Brainerd Lakes Area 4th of July Events
Minnesota is your Fourth of July capitol with events and entertainment all month long in July. Celebrate independence day in the Brainerd Lakes Area this year.
Nisswa Freedom Days
July 3, 2025
Celebrate FREEDOM in Nisswa on Thursday, July 3, 2025 with a full schedule of fun! Activities throughout the day including Turtle Races, live music, food vendors and more.
The Freedom Days parade starts at 7 pm. Spectators line Main Street to watch the parade. Stick around for fabulous fireworks at dusk!
Full schedule of events to come.
Pequot Lakes Stars & Stripes Days
July 3-4, 2025
Thursday, July 3, 2025
5PM // Food Vendors (South Trailside Park)
5PM // Bean Bag Toss Tournament Registration (South Trailside Park)
$20 per team, 2 players per team. Youth Bracket 8-14 years old. Adult Bracket 15+ years old. Cash prizes for 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place in each bracket! Rules are TBD.
5PM // Kid’s Activities (South Trailside Park)
Bungee Trampoline, Bounce House, & Kids Climb
6PM // Bean Bag Toss Tournament (South Trailside Park)
Scoring- Each team is responsible for keeping track of their own score (honor system). First team to 21 advances (must win by 2 points, first team must be given the opportunity to finish playing, single elimination). Cornhole bags in-the-hole and bags in-the-count pitched by opponents during an inning (in singles play) or half of an inning (in doubles play) cancel each other out. Only non-canceled bags are counted in the score for the inning. Cornhole Bags In-The-Count: Bags in-the-count cancel each other. A bag in-the-count of one contestant shall cancel a bags in-the-count of the opponent and those bags shall not score any points. Any non cancelled bags in-the-count score 1 point each. Bag must fully be on the board in order to count as a point (unless bag has gone "in-the-hole"). Players may knock opponents bags off the board (either on purpose or by accident). Championship- Teams playing for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place will be playing for cash prizes!
7:00-7:30 PM // Sign up for Loon Calling Contest (South Trailside Park near band)
Test your loon calling skills in the Loon Calling Contest. Age groups include: 12 & Under and 13 & Older. Prizes and bragging rights will be awarded to 1st place in both age groups!
7:30 PM // Loon Calling Contest
8:00 PM // LIVE Music SAWYER'S DREAM Follow the Dream: www.sawyersdream.com
Band will start immediately following the Loon Calling Contest between 8:00-8:15PM.
DUSK // Fireworks by North Star Fireworks (Pequot Lakes High School)
Friday, July 4, 2025
7AM – 11AM // Pancake Breakfast (Pequot Lakes Fire Hall on Main Street)
9AM – 2PM // Craft Fair & Food Vendors (South Trailside Park)
Get a yummy bite to eat: fresh squeezed lemonade, mini donuts, french fries, cheese curds, corn dogs, kettle corn, cotton candy and more!
9AM // Kid’s Activities (South Trailside Park)
Bungee Trampoline, Bounce House & Kids Climb, Water Wars.
9:30 AM // Kiddie Parade - (Band Shelter, North Trailside Park)
10AM – 11:30 AM // Parade Line Up (Pequot Lakes Middle School Parking Lot)
10AM // Ice Cream Eating Contest (Band Shelter, North Trailside Park)
11AM – 4PM // Beer Garden (Pequot Lakes American Legion Post #49)
12PM // Stars and Stripes Day Parade
Parade begins at west side of the Pequot Lakes School
Crosslake Fourth of July Celebration
July 5, 2025
2025 marks the 55th year that the community of Crosslake has come together to celebrate America’s freedom with a spectacular fireworks display! This longstanding tradition brings families, friends, and visitors together to enjoy a breathtaking show over the waters of Cross Lake.
Join us at dusk on Saturday, July 5, 2025, for this unforgettable experience. Whether you choose to watch from the shore or from your boat on the lake, you’ll be treated to a dazzling display launched from Sand Island, lighting up the night sky in honor of our nation’s independence.
For the full experience, tune into Skeeter 101.5 FM to hear the fireworks display synchronized to music, enhancing the show with a perfectly choreographed soundtrack.