There's nothing quite as Americana as the 4th of July in the small town communities of Oz.  Looking for a celebration near you?  Look no further!

Belgium  The celebration begins early in Belgium, with fireworks at 9:45 p.m. on Friday, June 28th at Heritage Park, following the baseball game.

Thiensville Family Fun Before the 4th is a nearly all-day event, and a great day for the whole family!  On Saturday, June 29th, the massive parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Follow it to the Village Park, where free ice-cream, live music, and a variety of events await, followed by fireworks at dusk.

​Grafton  Grafton has a brand new event to celebrate Independence Day called Holidaze Where The Music Plaze, which begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 29th, and runs through 10 p.m.  The morning starts healthy at the Lumberyard Plaza with Yoga from 8-9 followed by a Family Workout. The parade begins at 11 a.m. followed by a performance by the UW Madison Marching Band at Paramount Plaza, where the celebration continues from noon-6 p.m. with a beer tent, live music, and food and drink specials throughout downtown Grafton businesses.  The celebration then moves to Lime Kiln Park from 6:30-10 p.m., with more live music and fireworks at dusk! 

Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg  The Drum Corps International Tour will return to Cedarburg on Wednesday, July 3, at 7 p.m. for the 20th Annual Rotary Music Festival. Cedarburg High School Stadium is set to play host to a lineup of 7 World and Open Class corps during this event that will take place on the eve of Independence Day.

Freistadt  It doesn't get any more Americana than Trinity Freistadt's 4th of July Parade and Picnic!  Spend your day enjoying one of Ozaukee County's best kept secrets, beginning with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. (weather permitting), an 11 a.m. picnic (complete with root beer floats), a tour of the Trinity Historical Grounds, and a  1 p.m. parade, followed by a flag raising, and the very German music of the Alte Kameraden Band and dancing by the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers.

Port Washington  Port's parade begins at 10 a.m. on the 4th; follow it to  Veteran's Park on the lakefront for an old fashioned ice cream social, bicycle judging, a watermelon seed spitting contest, and live music by The Verdict from noon-2. Head over to Pirates’ Hollow Waterpark from 1-4 p.m., where they will be having a Biggest Splash Contest and Family Relay Race at 3 p.m.  The only fireworks over the lakefront in Oz begin at dusk, and are best seen from Rotary Park or Coal Dock Park.

Saukville  Saukville's parade begins at 1 p.m. on the 4th, going through downtown and ending at Grady Park for a picnic from noon-5 and music from 2-4.   There will be music and food from 5 p.m. until dusk, and  fireworks are at dusk over Peninsula Park.

Cedarburg  Cedarburg's 4th of July Hometown Celebration boasts the largest parade in Ozaukee (roughly 2 hours long!), which begins at Fireman's Park at 10 a.m., and heads south along Washington Ave., making its way to Cedar Creek Park, where a picnic, music,  and activities can be found until 9:30 p.m., when the fireworks begin.

Happy Independence Day, Ozaukee!

Since 1964, Port Washington has been home to Fish Day, the "world's largest outdoor fish fry;" a one-day festival that includes a parade, fireworks, carnival rides, helicopter rides, a car show, arts & crafts festival, live music and, of course, fish and chips -- all while raising money for a number of local civic organizations, including the Rotary Club, Kiwanis,  and Lions Club.

This year's theme is "Fishmas in July," so bust out your Santa caps and join in the fun! The day begins at 8 a.m. with an 8K Run & 2 mile Fun Run/Walk benefiting Portal, Inc., a not-for-profit human service agency serving adults with disabilities.  There are categories for all ages, and registration can be taken the day of the event.

​One of the biggest draws to the festival is the parade, which begins at 10 a.m. at Wisconsin and Walters Streets, and runs south on Wisconsin Street to Grand Avenue. Featuring a variety of marching bands and entertainment of all kinds, the parade runs at least an hour long, and vendors sell fish and chips along the route to hungry parade-goers.

While the festival is free, a button is required to enter the Main Stage area, which can be purchased for $5 on the grounds.  This year, the Main Stage features several Country Music artists, beginning with the Milwaukee-based band, Road Crew, from 2:15-5:45. From 6:15-6:45, the McMenamin Irish Dancers will take the stage.  Then, Nora Collins, a WAMI "Rising Star" will make a special appearance from 7-7:30 p.m.  Finally, Josh Thompson will take the stage from 8-9:30 p.m.

The Main Stage isn't the only place to catch live music.  The Band Shell at Veteran's Memorial Park will host the acoustic duo, J-Dubz Live, from 11:15 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Bobby Way & The Fabulous Way Outs from 2:30-6:30; and Beatles tribute band, The Britins, from 7-9:30 p.m.  The Blues Stage (located near the main gate on Washington St.) will feature Generation Gap from 11:00 a.m.-1:15 p.m., KIC band from 1:45-5:15 p.m., and the Robert Allen Jr. Duo from 5-6:15 p.m.  The Lake View Stage (located off of Jackson St. on the lakefront will have Scotch and Soda from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Track 6 from 3:15-6:30 p.m., and The Rush Tribute Project from 7-9:30 p.m.  

The Classic Car Show, Arts & Crafts Show, and Helicopter Rides all begin at 10 a.m. in Upper Lake Park, where the Family Zone is also located.  The Carnival, located across from Veteran's Memorial Park, will also begin at 10 a.m., while the popular Soccer Water Fights begin at 3 p.m. in Veteran's Memorial Park.  The annual Smoked Fish Eating Contest will happen at the Lake View Stage from 2:30-3:15.

The grand finale, of course, is an incredible fireworks display, which begins at 9:30 p.m., and closes the event at 10 p.m.

For more, up to date information, visit the Fish Day Facebook Page, or go to www.portfishday.com.

There's nothing quite as Americana as the 4th of July in the small town communities of Oz.  Looking for a celebration near you?  Look no further!

Belgium  The celebration begins in Belgium with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24th at Heritage Park.

Thiensville  Thiensville's Family Fun Before the 4th is a nearly all-day event, and a great day for the whole family!  On Saturday, July 25th, the parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Follow it to the Village Park, where free ice-cream, live music, and a variety of events await, followed by fireworks at dusk.

Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg  The Drum Corps International Tour will return to Cedarburg on Sunday, July 3, for the 17th Annual Rotary Music Festival. Cedarburg High School Stadium is set to play host to a lineup of 9 World and Open Class corps during this event that will take place on the eve of Independence Day.

Friestadt  It doesn't get any more Americana than Trinity Friestadt's 4th of July Parade and Picnic!  Spend your day enjoying one of Ozaukee County's best kept secrets, beginning with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. (weather permitting), an 11 a.m. picnic (complete with root beer floats), a noon tour of the Historical Grounds (with a new display of telephones through the ages), and a  1 p.m. parade, followed by children's games, a flag raising, and the very German music of the Alte Kameraden Band and dancing by the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers.













​Grafton  Grafton's 4th of July coincides with Grillin' in Grafton.  The parade begins at Grafton High School at 11 a.m., and makes its way to Centennial Park, where more fun can be found, including an 11:30 performance by the UW Marching Band, and fireworks at dusk.

Port Washington  Port's parade begins at 11 a.m. on the 4th; follow it to  Veteran's Park on the lakefront for an old fashioned ice cream social, bicycle judging, a watermelon seed spitting contest, and music throughout the afternoon.  The only fireworks over the lakefront in Oz begin at dusk, and are best seen from Rotary Park or Coal Dock Park.

Saukville  Saukville's parade begins at 1 p.m., going through downtown and ending at Grady Park for a picnic and activities. Fireworks are at dusk over Peninsula Park.

Cedarburg  Cedarburg's 4th of July Hometown Celebration boasts the largest parade in Ozaukee (roughly 2 hours long!), which begins at Fireman's Park at 10 a.m., and heads south along Washington Ave., making its way to Cedar Creek Park, where a picnic and activities can be found.  The Civic Band performs in the band shell at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30.

Happy Independence Day, Ozaukee!

After a three year absence, the Port Washington Pirate Festival is set to invade downtown Port the first weekend in June, under a new crew (pun intended). 

As luck would have it, the festival coincides with a visit from the Tall Ship Denis Sullivan, which suits the organizers just fine.  In addition, Port Washington will be busy with the City-Wide Rummage Sale, and the first Farmers Market of the year, on Saturday, June 4th, which will bring even more people into town over the course of the event.  Many community organizations are getting in on the fun.  In fact, to get yourself into a pirate-y-mood, start your Friday evening at the Port Exploreum for their First Friday free movie, which will be (of course) Pirates of the Caribbean, beginning at 6 p.m.

Although organizers are working with a limited budget, they're packing a lot of fun into the Festival, including Breakfast with the Pirates at Newport Shores Restaurant, a Pirate Invasion at Rotary Park, Costume Contests, live music, food and shopping, and a parade on Sunday.

The entertainment list is shaping up nicely, as well.  Attendees from previous festivals may recall the impressive Knotty Bits, who will be making a triumphant return to the festival, along with Stellamani Belly Dancers.  Renaissance performers, the Wonder Elixir of Life Company, are sure to entertain crowds, along with the Celtic music of HearthFire Band and the Celtic/Nautical music of Bard Jesse Linder.  The Midwest Knife and Axe Throwers returns to the festival, while the Gypsy Moon Dancers will make their debut.  Pirate storyteller and Anne Bonny impersonator, TS Rhodes, will also be on hand.

A local sax quartet, 4th Dimension, from Port Washington, will entertain crowds, as well as the crowd-pleasing music of Stereotype.

Various period entertainers/reenactors will be at the festival, including GSM Bristol, the River Valley Colonials, LarpCraft of Sheboygan, and the Pyrates of Portabello.

Kids will be thrilled with the hysterical antics of the Cutlass Cooking Show, the Pirate Black Bart, and Lord Drake's Mystic Magic Show, as well as a bouncy house, S.E.A. Hamsters, and more.

Some great vendors, such as Elysium Armory, Creative Fire Pottery, Rogue Maille, Ladies in Scarlet, the Yorkshire Dragon, and DaSue Dragon Designs will also be in attendance at the festival, along with a variety of food vendors and food trucks in the Gruel Galley.

The Port Washington Pirate Festival runs Friday, June 3rd, from 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, June 4th, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 5th, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  For a complete schedule of events, click here.  

Organizers are still in need of volunteers and donations.  If you are interested in helping out, contact (262) 323-6612  or go to their facebook page or the facebook event page.