Your 2026 Fourth of July Fireworks Guide: Greater Des Moines Area

This year is America’s 250th birthday! Here’s where to catch the shows closest to home, from the biggest celebrations in the metro to a few smaller, easier options.

Quick Reference: Where and When

City	Date	Time	Where
Urbandale	July 4	10 p.m.	Walker Johnston Park, 9000 Douglas Ave.
Waukee	July 4	9:30 p.m.	Centennial Park
West Des Moines	July 4	9:45 p.m.	Jordan Creek Town Center
Clive	July 15–16	10 p.m. both nights	Greenbelt Landing at the Clive Aquatic Center
Grimes	July 4	Dusk	South Sports Complex, 750 S. James St.
Altoona	July 4	Evening	Adventureland, 3200 Adventureland Dr. (park admission required)
Ankeny	July 3	Final evening of SummerFest	The District at Prairie Trail, 1500 SW Main St.
Norwalk	July 4	Dusk	McAninch Park, 200 Wright Rd.
Downtown Des Moines	July 3	Concert at 8:30 p.m.	West Terrace of the Iowa State Capitol
Ames	July 3	About 10 p.m.	East of Jack Trice Stadium

Closest to Home

Urbandale: July 4 at Walker Johnston Park

Fireworks start at 10 p.m. at Walker Johnston Park, 9000 Douglas Ave. It’s part of a multi-day celebration running July 2–4 with a carnival, parade, and live music, and it’s widely considered the largest Fourth of July event in the Des Moines metro.

Waukee: July 4 at Centennial Park

Fireworks are at 9:30 p.m. at Centennial Park, and the full day has plenty to fill it: a morning Freedom 5K, a free Rotary pancake breakfast, a parade at 10:30 a.m., and the Des Moines Skydivers at 8 p.m. It’s a two-day celebration starting July 3.

West Des Moines: July 4 at Jordan Creek Town Center

West Des Moines is moving its celebration to Jordan Creek Town Center. A free concert starts at 5 p.m., with fireworks following at 9:45 p.m. July 3 also features a parade at 6:30 p.m. from Valley High School to Historic Valley Junction, followed by live music and a drone show.

Clive: July 15–16 at Greenbelt Landing

Clive skips the Fourth rush and does its own thing. The Clive Festival runs July 15–16 at Greenbelt Landing at the Clive Aquatic Center, with fireworks both evenings at 10 p.m. It’s a great option if you miss the Fourth chaos.

Grimes: July 4 at the South Sports Complex

Home Base Iowa’s fireworks show starts at dusk at the Grimes South Sports Complex, 750 S. James St. Expect a smaller crowd and easy parking, which makes it a solid under-the-radar option.

Around the Metro

Altoona: July 4

The parade starts at 10 a.m. from the Altoona Public Library, 700 Eighth St. SW, with fireworks in the evening at Adventureland, 3200 Adventureland Drive. Admission to the park is required for the fireworks show.

Ankeny: SummerFest

Ankeny doesn’t do a Fourth of July show. They do it their own way. Ankeny SummerFest is at The District at Prairie Trail with a carnival, parade, music, and fireworks on the final evening at 1500 SW Main St.

Norwalk: July 4 at McAninch Park

The parade starts at 10 a.m. from Norwalk High School, with a party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city park and fireworks at dusk at McAninch Park, 200 Wright Road. It’s a full family day and an easy drive from the southwest suburbs.

Two Big Shows on July 3

Downtown Des Moines: Yankee Doodle Pops at the Iowa State Capitol

Yankee Doodle Pops starts at 8:30 p.m. on the West Terrace of the Iowa State Capitol. It’s billed as the largest single-day concert event in Iowa and features the Des Moines Symphony. If you only do one big show this season, this is it.

Ames: July 3 East of Jack Trice Stadium

Ames fireworks are on July 3, not July 4. The community fireworks show takes place east of Jack Trice Stadium, starting around 10 p.m. when the sky is fully dark. The Fourth of July Parade follows the next morning in Downtown Ames at 11 a.m. along Main Street.

Happy 250th, America

Enjoy the weekend, and if you want to talk about which of these neighborhoods you might want to be living in by next Fourth of July, let me know and we can find the right spot together!