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Freedom Fest Celebration

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The Fourth of July festivities in Sheboygan will encompass a series of events taking place on July 3rd and 4th. Here’s an overview of the planned activities:

July 3rd

Venetian Boat Parade Viewing Party
Driftwood South Pier
4:00pm-8:00pm – Music & Beverage Tent

Venetian Boat Parade
Dusk – Sheboygan Riverfront
Sponsored by the Sheboygan Yacht Club

July 4th

Sheboygan Y Freedom Run
7:30 am – Sheboygan YMCA

The Freedom Run, co-sponsored by the Sheboygan County YMCA, begins at 7:30 AM on the 4th. Broughton Drive from Wisconsin Avenue, north and up the hill to Barrett Street will be closed to vehicle traffic and parking prohibited beginning at 7:00 AM on the 4th.

Independence Day Parade
9 am – North 8th Street & Center Avenue to Michigan Avenue to Broughton Drive
Sponsored by Wisconsin Bank & Trust

  • The parade starts at 9:00 AM and the route follows N 8th Street to Michigan Avenue to Broughton Drive.
  • “Reserving” a Spot for the Independence Day Parade : We would like to remind the community that the policy of the City of Sheboygan is that you may bring tarps and chairs to hold a spot between the sidewalk and street along the parade route after 5:00 AM on July 4th.  Any items placed out prior to that time will be considered abandoned property and removed.  This is to help minimize the amount of over-night vandalism and help to prevent conflicts over those spots.
  • 2023 Parade Route
  • Following the Independence Day Parade
    • Following the Independence Day Parade, Broughton Drive will remain closed to vehicle traffic and parking will be prohibited from Michigan Avenue south to Wisconsin Avenue for the safety of pedestrians and the lakefront activities.
    • Parking will be prohibited along the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue from N. 8 Street west to N. 14 Street all day to provide two lanes of westbound traffic leaving from the lakefront.

Music in the Park
Immediately following the parade  – Fountain Park
Sponsored by Sheboygan Theatre Company

Freedom Fest – Music, Food, and Fun:
Noon – 11 pm – Deland Park
Sponsored by Plenco

Live Music Lineup:
Noon – Big Scuba Duo
2:30 pm – Dirty Martinis
5:00 pm  – Chapped Lips
7:30 pm  – Running Blind

Music and Brat Fry:
Harbor Lights – Pennsylvania Avenue
12 pm – 4 pm – Tanglefoot
5 pm – 9 pm – Nitro Five

Music and the All-American Picnic Food Tent:
Driftwood South Pier
11am – 2:30pm – Larry and Alien
3pm – 7pm – Flying Zebras
7:30pm – 9:30pm DJ Ghost

Festival Fireworks
9:30 pm – lakefront near South Pier
Sponsored by Festival Foods

  • Following the Independence Day Parade, Broughton Drive will remain closed to vehicle traffic and parking will be prohibited from Michigan Avenue south to Wisconsin Avenue for the safety of pedestrians and the lakefront activities.
  • Parking will be prohibited along the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue from N. 8 Street west to N. 14 Street all day to provide two lanes of westbound traffic leaving from the lakefront
  • After the fireworks, traffic flow will be restricted at the Rotary Intersection at S 8th Street and Indiana Avenue.
  • There will be no north bound traffic allowed on S 8th Street from the round-about intersection.
  • All traffic coming south across the 8th Street Bridge will ONLY be allowed to proceed WEST on Indiana Avenue from the round-about intersection.
  • Westbound Indiana Ave traffic will be closed at S. 17th St due to construction.
  • All traffic coming out of South Pier Drive will ONLY be allowed to proceed SOUTH on S 8th Street from the round-about intersection.
  • All traffic coming north on S. 7th St will be able to enter the rotary from Indiana Ave but must exit south on S. 8th
  • There will be no east bound traffic permitted on Pennsylvania Avenue beyond 14th Street.
  • If you view the fireworks from north of the Sheboygan River and have to get back to the south side, we suggest leaving west on Pennsylvania, Erie or Superior Avenues, and using 14th Street or Taylor Drive to go south.
  • If you view the fireworks from south of the Sheboygan River and have to get back to the north side, we suggest turning west on Union Ave to reach South Business Drive and turn north.
  • We will attempt to have officers manning the traffic lights on 14th Street to facilitate movement. Remember that everyone wants to leave at once and that is just not going to happen. Please be patient, and watch for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Everyone is encouraged to walk or use a bicycle if practical.
  • Broadway Ave between S. 8th St and S. Business Dr will be closed to thru traffic. Please plan accordingly.

Bike Corrals

In an effort to minimize vehicular traffic and encourage exercise, the Police Department, with the assistance of the Police Cadet Post, will have one bike corral at the lake front.   It will be at Deland Park next to the Police Command Post and near the war memorial.  The corral will be available for holding normal sized bicycles from 3:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Bicycles not collected by 11:00 pm will be impounded. There will be no charge for use of the corral, so please take advantage of them, and leave your car at home!

Other City Policies

Traffic Restrictions and City Policies

If you have any questions regarding City policies or traffic routes on July 4th, please contact the Sheboygan Police Department at (920) 459-3333. Information concerning beachfront activities will be posted at the Sheboygan Area Tourism event page at https://visitsheboygan.com/freedomfest/

  • Fireworks: The possession and use of Fireworks is PROHIBITED in the City of Sheboygan. Enjoy the official fireworks display, but save yourself an expensive fine and do not bring your own fireworks into the City.
  • Alcohol: Alcohol possession and consumption is PROHIBITED ON ANY BEACH area in the City. Alcohol may be possessed and consumed on the area of Deland Park that is south of the pier (the vendor area), and on the grass area of King Park. No person may possess any glass container within any City of Sheboygan park. (NO GLASS!)
  • Pets are prohibited in all city parks and beaches except those designated and posted as being either on-leash or off-leash, Sec. 18-15.  This includes that pets are prohibited in both Deland and King Parks and their beaches.
  • Bonfires: Recreational Fires are allowed along the Lake Michigan shoreline from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Fires can be no larger than 36 inches in diameter and 18 inches high. Recreational fires can be wood-fueled only and must be at least 20 feet from any structure. To assist with beach cleanup, we ask that fires NOT be buried at the end of the evening. Fires may be extinguished with water or left safely to burn out. Burying fires will cause injuries.
  • Excavation: No person may construct any pit or excavation in any public beach area.
  • Boats and Watercraft: Boats and Watercraft must remain clear of public beaches.