Your Guide to the Fourth in the BLA: Fireworks, Parades & Cabin Life Bobbers, Fireworks & Local Favorites

July 2, 2025

Pequot Lakes • Nisswa • Brainerd • Cuyuna • Crosslake
Presented by Woods to Water Real Estate + Woods to Water Vacation Homes

Summer is in full swing, and the Brainerd Lakes Area is packed with parades, fireworks, music, and small-town charm. Here’s your complete rundown of where to go and what to do across the region on July 3 and 4.

INSIDE TIPS: WHAT + WHEN?

THURSDAY JULY 3

Best fireworks: Pequot Lakes or Nisswa (both shows at dusk)
Best parade: Nisswa Freedom Days parade at 7 p.m.
Best cocktails and live music: Pequot Lakes Trailside Park (MN Traders Co. and live bands)

FRIDAY JULY 4

Best fireworks: Gull Lake (by boat) or Brainerd (stadium view)
Best parades: Pequot Lakes at noon or Crosby at 11 a.m.
Best all-day celebration: Cuyuna (food, games, music, and fireworks at Serpent Lake)

BY CITY + DAY:

PEQUOT LAKES

Stars & Stripes Days | Trailside Park and Downtown Pequot Lakes
Presented by Woods to Water Real Estate + Woods to Water Vacation Homes, platinum sponsors for the sixth year in a row.

View full Pequot Lakes event schedule ›

THURSDAY JULY 3

5:00 p.m. – Red, White & Brews bar by MN Traders Co. – SOUTH TRAILSIDE PARK
5:00 p.m. – Food vendors and kids’ zone (bounce house, bungee, climbing wall)
5:00 p.m. – Bean bag toss tournament registration
5:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Live music by Better Man Duo
6:00 p.m. – Bean bag toss tournament begins
7:30 p.m. – Loon calling contest
8:00 p.m. – Live music by Sawyer’s Dream
Dusk – Fireworks launched from Pequot Lakes High School

FRIDAY JULY 4

7:00 to 11:00 a.m. – Pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Craft fair and food vendors
9:00 a.m. – Kids’ activities and water wars
9:30 a.m. – Kiddie parade (North Trailside Park)
10:00 a.m. – Ice cream eating contest sponsored by The Outpost
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Beer garden at the American Legion
12:00 p.m. – Stars & Stripes parade through downtown

NISSWA

Freedom Days | Downtown Nisswa and Main Street
View full Nisswa event schedule ›

THURSDAY, JULY 3RD

1:00 p.m. – Turtle race registration (Turtle Track)
2:00 p.m. – Turtle races begin
3:00 to 7:00 p.m. – Live music by Centerville All Stars at The Pickle Factory
7:00 p.m. – Freedom Days parade on Main Street
8:00 p.m. to midnight – Live music by Austin Healy at The Pickle Factory
10:15 p.m. (approx.) – Fireworks from the Nisswa Community Center

Note: No chairs, blankets, or parade seating allowed before 5:00 p.m.
Turtle race entry is $5 per racer

BRAINERD

Downtown Brainerd and Don Adamson Field
View full Brainerd Lakes Area event schedule ›

FRIDAY, JULY 4TH

6:00 p.m. – Parade through downtown
8:00 p.m. – Live music at Lyman P. White Park Amphitheater
8:00 p.m. – Family relays at Don Adamson Field
10:15 p.m. – Fireworks launched from Don Adamson Field

Optional fireworks viewing:
Gull Lake fireworks begin at 10:00 p.m. and are best viewed by boat or from East Gull Lake Airport and Madden’s Driving Range.

CUYUNA/CROSBY

Downtown Crosby and Serpent Lake

Friday, July 4

11:00 a.m. – 4th of July parade in downtown Crosby
All day – Crosby Memorial Park activities: food vendors, beer garden, live music, kids’ games
Dusk – Fireworks over Serpent Lake, visible from Memorial Park

CROSSLAKE

U.S. Army Corps Recreation Area and Sand Island

Saturday, July 5

7:00 a.m. – Grandpa’s Run for the Walleye (10K, 5K, and kids’ dash)
10:00 p.m. – Fireworks over Cross Lake, launched from Sand Island
- Music synchronized on Skeeter 101.5 FM
- Best viewing: by boat or from the U.S. Army Corps Recreation Area

bonus: live music hot spots

Catch live music all weekend long at these summer favorites:

Pequot Lakes: Bands in the Park (Saturdays at 7 p.m., Trailside Park)
Crosslake: Music in the Square (Saturdays at 6 p.m., Legacy Gardens)
Crosby: Music in the Park (second and third Thursdays in July)
Regional highlights: Ernie’s on Gull, MN Traders Co., Big Axe, Zorbaz, Dockside, Manhattan’s, The Wharf, Quarterdeck Grill, Snarky Loon, Roundhouse Brewery

what to do and where to be:

July 3: The best fireworks? Head to Pequot Lakes or Nisswa. Best parade? Nisswa’s Freedom Days at 7 p.m. Want the best overall vibe? You’ll find cocktails, food trucks, and live music at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes starting at 5 p.m.

July 4: Start your day with pancakes and a parade in Pequot, then end with fireworks in Brainerd—or catch them by boat on Gull Lake. Looking for a full-day celebration? Crosby’s Memorial Park delivers with food, music, kids’ games, and fireworks over Serpent Lake.

July 5: Crosslake wraps up the holiday weekend with a community run in the morning and fireworks from Sand Island at dusk.

Full schedule by city
Pequot Lakes Stars & Stripes Days ›
Nisswa Freedom Days ›
Brainerd Lakes Area Events ›