Detroit Lakes ready to shine this Fourth of July

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DETROIT LAKES — Detroit Lakes is getting ready to roll out the red, white and blue carpet for the Fourth of July.
The lakes country town knows how to celebrate the holiday, and this year, they have new additions, including a new and improved lake road for visitors.

Organizers have something special planned for those who visit Detroit Lakes over the next few days. One thing, however, will be different than previous years, and it involves a gorgeous lake.
“It's all out here on the water, unlike a lot of shows that are in a football field or whatever. Ours is out on the water of Big Detroit, which is absolutely beautiful,” said Todd Simison, co-chair of the Detroit Lakes Fireworks Committee.
To celebrate the big 250, the city upped its Fireworks Committee budget by 20%. Instead of just one barrage on the water like previous years, the city will triple that this weekend.
“There's two displays throughout the show, I believe, and they go up and then they fall back down onto the water, and they fall back down in a row, and then they light back up again and go up in the air, which is super neat. It makes kind of a line all the way across the water,” Simison said.

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It has visitors excited for the celebration.
“I have a five-year-old and a four-year-old and other kids, other cousins, nephews. They will love it. I didn't know that it was going to be so big, so it'll be great,” said Nic Wagner, a Detroit Lakes local who flew in from Denver.
The city is currently in the middle of its West Lake Drive project, which has shut down one of the main roads by the lake since April. However, just in time for the holiday weekend, the road will be open through Monday, July 6.

“The city really planned this well in staging the West Lake Drive project, so just (Wednesday) the whole West Lake Drive is open,” said Jackie Buboltz, president of the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

West Lake Drive has reopened just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, giving visitors easier access to Detroit Lakes' holiday festivities and waterfront attractions.
Sam Weber / WDAY

With Friday, July 3, being the official federal holiday, the local Ace Hardware will be serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with all of the proceeds going toward the local Lakes Crisis and Resource Center.
West Lake Drive in Detroit Lakes will be closed between 7 and 11:30 p.m. on July 4 for the fireworks.
City officials ask visitors to park at the fairgrounds or some of the side streets that are accessible.

Matthew Freeman has been a reporter for WDAY since 2026. He is a graduate of Dan Patrick's School for Sports Broadcasting at Full Sail University. He is from Panama City Beach, FL.