July 4 mega-guide: Where to watch fireworks in Kansas City area this holiday weekend

In case you missed our Fourth of July listing, here’s an updated version.

If your Independence Day celebration typically includes a trip to Berkley Riverfront Park for music and the big fireworks display over the Missouri River on July 4, sorry. Riverfest is no more.

Instead, you can watch fireworks over the Liberty Memorial.

Riverfest, a tradition for two decades, has been replaced by the Stars and Stripes Picnic on July 2 on the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The museum and the KC RiverFest folks, in partnership with Cumulus Radio, will present the event, which debuted last summer. It will also include food trucks, family activities, vendors and live entertainment.

The public can arrive as early as 3 p.m. for picnicking and shopping; the main event will begin at 6 p.m. The Stars and Stripes Picnic is free; Riverfest charged $5.

Otherwise, the area’s Fourth of July celebrations will essentially return to normal after the pandemic wiped out most events in 2020 and depleted the schedule last year.

With July 4 falling on a Monday, festivities will run throughout the long holiday weekend. In fact, a fireworks fan could take in displays five consecutive nights.

In addition to the Stars and Stripes Picnic, highlights will include traditional events such as Bonner Blast, June 30 in Bonner Springs; Legacy Blast, July 1 in Lee’s Summit; the Parkville 4th of July Celebration, July 4; and the Star Spangled Spectacular in Overland Park, July 4.

Fireworks (and more)

A few celebrations involve fireworks only; they begin at dusk. But most are loaded with hours of activities that culminate in evening fireworks.

Bonner Springs

Bonner Blast, Kelly Murphy Park, 8:30 p.m. June 30. Free. facebook.com.

Lee’s Summit

Legacy Blast, Legacy Park, 6 p.m. July 1; free. cityofls.net.

Raymore

Spirit of America Celebration, Recreation Park, 7 p.m. July 1; free. raymore.com.

Smithville

Smith’s Fork Park, dusk July 1; free. smithvillechamber.org.

Kansas City, Kansas

Pierson Park, 9:45 p.m. July 1; free. turnerrecreation.org.

Lansing

Independence Days, Towne Center, 3 p.m. July 2; free. lansingks.org.

Weston

Independence Day Celebration and Parade, Downtown Weston, 4 p.m. July 2 (parade 4 p.m.); free. westonmo.com.

Independence

Independence Day Fireworks Celebration, Mormon Visitors Center, 7 p.m. July 2; free. facebook.com.

National WWI Museum and Memorial

Stars and Stripes Picnic, 6 p.m. July 2 (3 p.m. for picnicking and shopping); free. theworldwar.org.

Kearney

Fireworks Celebration featuring Tate Stevens, Kearney Amphitheater, 5:30 p.m. July 3; free. kearneyamphitheater.com.

Edgerton

Community Picnic and Fireworks Show, Martin Creek Park, 6 p.m. July 3; free. edgertonks.org.

Liberty

Liberty Fest, Capitol Federal Sports Complex, 6 p.m. July 3; Free. thelibertyfest.com.

Bluhawk

Red, White & Bluhawk, 7:30 p.m. July 3; free. eventbrite.com.

Northeast Johnson County

Bishop Miege High School, dusk July 3; free. fairwaykansas.org.

Paola

Lake Miola, dusk July 3; free. miamicountyks.org.

Parkville

Parkville 4th of July Celebration, Downtown Parkville, 8 a.m. July 4 (parade 10 a.m.); free. parkvillemo.org.

Worlds of Fun

4th of July Celebration, 11 a.m. July 4; $39.99. worldsoffun.com.

Gardner

Independence Day Festival, Celebration Park, 3 p.m. July 4; free. gardnerkansas.gov.

Louisburg

Freedom Festival, Lewis-Young Park, 5 p.m. July 4; free. miamicountyks.org.

Fort Leavenworth

4th of July Celebration, Merritt Lake, 6 p.m. July 4; free. leavenworth.armymwr.com.

Leawood

July 4th Celebration, City Park, 6 p.m. July 4; free. leawood.org.

Overland Park

Star Spangled Spectacular, Corporate Woods Founders’ Park, 6 p.m. July 4; free. opkansas.org.

Stilwell

Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks, Evergy Service Center, 6 p.m. July 4; free. stilwellcommunity.org.

Blue Springs

Red, White & Blue Springs, Blue Springs South High School, 6:30 p.m. July 4; free. bluespringsgov.com.

DeSoto

Fourth of July Celebration, Riverfest Park, 7 p.m. July 4; free. desotoks.us.

Olathe

College Boulevard Activity Center, 9:45 p.m. July 4; free. olatheks.org.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm

Fireworks: 1860s Style, 6 p.m. July 7 (parade, 7 p.m.); $2-$9. mahaffie.org.

Other July 4th events

KC Live! Block

Party in the USA with DJ Pauly D, 6 p.m. July 1; $20-$70. powerandlightdistrict.com.

Red, White and BOOMbox, 3 p.m. July 2; free-$30. powerandlightdistrict.com.

Red, White and Baseball, 11 a.m. July 3; free. powerandlightdistrict.com.

Merriam

Flags 4 Freedom, Downtown Merriam, 7 a.m. July 2 through July 9; free. merriam.org.

Lone Jack

Old Soldiers and Sailors Independence Day Encampment, Lone Jack Battlefield Museum, Cemetery and Park, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 2; $5. historiclonejack.org.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm

Mahaffies’ Independence Day Celebration, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 2; $2-$9. mahaffie.org.

Overland Park

Stars & Stripes 5K and Lil’ Firecracker Fun Run, Prairiefire, 7:30 a.m. July 3; $40-$44 ($12-$15 for kids fun run). starsandstripes5k.com.

Shawnee Indian Mission

Old Fashioned Picnic, 6 p.m. July 3; free. shawneeindianmission.org/picnic.

Lenexa

Freedom Run, Old Town Lenexa, 7 a.m. July 4; $30-$35. lenexa.com.

Ward Parkway Center

Four on the Fourth run/walk, 7:30 a.m. July 4; $32-$38 ($12-$16 for kids fun run). wardparkwayfouronthefourth.com.

Prairie Village

Village Fest, Harmon Park and Municipal Campus, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. July 4, free. pvkansas.com.

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead

Independence Day at the Farm, 9 a.m.-noon July 4; $3. opkansas.org.

Missouri Town

Independence Day 1855, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 4 (parade noon); $4-$8. makeyourdayhere.com.

Lenexa

Community Days Parade, Old Town Lenexa, 10 a.m. July 4; free. lenexa.com.