Last year, Milwaukee’s annual Fourth of July-adjacent celebration remained largely what it always has been: a lakefront party with music and food and beer. Obviously, the biggest change came at the end, as the fireworks gave way to a drone show that featured — among other things — the People’s Flag and the infamous “Deep Thought” abandoned boat.
The 2026 event will once again end with drones flying over Lake Michigan, with some literal added spark courtesy of pyrotechnics emanating from the drones themselves. On top of that, Milwaukee County Parks enlisted some expert help for the synchronized soundtrack that will be part of this year’s show: 88Nine program director Kenny Perez!
Presented by our friends from Enerpac, the playlist that Kenny put together will air exclusively on 88Nine as an indispensable part of the show, with speakers positioned along the lakefront so attendees can get the full experience. In Kenny’s words, the soundtrack will deliver “fun summer vibes, cultural flavor and local artists in the mix” — in other words, Milwaukee in music form.
That’s the information we’re most excited to share with you. But there’s plenty of details you need to know if you plan to make a day of it July 3. For starters, the best viewpoint for the show along the lakefront will be in and around McKinley Park. Milwaukee County Parks put together a helpful map so you can scout out your viewing options.
There are some enthusiasts who try to save their spot as early as possible. Please remember that there’s a designated time when you’re allowed to do so, which is part of the day’s schedule provided by Milwaukee County Parks:
- 2 p.m. — Parking and spot-claiming opens. To save your spot, set up your chairs or put down a blanket. No staking or grilling allowed.
- 2 p.m. — Portable restrooms open at key locations, and the McKinley Marina restrooms will also be open and available.
- 3 p.m. — Parks Concessions beer stands and additional vendors open to serve food and beverages. Food vendors include Flips Mini Donuts, Special Events Foods, Bartolotta and Roundhouse Beer Garden.
- 3 to 7 p.m. — Activity stations open throughout McKinley Park and McKinley Beach offering face painting, bounce houses and more. Vendors include Mitchell Parks Domes, Wehr Nature Center and Boerner Botanical Gardens.
- 9 p.m. — Live remarks from County Executive David Crowley
- 9:45 p.m. — Drone show starts and lasts about 45 minutes.
- 10:30 p.m. — Event closes. All vehicles must leave after the show has concluded. No overnight parking or camping is allowed.
The parking situation can be chaotic, but you can get ahead of the game by booking a spot in the McKinley Marina parking lot right now through ParkMobile for $28.75. Your first-come-first-served options include the McKinley tennis court lot and the Coast Guard Station grass lot, both of which will run you $20 per vehicle.
Free designated street parking is available only for vehicles with disabled license plates or government-issued hang tags. Lincoln Memorial Drive will close when the lots are full and will reopen after the show, so plan your route accordingly.
Finally, if you’re a community-loving individual and want to give back the day after the show, Milwaukee County Parks is looking for volunteers to tidy up McKinley Park from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, July 4. You can sign up to help via this form and get more information about the July 3 festivities on the event webpage.
