Riverton Town Days treats the Fourth of July as a season rather than a day. It opens at the end of June with the Riverton Rodeo, runs a carnival through the first days of July, holds its parade on the evening of the Third, and ends with a full Independence Day at Riverton City Park that closes with fireworks. The city describes Town Days as a long-standing tradition that brings thousands together, and from Utah Valley it is one of the closest Fourth of July celebrations over the county line, just over half an hour away.
The rodeo
Town Days begins with the Riverton Rodeo, held at the city's rodeo arena at the end of June and ticketed separately from everything else. The 2026 schedule put the rodeo nights in the final days of the month: gates and vendors opening at 6:30 p.m., skydivers dropping into the arena at 7:30, and the first event at 8. The Town Days Car Show filled the rodeo weekend's Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rodeo sells out in some years, as it did in 2021, so buy tickets early.
The carnival
The carnival sets up on the southwest lawn of Riverton City Park, at 1452 West 12600 South, and ran from July 1 to July 4 in 2026, from 5 p.m. on the first two nights and from 11 a.m. on the Third and the Fourth. On July 2 the city held an evening patriotic concert, Tribute to America.
The parade, on the Third
Riverton holds its parade on the evening of July 3, which leaves the Fourth free for the park and the fireworks and lets families see a parade here and another town's on the holiday itself. In 2026 it stepped off at 6:30 p.m., and the city describes it as one of the largest local parades in Utah, with entries from marching bands and dance teams to local businesses. The city warned drivers that 13400 South, 2700 West and 12600 South would be affected from about 6 to 9 p.m. The evening ended with a movie in the park.
The Third also brought vendors and booths from 11 a.m., a mini golf course, a pickleball rally and a street hockey clinic.
The Fourth at the park
Independence Day is the full day, and nearly all of it happens at Riverton City Park. The 2026 schedule ran:
- 6:30 a.m.: flag raising ceremony
- 7 to 10 a.m.: the chuckwagon breakfast
- 7 a.m., 7:15 and 8:30: the 10K, the 5K and a 1.776-mile race
- 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.: free swimming, away from the park
- Morning: a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a free wake-up workout and a cornhole tournament
- 11 a.m.: the carnival opens
- 12:30 p.m.: children's activities
- 1 to 3 p.m.: bingo
- 2 p.m.: a 3-on-3 street hockey tournament
- 7:30 p.m.: a concert by the Name Droppers Band
- 10 p.m.: fireworks
The fireworks, and the one rule that matters
The fireworks start at 10 p.m. on July 4, launch from the rodeo arena and are free to watch from the park's west lawn. The city says thousands come each year, that space fills up fast, and that blankets and lawn chairs are the way to watch.
The rule that matters is the fall-out zone. The area near the launch site is closed for safety from 6 p.m., and the city enforces it strictly, so do not try to save space or watch the fireworks from inside it.
Getting there from Utah County
OpenStreetMap routing puts Riverton City Park, at 1452 West 12600 South, about 30 miles and 37 minutes from downtown Provo without traffic. On the parade evening, give yourself extra time for the road closures around the route. For the rest of what Riverton and neighboring Herriman offer, see Things to Do in Herriman and Riverton.
Practical notes
- The parade is on the Third. It is an evening parade, at 6:30 p.m. in 2026.
- Rodeo tickets early. It is the only ticketed event and has sold out before.
- Stay out of the fall-out zone. It is enforced from 6 p.m. on the Fourth.
- Come early for the fireworks. Space on the lawn fills quickly.
Related Guides
- Things to Do in Herriman and Riverton
- Salt Lake County From Utah Valley
- Fort Herriman Towne Days
- West Jordan's Western Stampede
- Draper Days
- The Lehi Round-Up
Frequently Asked Questions
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