An expected beautiful long weekend means many people in southeast Wisconsin will be out and about celebrating the Fourth of July.
Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls are far from peoples' minds right now, but for the Milwaukee County Parks Department, this time of year is just like the holidays.
"It's like Christmas time around here," John Dargle, Director of the Milwaukee County Parks said. "With everything being opened up, pools, golf courses, we have all these major events. Now, the weather just has to cooperate for us and everyone will be happy."
Fourth of July weekend will be a long one this year with most people getting Monday off, stretching the holiday into a four-day weekend. There's more time, but that doesn't mean there's less to do.
At Veteran's Park, they'll kick things off on July 2 with a pig roast between 3 and 6 p.m. However, July 3 is the premier event for the Park.
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Boasting as the best place to watch the US Bank fireworks, the park will open at 6 a.m. for people to fill in. It will cost $20 a parking spot with beer, food and wine available for purchase. Later in the evening, the fireworks will start and continue for an hour starting around 9:25.
But whether by water, land or air, people will have plenty to for the holiday weekend.
"Between the kites and openness, fireworks shows and Summerfest, it's pretty cool," Carrie Hedl of Milwaukee said.
"It's peaceful," said Quentin Finley, who's visiting from Miami. "The whole setting of the boats and now, we're going paddle boating."
On Independence Day, more than a dozen parks will have fireworks. Click here for a list of fireworks locations.
"As soon as it gets dark, everyone gets popping them off," Dargle said. "Then the next day is pretty hectic to do the whole cleanup and everything. But it's part of what we do and we love what we do."
