Northside takes the Fourth of July very seriously, having hosted a carnival and parade in some iteration since the 1980s.
Things kick off at 4 p.m. Wednesday with the start of the two-day Rock N’ Roll carnival, a family-friendly music and beer-fueled romp in Hoffner Park featuring free live music on two stages.
Day one features Fairmount Girls, Freedom Nicole Moore & The Electric Moon, Heavy Hinges, The Sedonas, Freekbass and Go Go Buffalo on the mainstage plus more music on the side stage. There will also be plenty of food vendors, artisans, sideshow acts and beer from Urban Artifact and MadTree sprinkled throughout the park.
Then on Thursday, the most colorful Fourth of July parade in town steps off at noon. The annual Northside Fourth of July Parade is an all-out celebration of independence, community, small business and individuality. Expect to see creative handmade floats from vintage stores, bars and community organizations; local marching bands; drill teams; every local politician you’ve ever heard of; ladies dancing with lawn chairs; guys dancing with power tools; and other unexpected and delightful displays of pride and spirit.
The parade culminates with the second day of the Northside Rock N’ Roll Carnival. Day two music features mainstage acts Lung, Phoul Phill Andt Guill, Reincarnation MVMT, Calumet, Near Earth Objects, Tracy Walker and more on the side stage, all starting at 11 a.m.
Before the parade, head to Hoffner Park to pregame with kegs and eggs at 10 a.m.
4 p.m.-1 a.m. July 3; 11 a.m.-midnight July 4. Free admission. Hoffner Park, 4101 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsiderocks.com and northsidejuly4.com.
