For those looking to watch fireworks or set off their own, here’s info on area shows, plus when and where you can use your own outside of Lawrence city limits.
Note: An earlier version of this article was published June 26. We’re updating with new info and reposting it so it’s easier for readers to find.
Big shows
Eudora: July 4
Eudora’s Star-Spangled Celebration will run from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 4 in the Eudora High School parking lot at 2203 Church St. It’s free to attend and open to all.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
“Join us for an unforgettable evening packed with hometown pride, live music, delicious food trucks, yard games, kid-friendly activities, and patriotic fun for all ages,” according to the Facebook event page. “This year’s celebration will build all evening to an even bigger, brighter, and more spectacular fireworks show in honor of the United States’ Semiquincentennial!”
The “expanded fireworks finale” will start at dark. See more information on the page at this link.
De Soto: July 4
Further up the road, in De Soto, the fireworks show will begin at 9:45 p.m. at Riverfest Park. That’s at 33440 W. 79th St.; learn more at this link. Personal fireworks are not allowed.
Other events:
• “Add the S,” a new zine by two local poets and scholars, will launch during an open mic event set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3 at the Raven Book Store, 809 Massachusetts St. Read more in the article at this link.
Please support
The Lawrence Times!
Subscribe here.
• The second annual July 4th Freedom Fest is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the east side of South Park. Read more in the article at this link.
• Lawrence’s Summerfest is set for 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Lawrence will host a drone show instead of fireworks again this year. Read more in the article at this link.
• A Rock the Vote concert is set for Sunday, July 5. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the shows start at 2 p.m. at The Granada,1020 Massachusetts St., and Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts St. Read more in the article at this link.
Find a roundup of closures, service changes and more for the Fourth of July holiday in Lawrence at this link.
Note: Baldwin City’s community celebration with fireworks came early this year. It was held June 27.
DIY
For those who can’t wait to spark up their own combustibles, here’s where you can go.
Consolidated Fire District No. 1 would encourage folks to soak their used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight to ensure that they don’t cause a fire. Some buckets will be available for free at firework stands in rural Douglas County until supplies run out.
Not Lawrence:
Within Lawrence city limits, fireworks are not allowed.
The only kinds of “novelty items” allowed are party poppers, snappers, snakes, glow worms, sparklers, toy caps and toy smoke devices, according to the city’s website.
Unincorporated Douglas County:
Folks may use fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county if the property owner has given permission and provides supervision.
Fireworks are OK during the following hours:
• 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 2
• 7 a.m. to midnight Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4
Find more info on fireworks regulations on the county’s website at this link.
Lone Star Lake Park:
Here are the times and areas when and where fireworks are allowed within Lone Star Lake Park, courtesy of Douglas County. (Click here to open it in a new tab.)
Lone-Star-Lake-Park-Fireworks-Areas-2026Eudora:
Eudora will allow fireworks from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 3 and 4. Visit the city’s website, cityofeudoraks.gov, for more information.
Baldwin City:
Remaining firework-friendly times are 10 a.m. to midnight Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. See more in the city code at this link.
Where to buy fireworks:
There are 16 fireworks stands with permits in Douglas County this year. Here’s a map, courtesy of the county. (Click here to open it in a new tab.)
Douglas-County-Firework-Stands-2026If local news matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat — get the latest news from the Times delivered to your inbox:
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.
If you have news tips, questions, comments, concerns, compliments or corrections for our team, please reach out and let us know what’s on your mind. Email us at [email protected] (don’t forget the KS!), or find more contact info and a quick contact form at LawrenceKSTimes.com/contact.
Follow us so you won’t miss the local news that matters most to you:
Latest Lawrence news:
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Jacob Rice / Lawrence Times
