Fourth of July fun at Fire Over The Fox
By Janelle Fisher
City Pages Editor
One of the area’s largest fireworks displays will light up the sky Tuesday, July 4, as downtown Green Bay’s annual Independence Day celebration, Fire Over the Fox, returns for another year of fun and festivities.
It’s an event which draws thousands of people into the area to enjoy live music, entertainment, food and, obviously, fireworks.
Since 2018, Fire Over the Fox has been put on by On Broadway, Inc., and in that time Brooke Hafs, On Broadway’s director of marketing, said the event has undergone growth to best suit the desires of those who attend.
“On Broadway took this event over in 2018,” she said. “In the years that our organization has hosted the event, it has grown and evolved to fit the needs and wants of the community. We aim to have a wide range of programming so there is something for everyone.”
Hafs said the event draws in more than 100,000 people annually, so ensuring there is something for everyone is no small undertaking.
The fireworks show begins at dusk, roughly 9:45 p.m., but attendees will find food, activities and entertainment at Fire Over the Fox beginning at 3 p.m.
“This year you can enjoy live music at seven different locations,” Hafs said. “There will be more than a dozen food trucks on the bridge and in Leicht Park. You can enjoy a performance from the Waterboard Warriors thanks to a sponsorship from Capital Credit Union. There will be inflatables, bounce houses, an inflatable agility course, henna tattoos and face painting!”
New for this year’s event and a continuation of On Broadway’s goal to provide programming that suits the culture of the community it serves, will be a Latino Stage.
“This year we have introduced a Latino Stage into the live music offerings,” she said. “It is part of our mission at On Broadway to be socially inclusive with our programming. The Latino population is a large demographic of our community and we want to make sure everyone feels welcome and at home to attend all events.”
Regardless of what stage attendees of Fire Over the Fox gravitate to, Hafs said On Broadway hopes all who attend will find at least one performance that suits their taste.
“This event draws the largest crowd of any event in our community. It is important to make sure our programming is inviting and relevant to all people,” she said. “It is our hope that everyone feels like there is music playing at some point in the day that is free and will bring them joy.”
The Epic Event Center Stage in Leicht Memorial Park will feature the musical stylings of Tae and the Neighborly, The Cougars and Johnny Wad throughout the day.
The Latino Stage, also in Leicht Memorial Park, will be host to music by Hostile, Dos De Oros, Nueva Tendencia and Rencentro Norteno over the course of the event.
In the Neville Museum Parking Lot, 7000 Apart, Floral Friday and Third and Skirt will appear on the Let Me Be Frank Productions Stage.
Off Kilter and Krestfall will perform on the Rockerchix Rock Stage, on the east side of the River on Dousman Street, in front of the Hampton Inn.
Shopko Landing on City Deck will serve as the venue for the WFRV-TV Family Stage, where Mike and Miller and Ken Lonnquist will alternate performances throughout the day.
The Adam Trask Band will also perform at the Hagemeister Park City Deck Stage, located on the Hagemeister Outdoor Patio.
On the Fox River, between Walnut and Main Streets, the Waterboard Warriors will put on a water ski show.
In addition to having a variety of music and entertainment to choose from, Fire Over the Fox will also bring together a vast array of food options on both sides of the Main Street Bridge.
Charlie’s Fair Food and Funnel Cakes and Lemonade can be found stationed in Leicht Park.
On the east side of the bridge, attendees will find Papa Murphy’s, Funnel Cakes and Lemonade, Taqueria Maldonado’s and Scrapyard Smoker BBQ.
And over on the west side of the bridge will be Cold Stone Creamery, Taqueria Maldonado’s, El Bistro Taco, Lil Jamaica, Minzo’s Kitchen, Kona Ice, Your Favorite Concessions and Bay Area Burger.
If you’re planning on attending Fire Over the Fox, Hafs has some tips for making the most of your experience.
“Bring sunscreen, chairs or a blanket, and have fun,” she said. “If you’d like an upgrade, there is a VIP Seating area where we sell tickets to reserve a chair in Leicht Park. For just $15 you can get a guaranteed seat and a free drink token for one of the beverage tents.”
More information about the event, including a schedule of performances for each stage, can be found at downtowngreenbay.com, or on the back page of City Pages.