Your Guide to Provo's Fourth of July Festivities 🇺🇸

Provo City will once again host the renowned Freedom Festival, packed with a remarkable lineup of events. I Invite each and every one of you to come and experience the patriotic spirit that fills our city during the Freedom Festival. It is a wonderful way to connect with your neighbors, friends, and family, and to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in our beautiful nation.

Stadium of Fire

Kick off the long weekend with an electrifying night as the legendary rock group, Journey, returns to Provo to mark their 50 years of chart-topping music. Join us at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, July 1 at 8:00 pm for the USA’s premier independence celebration, which will include a thrilling F-35 jet flyover from Utah’s Hill Air Force Base and conclude with the nation’s BIGGEST stadium fireworks spectacle.

Ride UVX Don't miss the FREE UVX ride to the ultimate Fourth of July celebration at LaVell Edwards Stadium! Avoid the hassle of traffic and parking. Let the UVX take you to the Stadium of Fire for an electrifying evening of fireworks and entertainment! Bus Schedule: Return Time: Last UVX buses 12:29 a.m. (to Provo) and 12:35 a.m. (to Orem) - Last FrontRunner Train headed north at 12:23 a.m. Learn more: https://www.rideuta.com/sof

Firework Reminder Remember, fireworks season doesn’t start until SUNDAY, JULY 2! Citizens WILL see fireworks on July 1 during a short Big 12 announcement and the annual Stadium of Fire show—but they are approved, permitted displays. Let's all do our part and adhere strictly to this date, not just for the letter of the law, but for the safety, peace, and harmony of our community.

Road Closure Heads-up

Please take note of the road closures around Lavell Edwards Stadium on Friday and Saturday. Pay attention to changes in traffic patterns, as well as following instructions from traffic control officers. Be safe, take your time, and plan ahead as you travel this weekend.

Grand Parade

Start your Fourth of July morning with the largest parade of its kind in the Western United States. Join us at 9:00 am for a vibrant celebration of God, freedom, family, and country, showcasing marching bands, professionally crafted floats, giant helium balloons, equestrian entries, and performances by local and national talent. We will be honoring our military and first responders with special parade entries.

Please remember that spectators may stake out their claim to a spot along University Avenue no earlier than July 3, at 3:00 PM per Provo City Ordinance. All other portions of the parade route can not be claimed or reserved until July 4, at 5:00 AM. This includes trying to “reserve or occupy, or attempt to claim, reserve or occupy, either in person or by the placement of ropes, tents, chairs, sleeping bags, blankets, or other devices or barriers, any public property as a position for observing [the] public parade” (SECTION 9.14.220).

All motor vehicles located on the parade route must be moved prior to 8:00 PM on July 3, 2023 or “shall be considered a public nuisance and may be towed from the public street”. Please note that in order to reserve a spot on the parade route at least one person must be present. Any items left unattended may be moved. Portable toilets will be located every other block along the parade route.

Balloon Fest

Experience the beauty and majesty of hot air balloons at our ever-popular Balloon Fest. Each morning on July 1st, 3rd, and 4th, from 6:00 am to 8:00 am, you can witness around 25 of these enchanting giants take to the skies. Be sure to arrive at Fox Field by 6:00 am to watch the balloons inflate!

Don't miss the "Balloon Glow" on July 3rd from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Here, you'll see top pilots from around the nation competing in the thrilling Hare and Hound competition and unique jousting events.

Freedom Days

On Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4, Downtown Provo will be buzzing with Freedom Days, a 2-day event filled with mouth-watering treats from our food vendors and unique items from local craftsmen. There will also be a wide selection of musical genres to enjoy live. The booths will be open at different times each day:

• July 3 – 10am-11pm

• July 4 – 11am-7pm

For more information about these events, please visit freedomfestival.org.

Stepping Up Our Game

In sports, you sometimes hear about once-in-a-generation players. Well, effective July 1, 2023, BYU sports has experienced a once-in-a-generation transition, to becoming a member of a power 5 athletic conference, namely the Big 12. I know, you may not be a sports fan. The truth is that I’m not much of one either, which is pathetic because my husband and all five of my kids were college athletes. But hear me out on why this is relevant to all of us in this community.

First a little background: football is the king of college sports, bringing more attention and revenue than any other sport by a long shot, and in college football, membership in a power 5 conference is more than a badge of honor; it brings an additional pathway to elite bowl games and enhances a school’s national profile and recruiting. For decades, cougar fans have awaited this day, and finally it has arrived.

As you know, Provo is a college town, and although we love all our institutions of higher education, BYU is clearly the dominant force, with about 34,000 students and 2400 full-time employees, on a 560-acres campus. And it is much more than an educational center; it provides jobs, culture (think of its museums and performing arts), and countless other benefits to our community.

With membership in a power 5 conference will come new visitors. Fans of teams in the Big 12 are known to travel well, and many of them will be coming to experience a game at LaVell Edwards stadium.

With this influx of guests and exposure, it’s my hope that we will each recognize this as an opportunity to put our best foot forward. In my mind, there is no good reason why Provo shouldn’t secure a reputation as the best place in the nation to attend an away game. The setting of the stadium, flanked by mountains, is spectacular. Our players and fans should display the highest levels of sportsmanship and hospitality. And I would love if we, as residents of this community would even use this as an opportunity to spruce up our yards and otherwise enhance the beauty of our beloved city. It’s like we’ve learned that guests are coming to our home: let’s straighten the pillows and hide the junk!

When you see a visiting fan, even just a gas station, please treat them the way I loved to be treated at away games: with warmth and friendship. In sum, let’s all lean into the excitement of this moment. Let’s use it as an opportunity to feel a shared sense of community pride. And let’s step up our hospitality and friendliness to visitors. Thank you for being a part of this incredible place we get to call home—and for anything you can do to help us capitalize on this opportunity as a community.

Don’t Make Provo Fire Department Rain on Your Parade

Remember, fireworks season doesn’t start until SUNDAY, JULY 2! With high wildfire risk conditions, Provo City Fire Department is issuing this strong, but light-hearted word of caution to citizens: Fireworks are illegal until July 2.

Our Fire Marshal, Lynn Schofield, emphasizes each person's critical role in safeguarding our community during this vibrant yet potentially hazardous period. "Restrictions are in place to protect individuals and our community. There is zero room to compromise on safety precautions," Schofield asserts. We are incredibly proud that our citizens have proven time and again to be part of the solution rather than contributing to any problems.

This year, Utah State Law stipulates that the legal dates for Fourth of July fireworks are from Sunday, July 2 through Wednesday, July 5. For Pioneer Day, the dates extend from Saturday, July 22 through Tuesday, July 25. Please note that any violation of these guidelines is an infraction that carries a hefty $1,000 fine. We share this not to scare but to remind everyone that safety measures and legal dates are essential for ensuring a joyful and accident-free celebration.

On July 1st, you may notice fireworks lighting up the Provo sky as part of the short Big 12 announcement and the annual Stadium of Fire show. However, these are approved, permitted displays, distinct from individual, unauthorized firework usage.

Play it Safe at the Park

Many of you are familiar with and enthusiastic supporters of our Play it Safe at the Park program. Launched in response to extreme drought conditions in 2021, this initiative encourages citizens to discharge their consumer-grade fireworks at approved parks for safe community celebrations. We are elated to see this program grow year after year, enhancing both the safety and enjoyment of our fireworks festivities.

Please refer to the map to see where fireworks are banned in Provo City and the list of approved parks. Discharging fireworks in the restricted discharge area is a Class B Misdemeanor and carries a $1000 fine. Please use one of our approved city parks to do fireworks.

As we approach this exciting season, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all residents who conscientiously do the right thing. Although we, as a city, provide the tools for safety, the ultimate responsibility for our community's wellbeing rests with the person lighting the fuse. It's up to all of us to prioritize safety—because our beloved community's safety truly depends on it.

Thank you for doing your part to ensure that our fireworks celebrations are full of joy, unity, and, above all, safety. Here's to a festive and secure fireworks season in Provo!