of the email or directly on the photo. You can submit a photo of your pet in patriotic gear, a fun costume, or just being their adorable selves! 

The event will take place outdoors. In the case of threatening weather, parts of the event may be delayed, postponed, or, as a last resort, cancelled. 

For weather related updates the day of the event, please check our event updates page or social media accounts.

If the fireworks are cancelled due to weather, they may be rescheduled for the following day. There is no rain date for the other elements of 4th Fest; music and food trucks will not be rescheduled for the July 5 rain date.

All city and residential side streets will be available for parking, unless marked otherwise. Additional options include:

• 3rd Street Parking Ramp (100 3rd St SW)
• Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Parking Lot (7th St. SW)
  (NOTE: The entire west half of this lot will be designated as accessible parking)
• Soldiers Field West Parking Lot (Soldiers Field Dr. SW)
• Roy Sutherland Playground Parking Area (Soldiers Field Dr. SW)
• Soldiers Field East Parking Lot (Soldiers Field Dr. SW)
• Street Parking (Soldiers Field Dr. SW, George Gibbs Dr. SW)
• Street Parking (1st Ave SW)

NOTE: Both the Soldiers Field Parking Lot, Across the River (Broadway Ave S) and the pedestrian bridge will be CLOSED