Fourth of July in Middleton

Whether it’s gathering with friends on a pontoon on the lake, camping with the family, Middleton is a great place to spend the Fourth!

Whether it’s gathering with friends on a pontoon on Lake Mendota, camping with family at Mendota County Park, or just enjoying the leisure life downtown — Middleton has everything you need for a fun and relaxing holiday weekend.

FESTIVITIES AND FIREWORKS

The City of Middleton does not host a fireworks show — partly because there are so many places to take in the festivities around us! Follow this link to see the various scheduled festivals and fireworks events happening over the Fourth of July weekend just a short drive away!

Live music: Capital Brewery has live music set July 4-6 in its bier garden. Check out their lineup.
History: The Middleton Area Historical Society has a free Downtown Stroll ‘N Tell set for Saturday, July 6.
Planes: For those who love aviation, the EAA Chapter 93 is sponsoring its annual EAA Pancake Fly-in Breakfast, all you can eat pancakes at the airfield. Details here.
Calendar: Check out our calendar of events for more details!

a couple of people that are in a kayak.

LAKE LIFE

Enjoy the sights of the Fourth of July fireworks show from Lake Mendota with Marshall Boats’ Pontoon Cruise & Fireworks. Book your pontoon ride now!

There are several ways to get onto Lake Mendota in Middleton, we even have a rental shop in case you don’t have or can’t bring your own boat!

Open docks: Marshall Park and Mendota County Park in nearby Westport.

Rentals: Marshall Boats rents pontoon boats, kayaks (singles and tandem), paddleboards (singles and doubles), canoes, and fishing boats. Marshall Boats also offers events, group rentals and private parties at its rooftop patio.

CAMPING

Mendota County Park is located just off of County Road M in the Town of Westport — which shares a border with Middleton (it’s about 10 minutes from Downtown Middleton).

The park has a 30-unit campground and a 5-unit boat camping area. Each site has a 30-amp electrical hook-up. Services include bathroom and shower facilities and a dump station. Mendota County Park also offers two shelter facilities, unsupervised swimming area with an accessible swimming ramp, volleyball courts, play equipment and a shallow launch for small boats, kayaks and canoes. This park, located a few miles southwest of Governor Nelson State Park, is also a designated lake access site from December through March.

SPLASH PADS & POOLS

a group of children playing in a water park

One of Middleton’s most beloved family attractions in the summertime is the free Splash Pad at Lakeview Park. The Splash Pad is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and is located in the beautiful Lakeview Park.

Another great way to get in the water is the Walter R. Bauman Outdoor Aquatic Center, which features a zero-depth pool, eight-lane competition pool, a diving well, waterslides, interactive water play equipment, a sand playground and a concession stand. The pool is celebrating the Fourth of July with a special pool party from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, admission is $5.50 and there will be games, contests and prizes!
Click here for other hours and see below.

ACTIVITYDAYSTIME
Open SwimMonday – Sunday1-6 p.m.    
Lap Swim (2 lanes)Monday – Sunday1-6 p.m.
Lap Swim Tuesday/Thursday (Aug. 6 – 22)6:30 – 9 a.m.
Lap SwimMonday/Wednesday/Friday (Aug. 5 – 23)7:30 – 9 a.m.
Adult Lap SwimSunday9:30 a.m. – Noon
Family Fun Nights Friday & Sunday4 – 6 p.m.

PICNIC AREAS

All of Middleton’s parks have open picnic areas. If looking for a spot to set up a picnic, check out the City’s Parks & Rec site for more information, as well as reservation information for larger groups. Book your reservation before it’s too late! 

HIT THE TRAILS

a couple of people riding bikes down a road

Sometimes you just need an excuse to slow down during the busy holiday weekend and enjoy nature, Pheasant Branch Conservancy is the perfect excuse. The conservancy offers more than 500 acres of protected prairie land with well-kept trails that can be accessed from various points throughout Middleton. Find trails — for both hiking and biking — and scenic views of the creek, bridges, birds and more.

DINING/SHOPPING

With more than 80 restaurants and cafes and more than 55 places to shop, you will not get bored in Middleton. Dining in Middleton is made up of a variety of cuisines including Indian, Cajun, Mexican, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Mediterranean and more — there is truly something for everyone! Discover our delicious dining scene here.

Don’t forget to stop by The National Mustard Museum, home to nearly 6,000 mustards from around the world. Sample some of the most popular mustard brands at the tasting bar and shop around the gift shop for quirky souvenirs.

You won’t want to miss out on visiting Middleton’s award-winning craft brewery, Capital Brewery & Bier Garten. On Friday nights during the summer, the Bier Garten hosts live music on its performance stage, view the 2024 Bier Garten music lineup here.

FIND LODGING

Middleton is home to nine hotel properties, all minutes from downtown and accessible from the Beltline (which can take you to downtown Madison in less than 15 minutes). Check out our hotels and book your stay today!

MAKE MIDDLETON YOUR HOME BASE

Middleton is conveniently located within an hour of multiple area attractions. Check out our custom illustrated regional map! Explore the area and come home to us!

Whether it’s gathering with friends on a pontoon on Lake Mendota, camping with family at Mendota County Park, or just enjoying the leisure life downtown — Middleton has everything you need for a fun and relaxing holiday weekend.

Modified July 3, 2024