Want to make a donation to the fireworks?  
​Simply click the Yellow "Donate Now" button below and you will be taken to a secured website to process a donation via your Credit Card.

DONATE NOW

4th of July Information

The 2019 Celebration of Freedom will take place on Thursday, 7/4 in downtown Rockford, Illinois.
The Celebration will include a 5K walk & run, A Patriotic Prayer Breakfast, Live Music and Entertainment, Patriotic Parade and concludes with a 30 minute firework show synced to music over downtown Rockford.
Timeline of the days events are listed below on this page.  We do update regularly, so please keep checking back for new info.
​
The Rockford 4th of July Civic Committee is a group of volunteers that is tasked with raising the money to put on the days events including, but not limited to, the Patriotic Parade and the Fireworks.  The Committee has to raise $80,000 to make this day happen.  NO TAX DOLLARS are used to pay for the fireworks.  If you'd like to volunteer or donate, please contact us today!

EVENT SPONSORS

Fantastic Fireworks Sponsor

Thank you to the MANY local businesses, anonymous businesses and individuals that donate to make this community event happen! 
We receive checks from $5 and up from so many amazing, patriotic people, and we can't thank you enough.   
If you'd wish to donate, click the DONATE tab now and join in on being a part of this family fun event celebrating the birth of this great nation.

DONOR LEVELS:
Sparkler Donors,  $1 - $199
Bottle Rocket Donors,  $200 - $499
Stars & Stripes Donors, $500 - $999
Uncle Sam Donors,  $1,000 - $1,999
Star Spangled Banner Donors,  $2,000 - $4,999
Firecracker Donors,  $5,000 - $9,999
Fantastic Fireworks Donors,  $10,000+
​Sponsorship's are also available! 

DONATE NOW

2019 Parade Info

Donation Barrel Brigade Start Time:      4:30 pm
Motorcycle Parade Start Time:                 4:45 pm 
Main Parade Start Time:       5:00 pm

Parade Route:
Route forms at 7th Street and 6th, 5th and 4th Avenues
Proceed North on 7th Street to East State Street.
Turn West on East State Street to Wyman Street.
Turn South on Wyman Street to Chestnut Street.
Turn West on Chestnut Street to Winnebago Street.
Disbands at Winnebago Street.

    Parade Route Food Vendors, Retail Vendors & ATMs:
   Edible Vibes at the Corner of Water St. & State St.
   D&A Concessions at Lot 7 (Parking lot at Elm and Wyman Streets)
    Olivo Taco at the Corner of Water St. & State St.
   Olivo Taco at Ingersoll Centennial Park
                                          The Wing Tent from District will be serving on Water St.
                                          ATMS sponsored by Illinois Band & Trust will be located throughout the parade route
                                          The Glow Zone will be selling glow merchandise on the parade route and in Davis Park (portion of proceeds gets donated to the                                            4th of July Committee)

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Parade Participants:
Applications are no longer being accepted.  The 2019 Patriotic Parade is full.
Contact Tom Luepkes with any questions about parade information/line up, 815-979-2977.​

Davis Park

Davis Park is considered to be a Prime Viewing Area for this years Fireworks Display.  Here is some info about activities and items that will take place for this year's 4th of July Celebration:

​Park Opens at 4pm:
Admission is only $5.  All admission fees into Davis Park goes towards paying for the fireworks.
Children age 5 and under are FREE.
Military Discount, $1 off admission cost with ID
Entrance Gate will close at 9:15pm and reopen at the conclusion of the fireworks for exiting the Park

Live Entertainment:
5:15pm - 7pm, Bootleg Soul
7:15pm - 9:15pm, The Gilligan's
Kids Area with Bounce Houses and Games (FREE...donations accepted)

Official Vendors:
Beer Tent presented by Hayes Distribution
Soda/Water Tent presented by Pepsi
Kona Ice - Featuring Shaved Ice with a Great selection of Flavors!
You're Bacon Me Crazy - Bacon Infused Menu of Amazingness!
Pizza Fresca - Artisan & Tasty Wood Fired Pizza! Nom Nom Nom...
Olivo Taco - World Famous Tacos!
The Glow Zone - Glow in the dark toys, jewelry and fun for all!

Know Before You Go:

• No Coolers or outside food or drink
• No Sparklers or any kind of fireworks are allowed inside Davis Park
• All Bags will be checked
• Bring blankets or lawn chairs
• Cash and Credit are accepted at Davis Park entrance
• Davis Park entrance will close at 9:15pm and will reopen after the fireworks conclude
• There is No Presale of tickets for entrance into Davis Park
• You May Enter and Exit to view the parade
• Kids Area is Free, but donations are accepted
• No Guns or Knives will be allowed into Davis Park
• If you see something, report it!
• All monies collected at the front gate help us to pay off the fireworks invoice

2019 Independence Day Schedule

Here's a look at some of the happenings downtown on the 4th of July!
Fun for the entire family.
​
​JULY 4, 2019

• 7:00am    Lifescape 4th of July Classic Run/Walk 
  • info at www.lifescapeservices.org
• 9:00am    Patriotic Prayer Breakfast sponsored by Carpetland USA
  • ​Happening on the SOUTH side of Davis Park at the Gazebo 
  • Great program of Faith, Patriotic Musical Favorites mixed with Complimentary Coffee and Pastry
    • ​​Special Guest Speaker, Rev. Kenneth Edward Copeland.
    • Musical Guests featuring Jodi Beach and First Free Chorale
  • Admission is FREE!
• 3:00pm    Gramps with Amps plays at Joe Marino Statue
• 3:00pm    Carnival Rides Open (Lot 7 at the corner of Elm & Wyman St).  
• 4:00pm    Davis Park Gate Opens (Gate Closes at 9:15pm)
  • ​$5 Admission At Gate, Children 5 and Under are Free
    • All admissions go towards paying for the fireworks
  • Free Kids Area, Food & Drink, Live Entertainment and Best View of the Fireworks!
• 4:30pm    Donation Barrel Brigade Kicks off on the Parade Route​
• 4:30pm    Carl Cole plays and commentates the Parade at the Grand Stand located at Elm and Wyman Streets
• 4:45pm    Motorcycle Parade Kicks off
• 5:00pm    The 56th Annual Patriotic Parade Presented by Campbell Science Begins
• 5:15pm    Bootleg Soul performs inside Davis Park
• 6:45pm    Once Upon A Dream Performances Presents Woman of Wonder & SpiderHero to appear and take FREE pictures with Rockfordians at the Parade Grand Stand located at Elm and Wyman Streets​
• 7:15pm    The Gilligan's perform inside Davis Park​
• 9:15pm    Davis Park Entrance Closes​
• 9:30pm    Skyconcert 2019 begins
  • ​​Tune your radios to 95.3 The Bull or 103.1
  • The Fireworks will begin with a 'Shell Salute' to Mr. Fourth of July, Joe Marino
  • At the Conclusion of the Salute, we will stand for our National Anthem performed and arranged by Rockford's very own, Jodi Beach
  • 5,000 shells will blast in the sky over downtown Rockford for 30 minutes all while be synced to music
• 10:00pm  Hug your family and venture back home

More events will be added, keep checking back here for updates!
Email us if you have any questions, concerns or comments:
4thandlights@gmail.com
​

2019 TRAFFIC/PARKING INFO​

From City of Rockford Transportation:
Street Closure Info from the City of Rockford:

TRAVEL AND ACTIVITY INFORMATION 
4TH OF JULY  EVENTS 2019

Rockford, IL – Thursday July 4th, 2019 the City of Rockford invites citizens to enjoy the annual celebration of our Country’s freedom with many fun, family activities.  Events start at 7:00 a.m. and continue on throughout the day ending with a spectacular fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.  As you plan your day, please keep the following information in mind:

 Lifescape 4th of July Classic 5K Run/Walk in honor of Joe Marino will be held at 7:00 a.m. beginning on Madison under the Jefferson Street Bridge near the Trolley Station. Traffic will be impacted as follows:
 
• Madison St. from E. State north to Y Blvd. will be closed  at 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. during this event

The Annual 4th of July Parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m. with the donation barrel brigade, then 4:45 p.m. with the motorcycle Parade, then 5:00 p.m. for the main parade on Thursday, July 4th, 2019 

Traffic will be impacted as follows:

• The parade will form at 7th Street & 6th Ave., proceed north on 7th St. to E. State St., west on State St. to Wyman St, turn south on Wyman St. to Chestnut St., west on Chestnut St. where the parade will disband at Main St.; Street closures will begin about 11:00 a.m., beginning with the Morgan St. bridge, and all streets will be closed by 3:00 p.m. in the general footprint of Charles/State St. on the east, Jefferson St. on the north, Church St. on the west, and Morgan St. on the south

• Police traffic control on arterials such as 2nd, 3rd, 6th  and 7th Streets will allow traffic to cross periodically, but traffic is urged to find alternate routes. 

• Traffic Control will remain in effect at several of these locations until after the annual fireworks display is complete.

• Rockford Police urge citizens to be patient post-fireworks show, and remember if you are traveling from a community or neighborhood on the north side of town, park on the north side, same for east /west/ and south.  Traffic is being routed east on the east side of the river, west on the west side of the river, north on the north side of Jefferson St., and south from south of Morgan St/College Ave.  

• Viewing of the fireworks will be permitted on the Morgan St. Bridge, two (2)  southern lanes of the Chestnut Street Bridge, the State St. Bridge (after the parade), and the three (3) southern lanes of the Jefferson St. Bridge this year.  Many excellent sites are available throughout the city, including local parks

• Parking downtown:  People are urged to carpool if they plan on coming downtown, and leave plenty of time to park and find a place to watch the parade and fireworks as spaces fill up early.  Parking is available in the first 3 floors of the parking deck west of the BMO Harris Bank Center on S. Church St. , in the parking deck east of the Coronado Theatre on N. Main just north of Jefferson St., and in various municipal surface parking lots. * there is no fees for parking in the parking decks on July 4*  Please watch for signs at private lots and do not park in any lot or space where signs are posted warning that cars will be towed, as well as any city streets posted “No Parking”

For detailed information on the parade or fireworks display please visit : http://www.rockfordfireandice.com/4th-of-july.html 

For specific street closure information, contact:  Kelly Nokes, Engineering Operations Manager 779-348-7660 or Martin Bloom, Project Manager-Permits and Special Events 779-348-7648