2024 Independence Celebration
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, July 4, 2024 - 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, July 5, 2024 - 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 6, 2024 - Noon to 11 p.m.
Sunday, July 7, 2024 - Carnival Only, Noon to 4 p.m.
Lions Legend Park
(Loomis Road & Drexel Avenue)
Complete Event Schedule and Details / OR
Call the Independence Celebration Information Line at 414-427-7540
Family fun for all ages including great food, carnival rides, children's activities, music, fireworks, drone light show, parade, and much more!
Independence Parade: Thursday, July 4th, Children's Parade 10:30 a.m. / Main Parade 11 a.m. Parade route (see map below): Begins at the corner of W. Forest Hill Avenue and W. Loomis
Road, turns right on W. Loomis Road to right on W. Drexel Avenue, and then ends at Lions Legend Park. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has confirmed that they will allow the parade route to remain on Loomis Road; HOWEVER, NO SET UPS WILL BE ALLOWED ON LOOMIS ROAD/MEDIAN AREAS UNTIL AFTER 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 3RD. Work on Loomis Road will cease the morning of July 3rd. AFTER 12 NOON ON JULY 3RD, CITIZENS ARE WELCOME TO SECURE A SPOT ALONG LOOMIS ROAD FOR THE PARADE. ANY CHAIRS, TENTS, TABLES, FLAGS, AND OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ROPED OFF ON THE GRASS, SIDEWALK, AND MEDIAN AREAS BEFORE 12 NOON ON JULY 3RD, WILL BE REMOVED. The City is grateful to the State for opening and allowing us to have our parade without interruption, so please abide by this request. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Children’s Parade participants gather at 9:30 a.m. at the Franklin Police Department for an interactive show—Kids Are People Too!—that parents and kids won’t want to miss! Children’s Parade begins at 10:30 a.m., no registration required. Decorated bikes, wagons, and strollers are encouraged, but no motorized vehicles are allowed. The main Independence Parade begins at 11 a.m. Veterans are encouraged to walk in the parade and no pre-registering is required; meet at the post office. Registration is required for the Main Parade by June 15th. Scout and youth troops, churches and religious groups, booster clubs, and civic organizations are encouraged to participate and require registration by June 15th. Please request a registration form by calling Ann Adamski at 414-690-7340 or via email. BLEACHERS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THE PARADE.
NASCAR Driver Sam Mayer Returns Home for Fourth of July Parade! Read complete press release.
Ice Cream Social, after the parade, under the maple tree on City Hall’s north lawn, south of Legend Drive. Free airbrushed face painting and balloon artistry for kids under 18. Kids are People Too! show will be repeated on the north lawn and, new this year, don’t miss the Flippenout Trampoline Show! The Historic Area buildings will also be open for all to experience local history.
Light the Night! Fantastic Fireworks will fascinate at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th, and a Drone Light Show will dazzle at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 5th.
Free Franklin Aggregate Quarry Tours Sponsored by Payne + Dolan. Our most generous benefactor, Payne + Dolan, will have a booth in the circle just outside the main tent. Board the bus for a quarry tour in the parking lot behind the tent’s main stage, south of the main tent.
Entertainment. The festival will kick off with the Academy of Performing Arts performance of the “Declaration of Independence”. Wednesday night will feature Smart Mouth with alt rock, pop, and R&B hits. July 4th, Live Band Karaoke will provide the instruments and backing vocals and you as the lead singer; and The Playlist will perform top 40 hits from the past 40 years. Friday, the Lunchmoney Bullies will bring their blend of energetic rock, pop, country, reggae and more. Saturday, bet on the 5 Card Studs Las Vegas-styled revue, groove to the 60’s By 70’s Band hits from the 1960s in the bandshell, and get fired up for Bella Cain!
Carnival. $25 wristbands for unlimited rides will be Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m. Wristbands and tickets are only sold at the carnival ticket booth on the carnival grounds.
Local Vendors. The Civic Celebrations Commission encourages local businesses and artists to promote their work at our City’s Independence Celebration showcase event. To learn more, contact Ann Adamski at 414-690-7340 or via email.
Volunteers. Help serve beverages in the main tent or sell tickets in an air-conditioned booth. Volunteers must be 21 years or older to work in the beer tent. If interested in volunteering at the Independence Celebration, please fill out the Volunteer Sign-Up Form and mail it to the address on the form or scan/email it, or contact Angela Christie at 414-235-8180 to register. Sign up early to get your time slots reserved..
Donations: The Franklin Civic Celebrations Commission welcomes donations of any dollar amount. Any business or individual interested in giving a donation or sponsoring a specific event or entertainer related to the festival, please complete/mail the Donation Support Form or contact Mira Kresovic at 414-202-7192.
General Festival Questions: Contact John Bergner: 414-881-5863 / e-mail.