The City of Kenosha kicks off the Independence Day celebrations on June 28 with the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade presented by Snap-on, featuring veterans groups, marching bands and live entertainment.
The fun continues with the Celebrate America festival July 3-4 downtown near the harbor, with two stages featuring live music, a carnival, food vendors and more. The Festival Foods Fireworks display will light up the skies over the lakefront at 9:30 p.m. on July 4.
Due to the high volume of traffic resulting from all of the festivities, people should be aware of road closings and traffic adjustments.
On June 28, streets will be closed along the parade route from noon to approximately 3:45 p.m. Streets in the parade staging area will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. June 28, although access will be maintained to the annual Mass at the bandshell that morning.
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The parade route begins on Seventh Avenue at Washington Road, then heads south through Sixth Avenue downtown and ends on the west side of Library Park. The parade will travel only in the southbound lane on Seventh Avenue, and people are welcome to sit on the boulevard once the parade route is closed to traffic at noon. The best areas for viewing the parade are along Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue before the parade reaches Library Park and prepares for disbanding.
Beginning at 11 a.m. on July 3, traffic will be directed one way only in a counterclockwise loop east of Third Avenue, between 54th and 56th streets, along Calabria Way and continuing to Sixth Avenue. That traffic pattern will continue until 8 a.m. July 6.
On July 4, there will be no access to the east end of Celebration Place for pedestrians or vehicles, as it is closed for safety purposes for the fireworks display. No traffic will be allowed between 8:30 and 10 p.m. on July 4, east of Third Avenue between 56th Street and 54th Street, including around Calabria Way. The road closure is prompted by safety concerns related to traffic in that area leading up to and during the Festival Foods Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Due to heavy traffic in the HarborPark area on July 4, RVs will be directed to park in a less-congested area. The vacant lot west of City Hall, 625 52nd St., has been designated for RV parking in marked parking spots after 6 a.m. on July 4. The lot may be accessed from 54th Street, east of Sheridan Road. All vehicles must vacate the area by 7 a.m. on July 5.
No vehicle access to Simmons Island July 4
Consistent with the last several years, and at the direction of Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton, there will be no vehicle access or parking on Simmons Island on July 4 for the general public. The roadway will be barricaded at 50th Street and Seventh Avenue and also at Kennedy Drive and 45th Street.
This is being done to increase safety and enhance the event for Simmons Island visitors. People are still welcome to access Simmons Island by walking to and from the park. Barricades will be staffed and vehicle access will be restricted.
Only residents of Fourth Avenue, the Coast Guard and those with business at the Kenosha Water Utility, Great Lakes Yacht Sales and Kenosha Yacht Club will be allowed on the island.
Kennedy Drive will follow a one-way traffic pattern northbound on July 4, beginning at 8 a.m. One-way traffic will flow north beginning at 44th Street, continuing through Kennedy Park and Pennoyer Park, and exiting at 35th Street. The one-way traffic pattern is designed to help avoid congestion after the fireworks and will end at 1 a.m. July 5.
Free shuttles and streetcars
People are encouraged to park downtown, including the parking ramp on Eighth Avenue and 56th Street, and ride a free shuttle or streetcar to points of interest.
The rubber-wheeled Lakefront Trolley will not be running its regular lakefront route on July 4. Instead, the trolley will shuttle people free of charge between the transit center and Carthage College, via Seventh Avenue, Alford Park Drive and Sheridan Road. Hours of operation are 2 to 11 p.m. July 4.
Another free shuttle service offers access to Simmons Island on July 4. The Simmons Island shuttle operates from 2 to 9 p.m. in a 15-minute loop from the transit center, 724 54th St., to a drop-off point at Simmons Island Park.
Free streetcar service will operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4, passing the HarborPark area east of the museums, which is popular for fireworks viewing, and along the harbor, where the Celebrate America festival is taking place.
