Photos: Rockford Fourth of July parade and fireworks

Fireworks explode over downtown Rockford on Thursday, July 4, 2024, near the Rock River. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current0
Photos Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Hundreds of people lined the streets of Midtown and downtown on Thursday for the city’s annual Independence Day parade.

Then, hours later, streets and bridges filled with spectators for the annual fireworks display.

This was the 60th year that the nonprofit Rockford Fourth of July Civic Committee has put on a fireworks show. The show is paid for through sponsorships and donations with no tax dollars used.

Here’s a look back at the festivities through nearly 60 photos:

Chloe Swick, 14, of Loves Park paints Gianna Madison, 13, of Loves Park before the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Fourth of July motorcycle parade moves down East State Street in downtown Rockford on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fireworks blast off on Thursday, July 4, 2024, over downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Bree Kazinski of Characters 2 Life waves to the crowd Thursday, July 4, 2024, as she walks the parade route in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Riley Ellison, museum educator, and others from Midway Village Museum walk Thursday, July 4, 2024, in the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Screw City Jeeps 815 move down East State Street during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fireworks blast off on Thursday, July 4, 2024, over downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Tommy Meeks rides with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 23 on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the city of Rockford’s Fourth of July parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Steve Summers of 95.3 The Bull tosses out candy during the 2024 Fourth of July Parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Bri Campbell, a Rockford Rage roller derby player who goes by the name Tripp, jumps over Aislin Bright, aka Bernie, on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jacquetta Redd fires bubbles during the 2024 Fourth of July parade from the Comfort 1st Insulation float in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Zaraya Davis, a senior at Jefferson, flips during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Marie Hanson, 16, holds Samiah Cotton, 4, both of Rockford, on her shoulders as Maggio trucks pass by on July 4, 2024, during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, center, waves to the crowd on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A motorcycle parade moves past Uncle Nick’s through downtown Rockford on July 4, 2024, to celebrate the Fourth of July. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Andrea Wallace Noble of Forest City Fairytale spins for the crowd during the 2024 Fourth of July parade. She’s located at Madison and East State street in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fourth of July in Rockford
Fireworks explode over downtown Rockford on Thursday, July 4, 2024, near the Rock River. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current0
A motorcycle parade moves through downtown Rockford on July 4, 2024, to celebrate the Fourth of July. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Heather Lantz waves to the crowd on Thursday, Jul 4, 2024, during the city of Rockford’s Fourth of July parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Phantom Regiment performs during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, center, waves to the crowd on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ted O’Donnell, co-chair of the Rockford Fourth of July Civic Committee, fires off a confetti blast on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at the start of the parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Firefighter Courtney Standridge rides in the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford Phoenix Cheerleading walks in the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Conductor Claire Schassberger and Head Conductor Keri McCourt lead the Phantom Regiment down State Street during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
State Farm Insurance Agent Andrew Blevins walks the 2024 Fourth of July parade ahead of his State Farm smart car in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Rock River on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Phantom Regiment performs during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Ryan Sartori of 95.3 The Bull drives The Bull truck on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in the Rockford Fourth of July parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
John “Tac” Brantley and children from the Renewal Turning Point Program walk the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A Spider-Man character from Forest City Fairytale greets a child during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Andrea Wallace Noble of Forest City Fairytale spins for the crowd during the 2024 Fourth of July parade. She’s located on East State Street in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Camilla Butler, 6, points to a princess character during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jefferson High School cheerleaders perform during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Chelsea Meyer of B103 Rockford hands out candy during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A mascot with Comfort 1st Insulation delivers a high-five on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Miss Heart of USA Jr. Alyssa Tate walks the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
A vehicle with Midway Village Museum moves through the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Sabrena Ferguson of the Rockford Rage jumps over a man on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Fourth of July parade moves down East State Street on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Forest City Fairytale’s group walks the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The Phantom Regiment performs a rifle flip on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Lou Lombardo drives the 104.9 The X truck on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli and Coroner Jennifer Muraski walk the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Niya Arreguin, 11, waves a flag as the 2024 Fourth of July parade passes in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford police officer Dominik McNiece hands out freeze pops on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Bree Kazinski of Characters 2 Life waves to the crowd Thursday, July 4, 2024, as she walks the parade route in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Screw City Jeeps 815 moves down East State Street during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Alderman Frank Beach waves to the crowd during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Jefferson High School cheerleaders perform in the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Heather Lantz waves to the crowd on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Aldermen Kevin Frost and Chad Tuneberg, right, walk in the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Children wave flags during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
John and Pam Lack of Johnny Pamcakes wave to the crowd on Thursday, July 4, 2024, during the parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
High-fives are handed out during the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Dyvine’s Pet Playhouse moves through the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Screw City Jeeps 815 moves through downtown Rockford during the 2024 Fourth of July parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford Rage roller derby member Miranda Clift, aka Bride of Skatenstein, rolls through downtown Rockford during the 2024 Fourth of July parade. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rockford fireworks
Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Rock River on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This photo gallery is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas