The same question arises in Wichita every July: where can we watch the best fireworks?
There are quite a few great fireworks shows within a reasonable driving distance of Wichita, all great celebrations of America’s independence.
The Wichita Eagle recently published an article highlighting some of the best places for a patriotic party and big-time fireworks, all within a three-hour car drive of Wichita.
Here are some of the newspaper’s recommendations:
LibertyFest in Edmond, OK
The suburb of Oklahoma City puts on a festival that’s been recognized as one of the top 10 places in America for the Fourth of July by CNN and USA Today. LibertyFest features 11 events from June 22 to July 4, ending on Thursday with an hour-long fireworks show worth $70,000. The pyrotechnics shoot off from the University of Central Oklahoma campus. The Independence Day activities start at 9 a.m. with a 2.5-hour parade.
Wild West Festival in Hays, KS
A fireworks show is one highlight of the Wild West Festival in Hays. It’s a $20,000 pyrotechnic show that starts at 10 a.m. on the Fort Hays State University campus. There are also historical interpretations and nightly concerts.
Independence Day at For Osage, MO, and at Missouri Town 1855
At Missouri Town 1855—an attraction similar to Wichita’s Old Cowtown—participants can relieve Independence Day celebrations of an antebellum town in 1855. More than 1,000 people usually attend the event. A community fireworks show takes place nearby at the Longview Lake park, with music, entertainment, and concessions.
Star-Spangled Spectacular in Overland Park
For a larger fireworks show in Kansas City on the Fourth featuring a night of free concerts with military, country, and Motown bands, check out the Star Spangled Spectacular in Overland Park. The event happens in the city’s 52-acre Founders’ Park in the Corporate Woods complex at 9711 W. 109th Street and tends to draw over 70,000 people. It’s the largest celebration in the Kansas City area and one of the largest in the Midwest.
We hope you take the time to enjoy the Fourth with family and friends while celebrating the independence of our great country.