📅 Baton Rouge: Week at a Glance | June 29–July 5

Why it matters: It's a holiday week—Baton Rouge goes all out for America's 250th birthday and the calendar reflects it. The Red Stick Farmers Market shifts to its Thursday location at Pennington Biomedical this week (8 a.m.–noon, July 3); the Saturday market is closed for the Fourth.

🎆 Fourth of July weekend in Baton Rouge

From Friday night at the Manship to a free community celebration in St. George on Sunday, here's how the Capital Region marks America's 250th birthday.

🗓️ Friday, July 3

🎵 Victory Belles—7:30 p.m. 📍 Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St.

• The National WWII Museum's beloved vocal trio performs popular and patriotic music of the 1940s in three-part harmony. A perfect patriotic prelude to the big day. Tickets at manshiptheatre.org.

🎉 Kenilworth Independence Day Parade—6:30 p.m. 📍 Kenilworth Parkway, beginning and ending at Kenilworth School, Boone Drive.

• Baton Rouge's 54th Annual Independence Day Parade—claimed to be the largest Fourth of July parade in Louisiana. Grand marshal is Jay Dardenne, former State Commissioner of Administration. Beads, candy, civic groups, military units and bands. Free. Details at kenilworthneighborhood.com.

🗓️ Saturday, July 4

🏛️ 4th of July Extravaganza at Old State Capitol—9 a.m.–5 p.m. 📍 Louisiana's Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd.

• Games, karaoke, crafts and family-friendly activities inside Baton Rouge's iconic castle. While you're there, don't miss the once-in-a-generation opportunity to see the original Louisiana Purchase document signed by Napoleon Bonaparte—on display through July 11. Free.

🏛️ Capitol Park Museum—9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 📍 660 N. Fourth St.

• Discounted admission ($5; children 6 and under free) and a free educational craft activity. Details at louisianastatemuseum.org.

🏛️ Old Governor's Mansion—noon–4 p.m. 📍 502 North Blvd.

• Guided and self-guided tours of the Mansion featuring a special America 250 exhibit. Free.

🎵 America 250 on the River—2–9 p.m. 📍 Repentance Park, downtown

• Baton Rouge's centerpiece Independence Day celebration—a free all-afternoon concert on the banks of the Mississippi headlined by some of Louisiana's finest. Full lineup: The Military Concert Band (2:15 p.m.), Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters (3:30 p.m.), Amanda Shaw (5 p.m.), John Schneider (6:30 p.m.) and Wayne Toups (8 p.m.). The levee, Rhorer Plaza and North Boulevard Town Square are open throughout the day. Stay put when the music ends—you'll have a front-row seat for the fireworks. Hosted by Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Mayor-President Sid Edwards. Free. Details at visitbatonrouge.com.

🎨 Tsunami's Rooftop Terrace Bash—6–10 p.m. 📍 Shaw Center for the Arts, 6th Floor, 100 Lafayette St.

• Watch the fireworks over the Mississippi from the best seat in downtown—the Shaw Center rooftop—with food by Tsunami, a cash bar and ticketed access to the fireworks from above. Tickets at Eventbrite.

🎵 Baton Rouge Concert Band—7–9 p.m. 📍 Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

• The annual free Fourth of July concert featuring patriotic classics, marches and heartfelt tributes from one of BR's beloved all-volunteer ensembles. Bring lawn chairs and refreshments. Free.

🎆 L'Auberge Fireworks Extravaganza—6–11 p.m. 📍 L'Auberge Casino & Hotel, 777 L'Auberge Ave.

• A separate fireworks show from the downtown display—three ways to watch: the free all-ages Lawn Party featuring Jovin Webb starting at 6 p.m., the Rooftop Pool Party (21+, $40, 7 p.m.–midnight) and Star Spangled at Edge nightclub (21+, free, 5 p.m.–3 a.m.). Details at lbatonrouge.com.

🎆 WBRZ Fireworks on the Mississippi—9 p.m. 📍 Downtown Baton Rouge riverfront

• The grand finale—Louisiana's largest fireworks display lights up the downtown skyline and Mississippi River. Viewable from Repentance Park, the Shaw Center rooftop, both sides of the river and beyond. Also streaming live on WBRZ.com and the WBRZ YouTube channel.

🗓️ Sunday, July 5

🎆 St. George Celebrates America 250—11 a.m.–3 p.m. 📍 Highland Road Park, St. George

• The City of St. George marks America's 250th with a patriotic afternoon featuring history presentations on St. George and the Battle of Baton Rouge, living history demonstrations from the Order of the Granaderos y Damas de Galvez, Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, cannon and musket firing, face painting, food trucks and family-friendly entertainment. Bring your own seating. No alcohol permitted. Free. Details at stgeorgela.gov.

🏖️ Beach Report: Fourth of July Weekend

Heading to the coast? The Gulf is going all out for America's 250th.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

🎆 Gulf State Park Stars & Stripes Celebration—July 3–4 📍 Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores

• Two days of live music, local art, food and vendors leading up to the city's annual fireworks display launched from the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier at 9 p.m. July 4. Free.

🎵 The Wharf: Independence Day Street Party—July 4 📍 The Wharf, Orange Beach

• Live music, kids activities, laser light show and fireworks over the water. Details at orangebeach.com.

🎵 Flora-Bama—July 4 📍 Perdido Key, AL/FL state line

• The legendary Gulf Coast honky-tonk throws its annual Fourth of July bash—live music all day, barbecue and fireworks at 9 p.m. from the beach. No cover.

Destin/Sandestin/30-A

🎆 Destin Commons: Star-Spangled Food Truck Festival—July 3, 5 p.m. 📍 Destin Commons, Destin

• Dozens of food trucks, live music and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. to kick off the holiday weekend.

🎆 HarborWalk Village—July 4, 6 p.m. 📍 HarborWalk Village, 10 Harbor Blvd., Destin

• Live music from 7–9 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks show over Destin Harbor at 9 p.m. Free admission.

🎉 Baytowne Wharf: Red, White and Baytowne—July 4, 6–9:15 p.m. 📍 Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin

• Live music from Saltwater Revival, face painting, balloon sculpting, patriotic crafts and fireworks over the lagoon at 9:15 p.m. Free.

🎡 Grayton Beach Independence Day Parade—July 4, 8:30 a.m. 📍 Grayton Beach

• The only full-fledged Independence Day parade on 30A—decorated golf carts, bikes and plenty of patriotic spirit. Free.

🎵 Seaside—July 4 📍 Seaside, Florida

• Block party, patriotic bike parade and Patriotic Pops Concert at 7 p.m., followed by a barge-launched fireworks display over the Gulf at 8:30 p.m.

🎆 Alys Beach—July 4, 7 p.m. 📍 Alys Beach, Florida

• Evening concert followed by fireworks over the town's signature amphitheater lawn at 9 p.m.

Bay St. Louis

🦀 Our Lady of the Gulf Crab Fest—July 3–5 📍 Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, Bay St. Louis

• One of the Gulf Coast's most beloved holiday weekend traditions—seafood, live entertainment and carnival rides across three days. Free admission.

🎆 Lighting Up Da Bay—July 4, 8:45 p.m. 📍 Oyster Bayou along the Jourdan River, Bay St. Louis

• Fireworks over the water viewed from the beach or by boat. Free.

Reach us: Want to submit an event item for consideration? Email us the information at news@redeyebr.com. Details: The calendar is on a Monday–Sunday rotation, and the submission deadline is the Wednesday prior.