I had a great time at yesterday’s July 4th celebration at Grant Park, but I’m wondering — is there any way to make it better?
So I ask you, readers: What suggestions do you have to improve the city’s Independence Day celebration? Or is it just fine the way it is?
Post your comments below!
South Milwaukee Blog 
Needs more entertainment and events that people will actually participate in. The activities that we currently do are definitely nice for the little kids in the morning. Like many other things in SM, however, we aren’t very good at changing and growing from the blueprint that worked well 20 or more years ago. Work with a radio station to have events going on during the day. Invite some food trucks to set up for the day.
Bringing more people through/to the city for events like this can showcase one major draw of living here, Grant Park. If people come and explore the park for this event, they may be inclined to consider this as a destination for future visits or for setting up a home.
where was the parade? I was at grant park with my son @ 10am and outside of an empty mayors table for the bike judging contest, there was nothing going on.
Yeah, a real parade would be nice. I still go back to my old neighborhood (Bay View) for the Humboldt Park parade because I tried the South Milwaukee one a couple years ago and was very disappointed when I seen that their parade was a couple young kids riding bikes in an Oval to be judged by the decorations that they…Or their parents put on their bikes. Until they get a real parade and Fourth of July celebration here I’ll stick with my tradition of going to the Humboldt Park parade at 9am and then the Cudahy Parade at noon and then back to Humboldt for fireworks at 9:15PM. I do enjoy the Heritage days, Lions Fest, and Christmas Parade here though! Maybe the organizers should go check out what Franklin or Humboldt have to offer and come up with something in between the two venues.
Hmmmm….interesting that you ask how to make it better. We have the Christmas parade and Heritage week celebration. I wouldn’t want to see these events watered down because limited resources (including volunteers who are already hard-working) end up shared with yet another event. Let’s improve and market our Heritage week rather than looking to change the 4th of July celebration. How wonderful it would be if it became a well known regional event like Sheboygan Brat Days, Cederburg Strawberry Fest, and Port Washington Fish Day. Heritage Week has so much to offer to showcase our city.
Sometimes our family wants a parade, so we head out and hang with friends in a nearby community. This year the kids wanted some competition, so we headed to Grant Park. Our 3 kids came home with a combined total of almost $30 in prizes from the races and the penny scramble. All 3 ate ice creams, Cracker Jack, and came home with memories from spending time with the friends they met up with.
Food trucks might be nice for some, but we headed home for a cook-out with family. We wouldn’t have par taken in anything more there.
I agree with “working parents of three”.
“Andrew” SM never had a 4th of July Parade.
In defense of the 4th of July celebration, it’s not what it was back in my day. Back in the day, there was a good volunteer base to run the events and $$ support from the “Animal clubs” (Lions, Elk, Moose, Jaycees) and the chamber to give away free bikes, music entertainment and run the buggy parade with prizes. Without volunteers, it has become “watered down” and outsourced to vendors. That’s what’s happening everywhere.
There is too much competition from our neighboring suburbs for 4th of July events. Let’s focus on SM Heritage Days. We have a wonderful parade that weekend, the Lions Club support and a strong volunteer base from scout groups and the high school service clubs to keep the events going.
Unfortunately, the majority of today’s Adult generation doesn’t want to volunteer at these events. In the recent past, I have been called a “sucker” (to my face) for volunteering at the Rocket concession stand. Yes, bullying is alive and well in SM. LOL!
It’s all about the volunteers and I humbly thank all who put their blood, sweat, tears and their own money into these events.
I forgot to do what RocketMom did by thanking those who volunteer for these events. My husband and I volunteer for a lot at this point, but it’s mostly school and sports events. The parades aren’t part of that….yet. Thank you to all those who currently volunteer to put on the parades that my family attends. We appreciate all the work you do.
I agree 1,000% These events are nothing without the volunteers who make them happen, and they deserve all of our thanks. I hope this post isn’t taken as a criticism of their efforts, or the overall event. I am just always interested in ideas around making things better, even around the edges. (And I was inspired by my July 4 visit to Beloit, where they had a concert from the local symphony leading right into the fireworks. Really cool.)