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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - At Wednesday’s One Sioux Falls briefing, Sioux Falls Parks & Rec, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and the Sioux Falls Police Department shared what to expect from next week’s July 4th festivities.

Jackie Nelson, recreation manager with Sioux Falls Parks & Rec; Steve Fessler, division chief with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and Officer Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department all spoke.

The Independence Day Celebration on July 4 in downtown Sioux Falls will feature a free lunch for the first 3,000 attendees, as well as live music and entertainment at the Levitt at the Falls, a 5K fun run/walk starting at Fawick Park and a parade.

The parade will travel down Phillips Avenue, starting at 13th and ending at Sixth Street.

The City of Sioux Falls shared the following schedule of events:

7:30 a.m.—Fun run/walk check-in for registered participants at Fawick Park. Registration is closed, but additional participants can still participate but will not receive a T-shirt. No pets allowed.
8 a.m.—Fun run/walk begins at Fawick Park.
10 a.m.—The parade will begin at 13th Street and travel down Phillips Avenue to Sixth Street. Online registration closes at 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 26; however, walk-up entries will be accepted at the corner of 11th Street and First Avenue at 8:15 a.m. the day of.
11 a.m.—Picnic with a free lunch (all-beef hot dog, chips, and water) will be served for the first 3,000 people in attendance at the Levitt Shell.
11 a.m.—Entertainment at the Levitt Shell—Sioux Falls Municipal Band
12 noon—Entertainment at the Levitt Shell—Mogen’s Heroes

Please be aware of street closures at 9:40 a.m. for the parade along Phillips Avenue. Residents are encouraged to use downtown parking ramps.

Several blocks of First Avenue, 12th Street, and 13th Street will close at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, for parade staging. Phillips Avenue will close at approximately 9:40 a.m., and all east/west streets from 13th Street to Sixth Street will also be closed at Phillips Avenue during this timeframe. Streets will reopen after the parade is finished, around 11 a.m. Those traveling east/west through downtown on July 4 should use 14th Street. Phillips Avenue from Seventh Street to Fifth Street will remain closed until 2 p.m. ADA parking will be available at the City parking lot at the corner of Eighth Street and Phillips Avenue.

Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade route(City of Sioux Falls)

Visit siouxfalls.gov/july4 for more information about the day’s festivities, including maps of the parade route and available parking.

Safety and legality

In terms of safety, make sure children are always supervised and pets are kept away from fireworks. Within the city, there are regulations about what can be used for fireworks. Anything with projectiles, anything with launching components or anything that makes loud noises is prohibited. When done, put spent fireworks in a bucket of water to make sure they are fully extinguished.

Call volume does not change much for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, according to Steve Fessler, division chief.

Sioux Falls police receive 300 to 600 fireworks calls around July 4. Citations for fireworks are $107.50. There will be extra law enforcement in place. Those wishing to report fireworks should call the non-emergency number 605-367-7000.

Officer Sam Clemens urged that if you go outside of city limits to shoot fireworks, make sure you clean up after yourself.