Fireworks!

It's nearly that time of year! The 4th of July is never complete without fireworks - whether you are watching a huge, professional display, or just shooting them off in the street in front of your house (which very well may be illegal, depending on where you live.) In the spirit of free fun, the Case Man and I don't usually go out and spend a bunch of money on fireworks (and we certainly will not be doing so this year) as there are plenty of free displays (or at least cheaper and safer than buying some fireworks to put on your own show) to check out around town. In fact, I had no idea there were so many to choose from around Kansas City until I started researching for this post. So, I have compiled a (hopefully comprehensive) list of the ones I could find, but let me know if I have missed any that should be included.

• KC Riverfest at Berkley Park on the Riverfront. Admission to the festival is $5 for adults (purchased in advance online) and kids 5 and under are free. Events are ongoing the afternoons of the 3rd and 4th, and it looks like they have fireworks starting at 10:05 both nights, too.
• Parkville has their 4th of July celebration at English Landing Park, with fireworks over the Missouri River starting at about 9:30pm. A shuttle will run from 6pm-midnight to and from Park Hill South High School and Park University, which might not be a bad idea, since parking in Parkville is tough to begin with.
• Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular has lots of country music, a live remote with Q104, a "show band" (I don't know what that means) and the Kansas National Guard Band. As far as I can tell, this is free fun unless you want to make a donation to the OP Rotary. Fireworks start at 9:30pm, and as big as Corporate Woods is, I would imagine this would involve a lot of walking, especially if you're going late for just the fireworks.
• Worlds of Fun still has their fireworks display, I think. I remember parking along I-435 (along with a bunch of other people) to watch it once or twice when I was a little kid, which isn't very safe, but it was free. I didn't find anything on their website specifically about the 4th, but they have lots of other stuff going on in July - none of it's free, though.
• The City of Independence has a fireworks display at the Mormon Visitors Center (the big spiral.) Also, there will be a kids 4th of July parade in old Downtown Independence, and the kids can decorate their bikes and scooters and stuff. Now that sounds like free fun!
• Powell Gardens Booms and Blooms festival is actually on the 3rd of July, but sounds lovely with live orchestral music, homemade ice cream, and of course fireworks. Festival admission ranges from $5-$10.
• The Smithville Marina will have a display shot off of the Smithville dam, but the calendar on the Clay County website wasn't working, so I can't verify this.
• Weston has the Jaycees fireworks show at the West Platte High School athletic field.
• The City of Olathe will have their 4th annual fireworks display begining at about 9:30pm at the Great Mall of the Great Plains
• The Royals will be playing the Chicago White Sox at The K on Thursday, Friday and Saturday over 4th of July weekend. Fireworks on Friday, as usual, and Saturday for the 4th, too. Saturday's give-away freebie is an old school ringer tee for the dudes and an old school halter for the ladies. Sweet!

One fireworks show that I thought for sure would be listed online somewhere is the Shawnee Mission Park display - it's kind of an old standby for people who don't have big plans, you can just mosey on over and check it out if you feel like it. I did finally find on the JoCo Parks and Rec site that they won't have it this year due to budget cuts. Bummer. I was also hoping to find a listing for a display at the Liberty Memorial, but found nothing there. Let me know if anyone knows anything about that - we were hoping to watch it from the Case Man's aunt's house. Perhaps we'll still be able to see the one's at the Riverfront? We'll see.

UPDATE: Neighbor Shane says there is also a display in Fairway - and there is! At Bishop Miege High School, 5041 Reinhardt Drive, at 9:30pm. Thanks Shane!