How to Celebrate the 4th of July All Weekend Long
Looking to make the most of your Independence Day weekend? You’re in luck, there are festive events happening all across Bartholomew County to help you celebrate with fireworks, food, live music, and family fun!
Start your Independence celebration early on Friday, June 27, with the Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration in Hope, packed with games, parades, and fireworks on the charming town square. Then, keep the fun going on July 3 with a Musical Fireworks show set to music, just tune your radio to QMIX 107.3 and enjoy the night under the stars!
On July 4, spend the day at CERA Sports Park & Campground, where you’ll find live music, games, swimming, and a grand fireworks finale. Or head north to Edinburgh’s Firecracker Festival, where classic cars, live entertainment, and another fireworks show will light up the night.
And if you’re still in the mood for more fun, wrap up the weekend with Brunch Bingo at CERA on July 7!
With so many ways to celebrate, you can easily fill your whole holiday weekend with local fun. Pack your chairs, grab the sunscreen, and get ready to make memories with family and friends all across the region!
Keep reading for full details and tag @visitcolumbusin in all your social media posts!
Old Fashioned Independence Day
June 27th 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Hope Town Square, 644 Main St, Hope, IN 47246
Mark your calendars for Friday, June 27, 2025, and bring the whole family to Hope’s Annual Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration, hosted by the Yellow Trail Museum! This beloved community event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and runs through the evening, with something for everyone to enjoy.
The night begins with the Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker Contest for children ages 3-10. Local kids can decorate cans and collect votes (one penny equals one vote!) to benefit the Yellow Trail Museum, with the winners crowned on the town square at 6:15 p.m. The evening’s festivities also include a bike, trike, or stroller parade for kids under 12, a Heritage Days Grand Marshall award, and a parade of decorated bikes at 6:30 p.m.
Throughout the night, families can enjoy crafts, pioneer games, sack races, tug-of-war, a cake walk, a watermelon seed spitting contest, face painting, pony rides, a balloon man, and more! The Yellow Trail Museum will be open, serving ice cream floats for just $1.00. Local food booths will be available, and live music will fill the air with a performance from The Bannister Family Bluegrass Band from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
The grand finale? A spectacular fireworks display at dusk, so be sure to bring your own chair or blanket and settle in for an unforgettable evening under the stars. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate summer, community, and old-fashioned fun in the heart of Hope!
Qmix Musical Fireworks
July 3rd 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Airpark Columbus, 4444 Kelly St, Columbus, IN 47203
Photo: Courtesy of The Republic
Gather your family and friends and head out for an unforgettable evening on July 3rd, as QMIX lights up the night sky with a spectacular fireworks show, perfectly choreographed to America’s most beloved tunes. To fully enjoy the musical magic, don’t forget to bring your portable radio tuned to QMIX 107.3!
Before the fireworks begin, explore the area’s best food trucks and grab a delicious bite. New this year: a Non-Profit Palooza, a fantastic opportunity to discover and support local organizations doing great work in the community.
Be sure to pack blankets, lawn chairs, bug spray, sunscreen, and your patriotic spirit! It’s the perfect way to kick off your 4th of July weekend, come together for a festive night under the stars with great food, great music, and great company.
CERA Sports Park & campground
July 4th 10:00pm
Ceraland Park, 3989 S 525 E, Columbus, IN 47203
Park Entrance Fee
Looking for the ultimate Independence Day celebration? Head to CERA Sports Park & Campground, your go-to destination for family fun and fireworks! The festivities kick off with live music running July 3–6, setting the perfect summer vibe. Then, on the evening of July 4th, enjoy a night packed with activities: groove to great tunes, savor tasty eats and drinks from local vendors, and challenge friends to a friendly game of cornhole or basketball.
Kids will have a blast with bounce houses and plenty of swimming to keep them cool. The highlight of the evening? A spectacular fireworks display at 10 PM, lighting up the night sky in grand patriotic style.
And don’t forget to wrap up the weekend fun with Brunch Bingo on July 7! Whether you’re coming for a night or staying all weekend, CERA offers the perfect blend of summer fun, community spirit, and July 4th magic. Don’t miss it! Open to the public for a small fee, it’s a full-day destination your kids won’t want to leave.
Edinburgh Firecracker Festival
July 4th 5:00pm – 10:00pm
100 E Main Cross St, Edinburgh, IN 46124
Join the community in downtown Edinburgh on Friday, July 4, for the annual Edinburgh Firecracker Festival, a fun-filled evening the whole family will love! From 5:00 to 10:30 PM, Main Cross Street will be buzzing with festivities, live entertainment, and patriotic spirit.
Kick off the evening with a car cruise-in from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, explore a variety of food trucks, and let the kids enjoy the bounce houses, available from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Live music and entertainment will keep the fun going all night long.
The evening culminates with a spectacular fireworks display at the water tower, a perfect way to cap off your Independence Day celebration. Pack your lawn chairs and bring the whole family for a night of summer fun, community pride, and fireworks magic in Edinburgh, Indiana!
