Experience the ultimate July 4th
Celebration in Clear Lake!
JULY 2 – 6, 2025
PARADE
CARNIVAL
LIVE MUSIC
Celebrating American Independence
There’s no place like Clear Lake for the Fourth of July! Our celebration kicks off with the Evans United Shows Carnival, a Clear Lake tradition since 1973. Dozens of lighted and musical carnival rides, concessions, and games surround City Park in downtown, with breathtaking views of the lake. Enjoy popular rides like the Ferris Wheel, Genesis, and the Carousel, or grab a bite from food stands offering corn dogs, tenderloins, freshly squeezed lemonade, caramel apples, and funnel cakes. Midway games like ring toss, dart games, and basketball hoops offer fun prizes for everyone!
The traditional parade is led by the Boy Scouts, Veterans, the Mayor, the Grand Marshal, and our classic Clear Lake Police Cruiser and Fire Department. Over 100 colorful floats follow, with live music from the Clear Lake Lions Marching Band. Kids decked out in red, white, and blue line the mile-and-a-half parade route along Main Avenue and downtown, collecting candy and trinkets tossed from the floats.
Take a stroll through the open-air vendor market by the lake, where you’ll find a variety of unique items including jewelry, crafts, garden art, custom t-shirts, and handcrafted woodworking. It’s the perfect spot to shop for something special while enjoying the festivities.
Don’t forget to stop by the Chamber BINGO tent, where you can join in on the fun and try your luck for cash prizes!
The grand finale is the Flashing Thunder Fireworks show over Clear Lake. A longstanding tradition, the fireworks display gets better every year, lighting up the sky as people watch from the shore or their boats. It’s a spectacular, all-American experience you won’t want to miss!
Join the Fun:

July 4th Parade
Celebrate Clear Lake’s patriotic spirit at the July 4th Parade, kicking off at 10 AM on Friday, July 4th. This year’s theme honors unity and pride, with colorful floats, marching bands, and hometown heroes filling the streets. Want to join in the fun? Sign up to be part of the parade!

Chamber BINGO
We’re looking for volunteers to help with BINGO throughout the July 4th Celebration, running Wednesday, July 2th to Sunday, July 6th. Whether it’s your dream to be a BINGO caller or the one who takes the cash, we need your help! Sign up today and be part of the fun.

Lakeside Vendor Market
Join us for the 30th Annual Clear Lake 4th of July Lakeside Vendor Market, running July 2–6 in Downtown Clear Lake next to City Park. From handmade goods to unique finds, it’s the perfect place to showcase your products. Food vendors must contract directly with Evans United Shows.

Freedom 5K & Kid’s Fun
The Freedom 5K kicks off at 7:30 AM on Friday, July 4th on Main Avenue, with medals awarded by age group. Younger runners can join the CL Tel Kids Fun Run at 7:00 AM for a ½-mile dash, complete with medals, wristbands, and popsicles. Register by June 6th to guarantee a race t shirt!

Live Music Sponsorship
Enjoy nightly concerts as part of Clear Lake’s July 4th Celebration! From tribute bands to hometown favorites, music is a big part of the festivities. Interested in supporting the entertainment? Help us keep the music going – sponsor a show!
Experience the ultimate July 4th Celebration in Clear Lake!
Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, July 2
5:00 – 9:00 PM: Lakeside Vendor Market
5:00 PM: Evans United Shows Carnival Opens
5:00 PM: Chamber BINGO Tent opens
7:00 PM: Live Music: The Schmidt Brothers (Rock, Pop & Country). Presented by Bank Iowa.

Thursday, July 3
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Lakeside Vendor Market
12:00 PM: Evans United Shows Carnival Opens (Wristband Day: $30, 12–5 PM)
12:00 PM: Chamber BINGO Tent opens
7:00 PM: Live Music: M80s – The MTV Experience 80s Dance Party with special guests Turn Me Loose (Loverboy Tribute) & Big Bam Boom (Hall & Oates Tribute). Presented by Bank Iowa.

Friday, July 4
7:00 AM: CL Tel Kid’s Fun Run / 7:30 AM: Freedom 5K
10:00 AM: 4th of July Parade (View Parade Route)
11:00 AM–9:00 PM: Lakeside Vendor Market
12:00 PM: Evans United Shows Carnival Opens
1:00 PM: Chamber BINGO Tent opens
8:30–10:00 PM: Live Music: Clear Lake Municipal Band – Presented by Larson’s Mercantile
10:00 PM: Fireworks over Clear Lake (Musical Tribute on 106.1FM, AM1490, & AM1300)

Saturday, July 5
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Lakeside Vendor Market
12:00 PM: Evans United Shows Carnival Opens
12:00 PM: Chamber BINGO Tent opens
7:00 PM: Live Music: Arch Allies, America’s Premier Tribute Band featuring hits of Bon Jovi, Queen, Journey, Styx, REO, Boston, Def Leppard, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, Heart, Lita Ford & Tina Turner. Presented by Clear Lake Bank & Trust & Curries/Assa Abloy and Joshua Homes.

Sunday, July 6
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Lakeside Vendor Market
12:00 PM: Evans United Shows Carnival opens (Wristband Day: $30, 12–5 PM)
12:00 PM: Chamber BINGO Tent opens
1:00 PM: Family Feud Game Show – Presented by CL Tel & Woodford Lumber & Home
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