FLINT, Mich. — From live concerts and fireworks downtown to train rides and ice cream at Crossroads Village, Genesee County is offering multiple ways to celebrate Independence Day this year.
Downtown Flint: Music, Pickleball and Fireworks
The 10th Annual Flint Water Festival and FIM Holiday Celebration will take over the Flat Lot at 125 E. Kearsley St. on Friday, July 4, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The free, family-friendly event features live performances, food trucks, games, and a fireworks finale.
The main stage will feature music by DJ Brian Larkin, Alina Oliver, Cainaen McGee, BFF, Nosey Parker, Hustlers on the Move and Uptown Funk, a high-energy Bruno Mars tribute band.
Additional activities include:
- Pickleball open play with the USL Flint City Bucks
- A carnival midway
- Soak City, a splash zone for kids
- Local food vendors and giveaways
Fireworks will cap off the night shortly after 10 p.m.
Organizers remind families that under Flint’s curfew ordinance, minors under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian between midnight and 6 a.m.
Crossroads Village: Ice Cream Social and Train Rides
Families looking for a more nostalgic Fourth of July experience can head to Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, where the day’s events include a classic ice cream social, village activities and optional train rides through scenic Genesee County.
The historic village will be open on Friday, July 4, with access to shops, crafts and family programming in a traditional Americana setting.
Ticket prices:
- Adults (13–59): $9 (village only) | $21 (train + village)
- Seniors (60+): $8 (village only) | $20 (train + village)
- Children (25 months–12 years): $7 (village only) | $19 (train + village)
- Children 24 months and under: Free
For tickets and additional details, visit geneseecountyparks.org.
Fenton Firecracker 5K Returns July 4 Before Annual Parade
The 13th annual Fenton Firecracker 5K and 2.5K run will take place on Friday, July 4, just before the city’s Independence Day parade. The event offers a fun, fitness-friendly way to kick off the holiday for both competitive runners and casual participants.
The race begins at 9:45 a.m. at the corner of Mill Street and S. Adelaide, heading north. Runners are asked to be in place with bibs on by 9:30 a.m.
Packet pickup is available at Freedom Center Church (2473 W. Shiawassee Ave.) on:
- Sunday, June 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Race day pickup begins at 7 a.m.
Participants are encouraged to stay afterward and enjoy the Fenton Fourth of July Parade.
Fenton Freedom Festival Parade
The Fenton Freedom Festival Committee will host its annual Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, beginning at 10 a.m., rain or shine, in downtown Fenton.
The nearly two-mile parade route is as follows:
- Starts at Industrial Way and Owen Road
- Proceeds east along W. Shiawassee Avenue to Leroy Street
- Continues north on Leroy to Caroline Street
- Turns west on Caroline and ends at West Street
Whether you’re dancing downtown or enjoying a scoop of ice cream by the tracks, Flint-area residents have plenty of ways to celebrate the Fourth this year.