Kenosha is on the weekend of July 4th with activities and entertainment for the whole family

As the city of Kenosha kicks off its long Fourth of July weekend on Friday, with activities and entertainment for all ages, everything is in place.

The Rainbow Valley Carnival will be up and running throughout the weekend, offering a variety of rides between 54th and 55th Streets west of Sixth Avenue.

Music and entertainment will begin on Saturday, with a full lineup of performances continuing through Monday.

Located in the heart of the HarbourPark area, the festival features live music on stage at HarbourPark, as well as Dock Dogs jumping competitions and vendors. Dog owners are encouraging dogs to jump off the dock and into the pool to fetch their favorite toy. Registration and practice for Dock Dogs begins on July 2nd at 4pm, July 3rd at 3pm and July 4th at 11am, with performances starting an hour later each day. All dogs are welcome to participate.

The festival takes place at the 54th Street Harbor between 6th and 2nd Avenues. Celebration America is open from 3pm to 10pm on Saturday and 11am to 10pm on Sunday and Monday.

The Kenosha Public Museum at 5500 First Avenue and the Civil War Museum at 5400 First Avenue are open Saturday through Monday.Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm On July 4th, both museums will be open from 1pm to 4pm

On Saturday, the Civil War Museum will host a free concert starting at 1 p.m. Museum officials say the Harmony Cornet Band “recreates the sound of our priceless 19th-century heritage” using instruments from 1860 to 1910. The band members wore costumes from the time and performed the museum from that period. Concerts will be held outside the museum; move in if the weather is bad.

The annual Firecracker 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk begins Sunday morning at Library Park, 60th Street and Eighth Avenue. Both the 10K run and the 5K run/walk will begin at 8:30am. There’s also a 1-mile fun run.

Outdoor mass Sunday at 10 a.m. at Band Shell in Pennoyer Park at 35th Street and Seventh Avenue. Music starts at 9:30 am, everyone is welcome. Benches are provided; visitors may also bring lawn chairs.

The Kenosha Citizens Veterans Parade begins Sunday at 1 p.m. The parade follows a new route, beginning at Washington Road and Seventh Avenue. The parade heads south on Seventh Avenue, then runs through downtown on Sixth Avenue and ends in Library Park. This year’s theme is “America the Beautiful”.

“We look forward to another march this year,” said Kris Kochman, the city’s community relations liaison.

Navy band The Great Lakes will lead this year’s parade, with 11 floats vying for streamers and the Best of Show trophy.

“It’s great to have our band back,” Kochman said.

On Monday, the Kenosha Pop Concert Band starts at 4 p.m. with their annual patriotic favorite fireworks concert at the Band Shell in Pennoyer Park, live music continues at 7 p.m. with Yesterday’s Children at Pennoyer Park , until the fireworks show.City of Kenosha fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m. east of Celebration Plaza near the downtown museum campus

“I encourage everyone to come out and celebrate Independence Day,” Kochman said.