Coon Rapids Fourth of July Carnival Deemed a Resounding Success

Coon Rapids Fourth of July Carnival Deemed a Resounding Success

City Council praises staff, security planning, and community engagement during multi-day celebration

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The 2025 Coon Rapids Fourth of July Carnival has been declared a major success by city officials, who praised its smooth execution, strong attendance, and incident-free operation during the City Council meeting held Monday, July 15.

The annual celebration, which spans several days and includes a carnival, parade, fireworks display, and live music, is one of the city's most anticipated summer events. This year’s festivities drew large crowds and earned glowing reviews from both residents and visitors.

Mayor Jerry Koch extended his appreciation during the council session, commending the outstanding coordination between departments. “This was a wonderful showing of what happens when city staff, public safety, and volunteers come together with care and professionalism,” Koch said. “We heard overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community.”

The mayor specifically thanked the Coon Rapids Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works, and Communications teams for their roles in ensuring public safety and smooth logistics. Special recognition was given to Sergeant Tyler Brown, who was instrumental in upgrading and refining the event’s security plan.

Brown's efforts, officials noted, played a key role in preventing incidents and enhancing the overall safety of the event. The carnival remained free of any major disruptions or emergencies—a notable accomplishment for a large-scale, multi-day event.

Councilmember Brad Carlson echoed the praise, emphasizing the carnival’s impact on the city’s image and outreach. “It wasn’t just a great event for residents—it also brought people into Coon Rapids from other communities,” Carlson said. “This kind of event helps build a strong, positive identity for our city.”

A Community Tradition

Hosted at Coon Rapids Boulevard and Crooked Lake Boulevard, the annual carnival has become a signature community tradition. This year’s event included a full-scale amusement park-style carnival, live entertainment, food vendors, a July 4th parade, and one of the region’s most popular fireworks shows.

Thousands attended over the holiday weekend, including many first-time visitors and returning families who look forward

to the festivities each summer.

Looking Ahead

With another successful year in the books, city leaders expressed optimism about building on this momentum for future celebrations. The city’s Fourth of July Celebration Committee, composed of staff and community volunteers, is expected to begin planning for 2026 later this year.

Residents interested in getting involved are encouraged to reach out through the city’s website or follow announcements on social media and the CTN Coon Rapids government television channel.

MinneapoliMedia