Guide to Independence Day in St. Louis: Fireworks, Parades, and Festivals

Fair Saint Louis

The annual Fair Saint Louis festivities for 2020 will be hosted online in 2020 rather than in its usual Gateway Arch National Park location.

At 10 a.m. on July 4, 2020, tune in to the Fair Saint Louis Facebook page for a virtual Fourth of July celebration. Enjoy entertainment by local musicians, some variety acts, a salute to U.S. troops and essential workers, and more. Additional information will be available on the Facebook page.

JB Blast at Jefferson Barracks

The JB Blast event has been postponed to October 2, 2020, from 7 to 10 p.m. You can find updates on the event's Facebook page.

This free, family-friendly patriotic celebration at historic Jefferson Barracks Park in South St. Louis County normally takes place in early July. Live music is performed from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then the fireworks go until about 9:30 p.m. The Fourth of July gathering features food trucks with items for sale, and you may also bring a picnic and a blanket.

July 4th Fest at Six Flags St. Louis

This event has been canceled for 2020.

Six Flags St. Louis typically celebrates July 4 with several days of family fun and special events to honor the military. However, unlike other community celebrations, Six Flags celebrates from July 3 through July 6. The festivities include exclusive access to rides, an All-American Dance Party, and fireworks.

Webster Groves Community Days

This event has been canceled for 2020, but businesses and residents are welcome to participate in an Independence Day Home Decorating Contest; applications are due on June 30, 2020.

Webster Groves Community Days, located about 20 minutes from St. Louis, is usually a four-day celebration featuring a carnival, BBQ, parade, and fireworks. It's truly an old-fashioned event that draws visitors from around the St. Louis area. The festivities are held at Memorial Park just south of Interstate 44 off the South Elm Avenue exit. Check the schedule to see what's going on in the various park locations.

Patriots in the Park

This event has been canceled in 2020.

Granite City, around 20 minutes from St. Louis, plays host to The Patriots in the Park Independence Day celebration at Wilson Park. It's typically a five-day event (from July 3 to 7) that features carnival rides, food, music, and more. Fireworks on the Fourth of July start around 9:15 p.m.

Kirkwood Freedom Festival

This event has been canceled in 2020.

Residents and visitors alike gather in Kirkwood Park at 7 p.m. on July 4 for the city's annual Freedom Festival, held in Kirkwood, about 20 minutes by car from St. Louis. Everyone is invited to enjoy a fun Independence Day evening filled with live music and food. Expect fireworks at approximately 9:20 p.m.

4th of July Bike Parade

Columbia, Illinois, a roughly 20-minute ride from St. Louis, holds a unique and family-friendly Fourth of July celebration. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., children decorate their bikes and join the parade, which heads from Immaculate Conception School to Metter Park about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away. Activities then take place in the park until 11 p.m., including bingo, tournaments, food and drinks, fireworks, and more.

Ferguson Fourth of July Celebration

This event has been canceled in 2020.

Ferguson celebrates the Fourth of July with an all-day bash for the whole family in January–Wabash Park. There's a parade, children's entertainment, food, fireworks, and a variety of live musical acts. The city of Ferguson is around 20 minutes from St. Louis.

Chesterfield Celebration and Fireworks

This event is canceled for 2020.

Chesterfield—a 25-minute drive from St. Louis—holds a Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration, one of the area's largest such shows. The main viewing area will be at the Chesterfield Mall, and live music is performed on the main stage. Guests also enjoy food trucks, a children’s play area, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

St. Charles Riverfest

This event has been canceled in 2020.

St. Charles is approximately 30 minutes from St. Louis. The city has played an important role in U.S. history and shows off its community pride at a celebration called the St. Charles Riverfest. Held each year in Frontier Park on the banks of the Missouri River, the event is a lively way to honor the Fourth of July with carnival rides, live music, a parade, food and craft vendors, and fireworks. On July 3, the festival goes from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and the July 4 fun lasts from noon to 10:30 p.m., with a special fireworks display at 9:20 p.m.

Fourth of July Celebration in Ellisville

This event has been canceled in 2020.

For West County residents, Bluebird Park in Ellisville—about 30 minutes from St. Louis—is the place to be on the patriotic holiday. This Fourth of July Celebration keeps with solid traditions, such as vendors selling hot dogs, brats, ice cream, and other favorite festival foods. The event goes from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and also has live music, children's activities, and an Independence Day ceremony. Fireworks go on at 9:30 p.m.

Alton Fireworks Spectacular

This event has been canceled in 2020.

If you don't mind driving about 35 minutes from St. Louis to the fireworks show in Alton, Illinois, you can enjoy the festivities on July 3 at the Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater. The event goes from 9:30 to 11 p.m.; fireworks begin at around 9:30 p.m. General admission is free and VIP tickets are available, which include entry to the Amphitheater, assigned seating in the VIP area, reserved parking, and access to the VIP tent next to the stage (with a private concession booth).

O'Fallon's Independence Day

O'Fallon's annual Independence Day celebration held about 40 minutes from St. Louis is canceled for 2020. However, the community will celebrate instead during Labor Day at the Heritage & Freedom Fest 2.0 on September 6, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Check the website for most updated information on this event.

O'Fallon, Missouri, usually pulls out all the stops for its Heritage & Freedom Fest at the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex. The gathering, starting on July 2 and ending on July 4, features an impressive lineup of nationally-known musicians. There's also a parade, carnival, kids' activities, food, and fireworks. 

Godfrey Family Fun Fest

Robert E. Glazebrook Community Park is the place to be on Independence Day in Godfrey, Illinois, approximately 40-minutes away from St. Louis. The free and family-friendly celebration goes from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and includes a bike decorating contest for kids, a bike parade, a dunk tank, food, and entertainment. The evening ends with a big fireworks display.

Wentzville Liberty Fest

This event has been canceled in 2020.

About 40 minutes from St. Louis in Wentzville's Progress Park, the annual Liberty Fest takes place on July 4. The fun day begins at 10 a.m. with a parade, followed by kids' activities, live music, and fireworks at dusk. There's also free swimming at the Progress Park pool and a skating event at Wentzville Ice Arena.

Fireworks in Grafton

The city of Grafton, Illinois, around a 50-minute drive from St. Louis, hosts a celebration from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on July 2, 2020. The event typically includes entertainment and food during the day, as well as specials at restaurants. At night, the fireworks light up the sky over the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

Jerseyville Independence Day Fireworks Display

Those looking to enjoy the Fourth of July yet also practice social distancing may enjoy the 2020 fireworks display in Jerseyville, Illinois, approximately 50 minutes away from St. Louis. Everyone must stay in their cars to watch the show, which begins as the sky darkens on July 4. The whole community will be delighted by the fireworks held at the Jersey County Fairgrounds (American Legion).