MINNEAPOLIS 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS GUIDE
Explore all your 4th of July options in one place!
Consider this the be-all end-all of everything that is, was and will be for your 4th of July in Minneapolis. We guarantee that if you read this comprehensive, expert-compiled list that you’ll have a day worthy of your name being etched into the history books next to the country’s most patriotically-awesome people. Browse the options below for everything that is 4th of July in Minneapolis.
To make the most out of your festival experience, don’t worry about driving home. Make a weekend out of it! It’s more fun when you sleep over (we promise). Be sure to check out the best hotel deals plus summer events and things to do during your weekend getaway
PLEASE NOTE: The sound of fireworks may trigger the nervous system of dogs and other pets with hearing sensitivity, causing them to become anxious or afraid. If you intend to bring your dog to an outdoor Minneapolis celebration, make sure they are on a leash and close by during the fireworks display to ensure that they do not run away.
Stone Arch Bridge
This is the absolute best place to see the skies. Watching fireworks on the Stone Arch Bridge is like watching history, as the bridge is a link to the rich past of Minneapolis. You’ll be right above the Mississippi River and right below the action. Get here early though, it fills up quick! Make it a day downtown and plan pre-firework activities!
*Dogs allowed
Gold Medal Park
One of the most underrated spots in downtown Minneapolis, Gold Medal Park offers a more traditional viewing experience. Throw a blanket on the grass, toss a ball around and gaze up at the fireworks while you lie down and relax.
INSIDER TIP: “Bring bug spray.”
Mill City Museum
Watching fireworks from the Mill City Museum Observation Deck is as close to a VIP setting as you’ll get. Only 50 people get access, and you have to pay ($35), but the view is absolutely worth the cost. As an added bonus, you get admission into the museum beforehand.
INSIDER TIP: “If you’re reading this, then you need to stop what you’re doing and order tickets NOW! These tickets go very quickly and the view is sublime.”
Explore the Flour Milling Capital of the World
Guthrie Endless Bridge
A more unconventional place to watch fireworks, true, but it has that same VIP feel that the Mill City Museum Observation Deck has. You’ll be off the ground and closer to the action, and you’ll have a completely unobstructed view of the fireworks.
Check out some of the best local talent in Minneapolis
Bde Maka Ska
Parks are great, and buildings are very cool places to get closer to the fireworks. But, if you want the most authentic 4th of July “I LOVE AMERICA” experience, Bde Maka Ska, formerly Lake Calhoun, is where you want to be. Grill out, play some volleyball, kayak/paddle on the lake and chill on the beach while you get a great view of the downtown fireworks. Make a night of it! Hang out in Uptown before and after the fireworks show for more entertainment and cuisine.
*Dogs allowed everywhere but the beaches
Hennepin Avenue Bridge
With the Mississippi rolling through Minneapolis, bridges are a necessity here, and sometimes they are useful for more than just crossing! The Hennepin Avenue Bridge is a perfect location to snag a phenomenal view of the fireworks display. Just like Nicollet Island, situated just under the bridge, this is a great spot to conveniently hit up various Minneapolis hot spots both before and after the show. Whether you go to Northeast, the North Loop and Warehouse District or Downtown, there is a place for you at either end of this bridge. Take the Light Rail downtown or park nearby and walk to the bridge for an easy and favorable Fourth of July.
Nicollet Island
Located between Downtown and Northeast Minneapolis, Nicollet Island is the perfect green space to unfold a blanket and lie back on the grass to watch fireworks. A beautiful garden, picnic area, and walking path make this a great place to spend the day relaxing before the night’s celebrations. Situated right under the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, restaurants are abundant on both sides of the river. Grab a bite to eat in Northeast for dinner and head over to Downtown for drinks after! Nicollet Island is the perfect spot to experience the right dose of relaxation and celebration this holiday!
Restaurant Rooftops
A lot of people don’t generally think of restaurants as prime places to watch fireworks, but we say, “Why not?!” You’re up in the air, you’ll have a great view AND there are people that will serve you food and drinks. Check out more about Minneapolis’ best outdoor dining locations and different brews and bites to try before and after the fireworks show!
Red, White & Boom!
6:30am: TC Half Marathon
6:30am: Relay
6:30am: Virtual Marathon
6:50am: 5K Marathon
Join the celebration beyond the finish line. Enjoy hot dogs (veggie options available), drinks, a photo stop, and festive picnic activities! Then mosey on down to watch the fireworks along the Minneapolis Riverfront at 10pm.
Independence Day Celebration
Fort Snelling
10:00am-5:00pm
Spend the United States’ birthday at Historic Fort Snelling and explore the history of freedom in 19th-century America. Discover how many Americans celebrated the holiday nearly two centuries ago, complete with cannon and musket salutes, military dress parades, fife and drum music, and much more.
But not all Americans viewed Independence Day this way 200 years ago. Visit interactive learning stations around the fort and learn about the struggles for freedom and independence for several different groups of Americans—such as enslaved people, Native Americans, and women—while exploring the question, “What does freedom mean today?”