Where Can Johnston Residents Celebrate the Fourth of July?

Johnston residents will have to head out of town to find a parade, fireworks and other Fourth of July festivities.

Your best bet is to head south to neighboring Urbandale, which puts on the metro's biggest Independence Day celebration.

Here's a rundown on what the city has planned:

Since 1917, Urbandale has celebrated the Fourth of July with a celebration that Mayor Bob Andeweg says is well-known as the best in Iowa. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Traditions With You.”

Another street dance for all ages will be held at the same location July 3, with music by the Boomerang Band. The Wilder Side Band, a live karaoke band, opens from 6-7:30 p.m.

Then, on July 4, start out with a pancake breakfast to benefit the Urbandale Food Pantry, burn off the calories with a run or bike ride, and then settle in for the parade. Activities are planned all day and evening, capped off by a large fireworks display deployed from the west side of Walker Johnston Park.

There’s so much more. Here’s the full schedule.

Where to park and not to park: Handicapped parking is available at the Urbandale Senior Citizens Center. Other parking available at Olmsted School, east lot. No parking at Urbandale High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4 to make room for th car show.

Where to watch the fireworks: During the fireworks display, parking is available in the city parking lots around Walker Johnston park and at area business. Once the softball lot is filled, Douglas Avenue will be closed. Download a map of the viewing areas.

Rain date: If it rains, come back July 5.

Fourth of July at Living History Farms

The historic farm site in Urbandale also has July 4 special events planned. According to the Farms' website, an old-fashioned Fourth is planned with a historic Independence Day celebration in the town of Walnut Hill. Fun for the entire family including pie eating contests, foot races, spelling bees, watermelon seed spitting contests and more!

11:00 - Games and Contests begin -  Walnut Hill 

•  Water Games and Footraces - North of Flynn Barn 
• Penny Scramble - East Lawn of Flynn Home
• Pie Eating Contest – Every 15 min. in the Flynn Barn 
• Spelling Bees – Schoolhouse – 11:00 and 1:00 *Prizes*
•  Stilts, Hoops n’ Sticks – Gazebo Lawn
• Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest  - Gazebo lawn

11:30 - Medicine Show – Café area
Drama Group Volunteers - Witness the pageantry and persuasion of an 1875 patent medicine show as Professor I.M. Savage promotes his “Swamp Root Tonic”.

12:00 - Choral Sing, Declaration of Independence, Suffrage Pitch – Church
Choral Society and Drama Group Volunteers

12:30 – 3:30 - Songs of the Civil War by Bob Welch - Gazebo

1:00 - Spelling Bee - Schoolhouse 

1:30 - Medicine Show – Café area

2:00 - Patriotic Procession - From the Gazebo to the ball field. Children can ride the hayrack representing the 37 states recognized in 1875.

2:30 - Baseball Game – Cheer on the Walnut Hill Bluestockings as they play using 1870’s rules.