It’s a given. Every Independence Day in Baton Rouge, spectators head downtown to visit cultural sites like the U.S.S. Kidd, then plop down a lawn chair to witness fireworks over the Mississippi River at dark. It’s one of many ways to ring in America’s birthday locally. Here are a few more.
Red, White and Waddle 
Saturday, July 1, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Pack up the family and trek out to Barn Hill Preserve on LA-955 for a wild start to the celebratory weekend while raising funds for the conservatory’s future African Penguin Exhibit. Enjoy special encounters with Barn Hill’s penguins and wallabies, a kangaroo walkabout, a petting yard, zip lines, food trucks, cocktails and more. barnhillpreserve.com
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Kenilworth Independence Day Parade
Monday, July 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The 51st annual parade at Kenilworth Parkway is a festive warm-up to events on the Fourth. About 7,000 spectators come out for the annual event, which features floats, marching bands and more rolling through the neighborhood. The family event is marshalled this year by LSU women’s basketball’s Izzy Besselman. kenilworthneighborhood.com
Baton Rouge Concert Band July 4th Concert
Tuesday, July 4, 7-8:30 p.m.
Hear the soaring notes of patriotic standards at this uplifting annual outdoor concert at the Main Library at Goodwood Courtyard. The show is put on by the Baton Rouge Concert Band, a group of all-volunteer musicians ranging from recent college graduates to retirees. brbc.org
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Fourth of July Celebration at LSU Museum of Art
Tuesday, July 4, 7-10 p.m.
Get a front row seat to the city’s annual Fireworks on the Mississippi at this ticketed event that doubles as a fundraiser for the LSU Museum of Art. Enjoy dinner at Tsunami and music on the sixth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts, and an insanely good view of riverfront pyrotechnics. lsumoa.org
This article was originally published in the July 2023 issue of 225 magazine.