Iowa City Today

Coralville's 4thFest, an Independence Day tradition, is known for free concerts, spectacular fireworks in S.T. Morrison Park, the area’s largest 4th of July parade, and activities for all ages. Most events take place at Coralville’s S.T. Morrison Park (1513 7th Street).

Carnival

4thFest 2022 welcomes Next Generation Shows, Inc. The carnival will open at 5:00 pm on Friday, July 1, and Saturday, July 2, and at noon on July 3 and 4, and will stay open until dark each evening. Buy ride tickets at the gate for $1 each, or 22 for $20. Or, buy tickets in advance at Coralville City Hall, 1512 7th Street, or the Coralville Recreation Center, 1506 8th Street, until 3:00 pm on Friday, July 1; advance ride tickets are $16 for 22 tickets. Kids’ rides cost three tickets; major rides cost four or five tickets per ride. 

Races

The annual 4thFest 5K run/walk is Saturday, July 2, at 8:00 am, followed by a free Firecracker Kids Mini-Marathon (26.2 yards) at approximately 9:00 am for children age 6 and younger.  Both events start near the Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street). Advance or same-day registration is required for the 5K. 

The Stars and Stripes Youth Cross Park Race is new in 2022.  This race is for youth ages 5 to 11 and is on Saturday, July 2, at 10:00 am in S.T. Morrison Park.  Registration is required.  The race is approximately one mile long with obstacles and challenges along the way.   For more information about the races, call the Recreation Center at 319.248.1750 or visit www.coralville.org/4thFest5K.

Free Concerts

Bring blankets and lawn chairs to S.T. Morrison Park for two free concerts on July 3:

• FunkDaddies, 6:30 pm:  FunkDaddies is a funk/soul/R&B band dedicated to bringing the best, funky dance music to the Midwest.  The band is inspired by Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, and all the great Motown artists.  Members include Anthony Hendricks, John Reasoner, Ken Duncan, Ken Fullard, Denny Ketelsen, and Dave Shawver.
• Night Ranger, 8:00 pm:  Heavy-hitting rock legends Night Ranger has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, performed across 4,000 stages, and captivated a radio audience that exceeds one billion.  Their popularity is fueled by legendary titles such as “Sister Christian,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “When You Close Your Eyes,” and “(You Can Still) Rock in America.”  Night Ranger released their 12th studio album (And The Band Played On) in 2021.  The band is Jack Blades, Kelly Keagy, Brad Gillis, Eric Levy, and Keri Kelli.

Food

Vendors offer a variety of food available for purchase in S.T. Morrison Park beginning July 3 and 4 at noon.   

Bingo

Enjoy bingo at the S.T. Morrison Park Hilltop Shelter on July 3 and 4 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, courtesy of the American Legion.  

Pancake Breakfast

Begin the 4th of July with the annual Corridor Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast at Northwest Junior High, 1507 8th Street, from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. Tickets for ages 11 and older are $7 each and can be purchased at the door, or available in advance for $6 each at the Coralville Recreation Center.  For those aged 5 to 10, breakfast is $5 at the door or $4 in advance.  The breakfast is free for children under 5 years old.  

Parade

The annual 4thFest parade begins on July 4 at 10:00 am with a two-mile route that starts and ends at the corner of 9th Street and 22nd Avenue. The parade travels east on 9th Street and 8th Street, south on 14th Avenue, east on 7th Street, south on 12th Avenue, west on 5th Street, north on 20th Avenue, and west on 8th Street. View a parade map at www.coralville.org/4thFestParade. The parade will be livestreamed on the Coralville 4thFest Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Coralville4thFest.

Seating along the route is first come, first served. For safety, stay behind the curb when watching the parade. Seating is not available on 22nd Avenue; parade entries line up on 22nd Avenue.  The viewing area on 5th Street from the fire station west to the end of S.T. Morrison Park is designated as “limited noise”.

Community Events

The 4th of July includes a variety of events, including free performances on the Showcase Stage, and games in S.T. Morrison Park in the afternoon.

Concert & Fireworks

To close the 4th of July, enjoy the music of the Iowa City Community Band beginning at 8:30 pm, followed by a spectacular fireworks display at approximately 9:45 pm in S.T. Morrison Park, courtesy of the Coralville Fire Department. The fireworks will be livestreamed on the Coralville 4thFest Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Coralville4thFest.

Support

Coralville’s spectacular 4thFest events are possible with the support of the community. To donate, visit www.coralville.org/4thFest.  

Learn More

Times and events are subject to change. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.coralville.org/4thFest.

Original source can be found here.