Happy Birthday, Twin Cities
Good morning, Monroe. Happy 250th, America.
Grab your coffee and save this page. Everything happening today in Monroe and West Monroe, all in one place. Inside: a full timeline from the 5K to the fireworks, where to eat, street closures, and tips to make your day easier. Forward it to anyone heading out today.
Photo by Lola Popov, winner of our July 4th photo contest. Ready for the celebration.
Your Day at a Glance
| 8:00 AM | Firecracker 5K & 1K 701 North 4th Street, Monroe |
| 9:30 AM | Children's Parade · bikes, scooters, face painting, snow cones Triangle Park, Monroe |
| 10 AM-2 PM | Red, White & Blue at the Zoo · carnival games, dunking booth, food trucks, vendors, watermelon seed spitting contest. Pizza eating contest by Johnny's Pizza House (kids 12 PM, adults 12:30 PM, $10 entry). Splash pad, train, and boat rides open. Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo · Adults $10, Kids 3-12 $7, Seniors 65+ $7, Under 2 free |
| 10 AM-3 PM | The Great American Pop-Up · kids karaoke, dirty sodas, snacks, arts & crafts The Hawthorne, 231 Desiard St, Monroe · $5/kid, $2/adult |
| 10:00 AM | The Good Daze Block Party · vendors, artists, food trucks 111 Art Alley, Monroe |
| 11:00 AM | 250th Anniversary Parade · Krewe of Janus, floats, marching bands Starts at I-20 overpass on Natchitoches St, crosses Lea Joyner Bridge, ends at 19th & Hudson |
| 5-8 PM | FREE Splashtacular Kids Zone · bounce houses, water slides, foam zone, bubble truck, rinse-off station with WM Fire Dept. Parent tent available. Bring sunscreen, water, and towels. Commerce Street grassy lot, West Monroe |
| 5:30 PM | $1,000 Hot Dog Eating Contest · eat the most in 10 minutes, $25 entry fee Alley Park, West Monroe |
| 6:00 PM | Flying Heart's 5th Birthday Bash · live music from Message from Mercury Flying Heart Brewing & Pub, West Monroe |
| 6:00 PM | Patriotic Concert · Legacy Strings & Chief Tusquahoma Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Alley Park, West Monroe |
| 7-9 PM | Live Music: Flashback5 Alley Park, West Monroe |
| 9:00 PM | Fireworks & Drone Show · presented by Graphic Packaging International, ~30 minutes. Drones launch near Railroad Bridge across from Riverfront Park. Fireworks from the Endom Bridge. Tune to 107.3 FM for synchronized audio |
Where to Eat on the 4th
These local spots confirmed they will be open and serving on July 4th.
Shaw Nuff BBQ
4th of July Special: 12-piece chicken, sausage, and 2 large sides for $45.99. Call ahead: 318-855-3652. Also on DoorDash.
US Highway 165 & MLK Jr. Dr., Monroe
DaBoot BBQ
Taking preorders for July 4th BBQ favorites. Call or text: 318-680-8932 / 318-680-0035.
Monroe
JAC's Craft Smokehouse
Open on the 4th with a live band that evening.
Caster and Chicory
Open today with their regular menu. With downtown activities and street closures, plan your route ahead.
405 Natchitoches St., Antique Alley, West Monroe · Open 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Indian Village Harvest Farm
Open on July 4th with fresh peaches and produce. The farm is at 1976 Guyton Swamp Rd, Calhoun.
Lindstrom Farms Stand
Self-serve farm stand open 24/7. Fresh local vegetables, peaches from Indian Village Harvest Farm, and homemade cinnamon rolls.
503 Fortune Drive, Monroe
Sterlington Meat Company
Premium hand-cut steaks, fresh sausage, boudin, charcuterie boards, plus beer, liquor, and wine for your cookout. 10% off for veterans, active military, and first responders.
7601 Hwy 165 North, Monroe · Open 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM · (318) 853-4630
Chick-fil-A (Glenwood Drive)
Open 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM. Note: the Thomas Road location is closed today.
Superior Crab
Open on the 4th with holiday specials: Ribeye Steak $35, T-Bone $30, Beer Bucket $18, select appetizers $5.
Restaurant Cotton
Open for brunch and dinner. Great spot to grab a delta dinner and drinks before the fireworks start at 9 PM.
101 N Grand St, Monroe · (318) 325-0818
Food trucks will also be open in Alley Park from 11 AM to 9 PM as part of the downtown celebration.
Closed Today
Warehouse No. 1 · Doe's Eat Place (through July 7) · Chick-fil-A Thomas Road · Tommy's Produce
Quick Note: What's Open and Closed
July 4th falls on a Saturday this year, so most federal offices and banks observed the holiday on Friday. Post offices, banks, City Hall, and the Courthouse are closed through the weekend. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations keep regular Saturday hours. Saturday Recycling is canceled on July 4th and rescheduled to July 11, 9 AM - 12 PM at 607 Grantham Ave.
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Street Closures
Plan ahead. Here is what's closing and when.
- Trenton St from Bridge St to Wood St
- Natchitoches St from North 8th St to Cotton St
- Louisville Bridge closed to vehicles and pedestrians until parade concludes
- Commerce St from Natchitoches St to Wood St
- Endom Bridge closed to all vehicles and pedestrians
- Coleman Ave at South 1st St
- Wood St east of Trenton St, including North Riverfront and 100 block of South Riverfront
- Northbound lane of 200 block of South Riverbend
- Austin St at South Riverfront
Before You Head Out
Weather: It will be hot. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Cooling stations will be available along the parade route.
Pets: Fireworks start at 9 PM. Keep your dogs inside with a TV or music on to help block the sound. Make sure they have ID tags on. If a pet gets lost: Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter is open Saturday 10 AM - 2 PM at 417 Well Rd, West Monroe. Call 318-325-0756.
Fireworks audio: Tune to 107.3 FM near the drone show area for the synchronized audio experience.
Best viewing spots: Downtown West Monroe, Downtown Monroe, or the West Monroe Levee. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for the evening entertainment. The Endom Bridge closes at 7 PM and reopens after a post-show inspection.
Parade safety: Do not approach floats to obtain throws. Keep children at a safe distance and put your contact info in their pockets in case of separation. Take a "safety selfie" of your group at the start of the day.
Parking: Arrive early. Expect closures around Natchitoches St, Trenton St, and the Lea Joyner Bridge before 11 AM. Use crosswalks and signal-controlled intersections in busy areas.
Restrooms: Luxury restroom trailer at the corner of Natchitoches and Cotton Streets (by the WMPD Detective Office). Additional restrooms at the Hatchell Building on Natchitoches Street.
Alley Park rules: No smoking, vaping, or glass bottles. Open container for alcohol is lifted in downtown during festivities.
Emergency: First responders stationed at Cotton and Natchitoches Streets (WMPD Detective Office). WM Police: (318) 396-2722. Mayor's Office: (318) 396-2600.
Where to Watch the Fireworks
In person: Downtown West Monroe, Downtown Monroe, or the West Monroe Levee. The fireworks launch from the Endom Bridge directly over the Ouachita River, so anywhere along the downtown riverfront will give you a clear view.
On the radio: Tune to 107.3 FM for the synchronized fireworks audio experience.
Staying home? Check KNOE's livestream at knoe.com/livestream for coverage.
Good News, Monroe
Ochsner LSU Health Monroe earns national stroke quality award
Our local hospital just earned a national award for how fast and well they treat strokes. Ochsner LSU Health Monroe received the American Heart Association's Gold Plus recognition, which means when someone walks in with a stroke, they're getting the best care available. Good to know that kind of care is right here in Monroe.
Read more hereEvery event, parade route, parking tips, and more in one place:
READ THE FULL JULY 4TH GUIDEWe made this for you. If it helped plan your day, forward it to a neighbor.
Got a favorite spot we missed? A local business we should feature? An event coming up? Send us a message. We read every one.
See you at the river.
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