2025 Independence Celebration
Thursday, July 3, 2025 - 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, July 4, 2025 - 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, 2025 - 12 Noon to 11 p.m
Sunday, July 6, 2025 - Carnival Only Noon to 4 p.m.
Lions Legend Park
(Loomis Road & Drexel Avenue)
Complete Event Schedule and Details (coming soon!)
Complete Event Schedule and Details (coming soon)
Family fun for all ages including great food, carnival rides, children's activities, music, fireworks, parade, and much more!
Independence Parade: Friday, 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. 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. 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. Also CALLING ALL VETERANS to join in riding on a trolley in the parade as a "do-over welcome-home parade" honoring all veterans, especially Vietnam vets, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam War. If interested in participating, conact Ann Adamski at 414-690-7340 or via email. BLEACHERS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THE PARADE.
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 and the Kids are People Too! show will be repeated on the north lawn! The Historic Area buildings will also be open for all to experience local history.
Do you like golf or Pickleball? New this year, try your swing in the Dryvebox Milwaukee mobile golf simulator or sign up for the Pickleball Tournament planned for Saturday, July 5th (more details soon).
Light the Night! Spectacular Fireworks will fascinate at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 4th.
Entertainment. Thursday night will feature Kings of Radio with classic 80's rock. July 4th, bet on the 5 Card Studs with their over-the-top swinging covers of pop and rock songs with particular emphasis on the AM Gold hits of the '60s and '70s; and Smart Mouth performing the greatest hits from the last 23+ years. Saturday, enjoy Pat McCurdy playing Pat music - singing his own songs and then get fired up for Bella Cain!
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 email John Bergner or call 414-881-5863.
General Festival Questions: Contact John Bergner: 414-881-5863 / e-mail.
See Complete Event Schedule and Details (coming soon) / or Call the Independence Celebration Information Line at 414-427-7540