Photo: Visit Lakeville
Every town has its own way of letting freedom ring.
From boat parades to classic car cruises and carnival rides to live music, there’s plenty to do at these community festivals.
Freedom Days, Apple Valley
June 30–July 4
The 57th annual Apple Valley Freedom Days promises several days of fun events leading up to July 4, including a classic car cruise, carnival and fireworks show on the Fourth of July. Find a complete event list at avfreedomdays.com.
Eagan’s July 4th Fun Fest, Eagan
July 2–4
This festival with more than 50 years of history offers fun for all ages with a parade, live music, carnival and fireworks. New this year: Some events will take place at Viking Lakes on July 2. Visit eaganfunfest.org for a complete calendar.
Annual Boat Parade, Prior Lake
July 4
The annual Fourth of July Boat Parade starts just outside the docks by Charlie’s on Prior (in Upper Prior Lake), where participants’ boats are judged from 1–1:30 p.m. Then a sheriff’s boat leads the parade contestants under the Highway 21 bridge to Lower Prior Lake and through the channel past Sand Point Beach. Fireworks are launched from Sand Point Beach at 10:15 p.m.
Pan-O-Prog, Lakeville
July 4–16
Lakeville’s Panorama of Progress, or Pan-O-Prog, kicks off on the Fourth of July with a fireworks display, followed by days of fun events, featuring everything from a Baby Crawl-A-Thon at the Lakeville Heritage Center to an evening of live music and beer throughout downtown Lakeville. Families with young children love the Big Wheel race, pedal tractor pull and ping pong ball drop. There’s also pickleball, softball, fishing and volleyball tournaments. A parade, carnival, fly-in breakfast at the airport and car cruise are also festival highlights, but there’s really too much to fit in this small space, so visit panoprog.org for a complete calendar of events!
