Anyone planning to head to the harborfront in Duluth to watch the Fourth of July fireworks on Monday night is advised to get there early and be prepared for a lot of traffic.
Gates for the annual Fourth Fest at Bayfront Festival Park open at 4 p.m., with free entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m. and fireworks at 10:10 p.m.
Limited parking will be available at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center parking ramp, the Great Lakes Aquarium parking lot, and in the parking lots on Railroad Street west of Fifth Avenue West.
By the late-afternoon hours, though, Duluth police advise that drivers should look at parking downtown and walking to Bayfront. Harbor Drive behind the DECC will close to traffic at about 6 p.m., and Fifth Avenue West will close to downbound traffic shortly before the fireworks, which are expected to last about 20 to 25 minutes.
“At the conclusion of the fireworks display, vehicles in the Canal Park and Park Point areas should expect long delays, and access to the Canal Park and Park Point areas will be restricted for about an hour until most of the congestion in that area has been alleviated,” Duluth police reported in a news release Friday. “If you need to get to those areas, it is advised to return there before 10 p.m. to avoid the delay.”
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The Aerial Lift Bridge will remain down from 7 p.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday, and the Minnesota Slip footbridge will remain down from 8-11:30 p.m. Monday.
Duluth police said drivers should be aware of officers directing traffic after the fireworks, and of the large number of pedestrians in the area.
Information for boaters
A temporary safety zone will be strictly enforced in part of the Duluth-Superior harbor on Monday for the annual Fourth Fest fireworks display, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
The zone will be in effect from 9:30-11:30 p.m. in the northwestern section of the Duluth Harbor basin in the vicinity of the former Georgia-Pacific pier - an 840-foot radius around the fireworks launch site, at position 46°46′14″ N, 92°06′16″ W.
Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard patrol commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the safety zone without permission. The patrol commander enforcing the area can be contacted on marine radio VHF-FM channel 16.
Fourth Fest schedule
Monday
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4:30-5:30 p.m.: Breanne Marie & The Front Porch Sinners
5:50-6:50 p.m.: Road Kill Boys
7:10-8:25 p.m.: Lake City Smokin’ Section
8:45-10:05 p.m.: John Mark Nelson
10:10 p.m.: National anthem performed by Sydney Hansen, followed by the fireworks, synchronized to music on 95 KQDS-FM.
No bottles, cans, coolers or outside food and beverages will be allowed in the event except for one factory-sealed or empty water bottle per person; water fountains are available on-site. Food and beverage concessions will be available. No weapons will be allowed in the park; and no pets will be allowed except for registered service animals.
