Eden Prairie’s Fourth of July celebration brings the heat – and the hometown spirit

From foam pits to fireworks, Eden Prairie residents packed Round Lake Park for two nights of Fourth of July festivities.

The city’s 4th of July Hometown Celebration featured live music, food trucks and local organizations, with activities running from 3 to 10:30 p.m. on July 4. The evening ended, as always, with a bang – the annual fireworks show lighting up the night sky.

SparkleFest on Thursday, July 3, included a flurry of family-focused activities, including lawn games, crafts, a dance party and a sudsy foam pit. The night ended with a 15-minute sensory-friendly drone show.

The Hometown Celebration is a mainstay for many Eden Prairie residents, including Aine Crimmins, who said she has been coming to the event since she was a kid.

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“It’s always a good vibe to celebrate the Fourth of July,” Crimmins said. 

Michelle Peltier said that while this year’s heat wasn’t ideal, she and her husband, Tim, always come out to visit a friend who volunteers with the Lions Club and to take in the festivities.

“It’s fun to see the community come together for events like this,” she said. 

Family and friends of the bands came to celebrate and cheer on the musicians as well. Nancy Haseth of Cambridge came to cheer on her son, who plays in one of the bands. 

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“I like being able to hang out with family for the holiday,” Haseth said. “And, of course, there’s good music and food from the food trucks.”

The Hometown Celebration was a great way for residents new and old to come together and celebrate Independence Day. Annelise and Alex Dobberstein recently moved to Eden Prairie with their toddler from Texas and said the festival is unlike anything they had in their old neighborhood. 

“There’s a great atmosphere and sense of community,” Annelise said. “And having the splash pad nearby is definitely a plus.”