🐝 Evansville Buzz | July 4th Weekend: Boom Goes the Riverfront(s)

🎇 Step Aside, Sparklers — It’s a Full-On Pyrotechnic Parade

If America was a vibe, this weekend would be it. We’re talking exploding skies, face paint, strawberry shortcakes, and enough boom-boom to rattle your sunglasses clean off your face. Whether you’re watching fireworks over the Ohio, the Wabash, or from the back of a pickup near Dongola Road, the Tri-State is throwing red, white, and buzzed your way.

Hot dogs will be grilled. Patriotic dads will bust out their one joke. And if you time it right, you can hit at least three different shows without even blowing a tire. So fill the cooler, slap on that SPF 5000, and let’s get to the good stuff.

🏆 Top Celebrations in the Tri-State

🔥 Fireworks on the Ohio = Main Character Energy

📍 Riverside Drive, Downtown Evansville (Court to Walnut)
📅 Friday, July 4 | 6:00 PM activities | 9:15 PM fireworks
🎟️ Free!
✍️ The biggest fireworks show in the city is back and Bally’s ain’t playing. With face painting, giant yard games, patriotic photo ops, and the Boom Squad drumming up chaos, it’s the Super Bowl of sparkles.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Don’t skip the food trucks. The funnel cake calories do not count on federal holidays.

🔥 Newburgh's Fireworks Over the Burgh = Small-Town Fireworks, Main Stage Feels

📍 Newburgh Old Lock & Dam, 7177 E Old Hwy 662
📅 Saturday, July 5 | Music Fest starts at 2 PM | Fireworks at dusk
🎟️ Free entry! $10 for Beer Garden (21+)
✍️ This one’s got strawberry shortcake, 15+ food trucks, a cake walk, free trolleys, and live music from noon to night. Oh, and then they launch fireworks over the river. 🎸 Newburgh Amphitheater: Happy New Month Band – 6:30 PM (Just trust us. Bring glow sticks.) 🎵 Around the Park: Doctor Doctor, Dream Street, Phillip Frey – all afternoon (It’s giving music festival without the ticket price.)
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Arrive early. Eat shortcake. Stay hydrated. Find someone with a wagon.

🔥 Gibson County Goes BOOM (on the 5th, not the 4th)

📍 Gibson County Fairgrounds, 709 N Embree St, Princeton
📅 Saturday, July 5 | Gates at 6:00 PM | Fireworks at sundown
🎟️ $2 per carload. Walk-ins free.
✍️ Can’t celebrate on the 4th? No worries. The Princeton crew is lighting up the sky on the 5th with concessions, nostalgia, and big hometown heart.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Honor Nick Michas by packing the family car and blasting Springsteen on the way.

🔥 Boomin’ in Boonville (Twice, Actually)

📍 Scales Lake Park, 800 W Tennyson Rd | Boonville, IN
📅 July 5th | Fireworks at dark
🎟️ $5 per carload (no annual passes)
✍️ Fireworks, but make it lake vibes. Bring blankets, your best lawn chair, and chill. But leave your fireworks at home—park rules.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: The reflections on the lake? Instagram gold.

📍 VFW Post 3418, 123 VFW Blvd | Boonville, IN
📅 Thursday, July 3rd Starting at 5:00 PM | Fireworks at dusk
🎟️ Free, but bring a dish
✍️ Potluck meets party. There’s grilled burgers, live music, and fireworks on the hill. It’s giving “neighborhood block party with fireballs.”
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Bring bug spray and your aunt’s famous potato salad.

🔥 Oakland City Goes Full Backyard Chaos

📍 Eagles Nest, 318 N Dongola Rd, Oakland City
📅 July 4th | Dusk-ish
🎟️ Free
✍️ The Eagles Aerie is doing what it does best: letting off fireworks like it’s 1999. BYOB and get comfy.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: No rules, just vibes. Seriously — bring your own everything.

🔥 Mt. Carmel = Wabash River Goes Kaboom

📍 Wabash River - Mt. Carmel, IL
📅 July 4th | Fireworks at dark
🎟️ Free
✍️ Fireworks + riverfront + small-town magic. That’s the tweet.
🍕 Bonus Buzz: Watch from a boat if you’ve got one. Flex.

🐝 Final Buzz

This 4th of July weekend is a Choose Your Own Firework Adventure. Whether you're stuffing your face with shortcake in Newburgh, getting misty at Mt. Carmel, or dragging your kids home from downtown Evansville covered in red, white, and blue face paint, one thing's for sure: it’s gonna be loud, sweaty, and absolutely glorious. Pack snacks, charge your phones, and let freedom ring—preferably in tune with a 10-minute grand finale.

📸 Tag us with #EvansvilleBuzz to be featured

🔥 Snap your crew mid-ooh-ahh face
🍓 Get messy with a strawberry shortcake close-up
🧨 Or your Uncle Doug lighting sparklers like he’s in the Fast & Furious

Stay local. Stay weird. Stay buzzin’.

— The Buzz Team ✌️