Join the City of West Allis and West Allis Events Committee for this year’s Independence Day celebrations on July 1 and July 4! Start your holiday weekend by bringing the whole family to the festive parade in downtown West Allis on Saturday morning and end your weekend with a boom on Tuesday evening! Enjoy live music by Failure to Launch, a popular, high-energy cover band voted “Best Cover Band” by the Shepherd Express, followed by an incredible fireworks show hosted by Festival Foods.

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

SATURDAY, JULY 1 AT 10 A.M.

The West Allis Independence Parade is an annual holiday tradition and brings in about 6,000 attendees each year. This year’s parade features marching bands, vintage vehicles, and live performances from groups like the Dancing Grannies and the 610 Stompers. The Dancing Grannies are an award-winning choreographed dance/pompom group made up of grannies in their fifties to mid-seventies. This year, they’ve paired up with the 610 Stompers, a group of “ordinary men” with “extraordinary moves” of New Orleans. It’s a pairing you won’t want to miss!

Thank you to our parade sponsors:

Ironworkers Local 8

PARADE ROUTE

Parade route starts at 77th Street and Greenfield Avenue, continues east on Greenfield towards 70th Street, and ends at Orchard Ave.

View the parade route map (PDF)

GET INVOLVED – PARTICIPATE OR SPONSOR THE PARADE

Want to get involved in the parade? Marching bands, civic groups, and entertainment acts are encouraged to apply by June 21.

Want to support the parade? We can’t make it happen without the help from our community and local businesses! No dollar amount is too small. Learn how you can help support this time-honored tradition with sponsorship opportunities.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

The parade marshaling area is at the intersection of 77th Street and Greenfield Avenue. All groups should report no later than 9:30 a.m. Parade Line-Up will be emailed approximately one week prior to the parade and will be posted on this webpage. We recommend when you arrive to please see one of the parade marshals to confirm your parade lineup number. Please Note: For safety purposes, no motor vehicles will be allowed on 77th Street. All motorized vehicles will be marshaled on Greenfield Avenue at 77th Street going west and can begin to report to this area at 9 a.m. All marching, walking units, and participants will be marshaled on 77th St. north of Greenfield Ave. All marching, walking units, and participants can report to this area beginning at 9:15 a.m. Do not line up with your unit’s vehicle/float. All vehicles/floats and their unit’s marchers/walkers will be joined together at the parade start area. This is for the safety of ALL participants.

For questions, please email the Tourism and Event Coordinator at events@westalliswi.gov.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT AND FESTIVAL FOODS FIREWORKS

CONCERT & FESTIVAL FOODS FIREWORKS – TUESDAY, JULY 4 AT 8:30 P.M.

The City of West Allis Independence Day Concert and Festival Foods Fireworks will take place Tuesday, July 4 at the West Allis Athletic Complex at Nathan Hale High School located at 11601 W. Lincoln Avenue.

• 6 p.m. – Parking at the West Allis Athletic Complex at Nathan Hale High School opens. $10 per car or $5 per motorcycle. All proceeds benefit the Nathan Hale High School and West Allis Central High School Booster Clubs. In case of weather-related issues or updates, please check the City website home page under “City News” or the City’s Facebook page.
• 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. – Live music from Failure to Launch, a popular, high-energy cover band that has been rock’ together for nearly two decades. They band may even end the show with the Jimi Hendrix version of the Star-Spangled Banner!
• 9:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. – an incredible fireworks display hosted by Festival Foods

Thank you to our fireworks sponsor:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Where is the City’s Independence Day Festival Foods Fireworks display?
  • The Festival Foods Firework display will be held at the West Allis Athletic Complex at Nathan Hale High School located at 11601 W. Lincoln Ave.
• Why has the location changed for 2023?
  • Due to State of Wisconsin construction projects on the track and infield at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, our regular fireworks location is unavailable and had to change to provide you with a great firework show. After careful consideration with multiple City agencies and community partners, the City and the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District have decided to hold the fireworks at a new location.
• What time do the concert and fireworks take place?
  • The concert with Failure to Launch, a popular, high-energy band from Milwaukee will kick off festivities at 8:30 p.m. The Festival Food Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. The show will conclude around 10 p.m.
• Where do I park?
  • Car and motorcycle parking will be available at Nathan Hale High School. Enter the parking lot on 117th Street. Additional parking spots will be available for use at the West Allis KinderCare. Parking is limited and first come, first serve in both locations.
• How much does parking cost, and what payment is accepted?
  • Parking at Nathan Hale High School will cost $10 for cars and $5 for motorcycles. Payment can be made with cash, credit card or Cash App. All proceeds will benefit the Nathan Hale High School and West Allis Central High School Booster Clubs.
• What time does parking open?
  • Parking will open at 6 p.m. at Nathan Hale High School.
• Can I bring my own food and drink?
  • Outside food and drinks will be allowed into the West Allis Athletic Complex. Please use proper trash and recycling bins to dispose of items properly. Littering is not allowed.
• Are food and drink available for purchase?
  • Yes, the main concession stand at the Athletic Complex will be open as well as some satellite concession stands
  • The main concession stand, located just south of the football/track field, will open at 6 p.m. It will serve various hot food items (hot dogs, burgers, brats, nachos, pretzels, etc), as well as candy, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Payment at this concession stand accepts cash, credit card or Cash App.
  • Satellite concessions stands, located by the sidewalk near the bleachers of the football/track field, will serve candy, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. Payment at these concession stands are cash only.
  • All proceeds from concessions will benefit the Nathan Hale High School and West Allis Central High School Booster Clubs.

• Where can I watch the concert and fireworks from?
  • The concert will take place on the south end of the football practice field, just west of the football/track field. From this area, you’ll be able to enjoy the show and the Festival Foods Fireworks.
  • The Festival Food Fireworks can also be enjoyed by heading further south along 117th Street to watch from the west lawn of the baseball diamonds or from the bleachers of the football/track field.
• Do I need to bring my own chair or blanket?
  • Limited bleacher seating is available in the Athletic Complex. The football field and track will be closed to the public. There is ample lawn space for seating west of the football/track field and west of the baseball fields for you to spread out, so bring lawn chairs, stadium seats, and blankets as you see fit.
• Can I bring my dog?
  • While some humans enjoy firework displays, many dogs do not. While well-behaved dogs that enjoy loud crowds and loud fireworks are welcome, be sure to read up on the dangers of bringing a pet to a firework show to prepare for any potential hazards. It’s the owner’s responsibility to ensure dogs are non-aggressive, on a leash, and under control at all times during the event. Owners and guardians are required to clean up after dogs. Dogs and owners not following these requirements may be asked to leave.
• Will the dog park be open?
  • The dog park will be closed between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. While dogs will be allowed in the dog park during the show, please take precautions if you bring your dog. While some humans enjoy fireworks displays, many dogs do not. While well-behaved dogs that enjoy loud crowds and loud fireworks are welcome, be sure to read up on the dangers of bringing a pet to a firework show to prepare for any potential hazards.
  • The trail leading from Cleveland Avenue to the dog park will be closed beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4 as we prepare for the evening’s festivities.
• Are bathrooms available?
  • There will be a variety of locations with restrooms throughout the Complex:
  • Traditional restroom facilities are located near the concession stand, south of the football/track field
  • Port-A-Johns will be located between the south end of the Nathan Hale High School parking lot and the north end of the football/track field
  • Port-A-Johns will be located on the north end of the bleachers
• Is there a rain date?
  • A rain date is set for Friday, July 7, 2023.
• What items are not allowed at the event?
  • Weapons including firearms, ammunition, knives, pepper spray, mace, tasers, stun guns, bats, scissors, clubs, or other objects that could be used as weapons
    Alcohol, contraband, illegal drugs, or controlled substances including smoking, e-cigarettes, and vaping products and devices
  • Tailgating in the parking lot, open flames and grills
  • Personal fireworks or explosives including sparklers, snap & pops, confetti poppers
  • Additional items not allowed include silly string, drones, off-leash and/or aggressive dogs, balloons, kites, banners, signs, and littering
  • Items not appearing on this list may still be prohibited at the discretion of the City of West Allis if the items pose a threat to the safety of guests