Michigan gears up for July 4: Fireworks laws, shows, travel tips, temps and more

• Michigan law allows fireworks usage most of the day through July 5. Some local communities allow additional hours
• Expect hot weather, holiday traffic but lower gas prices than last year
• Officials urge caution with fireworks as injuries and fires rise

Michigan’s Fourth of July festivities are set to begin this week, but hot weather and dry conditions in a few regions are prompting caution as residents prepare to light fireworks and hit the road.

Here is what you need to know as you celebrate the nation’s independence, including state fireworks laws, public shows, travel outlook and weather forecasts. 

What you can — and can’t — do with fireworks in Michigan

Under Michigan law, people can set off fireworks between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. through July 5. Local governments can’t restrict usage during that window but can allow additional hours or days if they so choose. 

Fireworks must be used on private property. It’s illegal to set them off on public areas like streets, sidewalks, schools or churches. Offenders can face fines of up to $500.

People can legally use store-bought, consumer-grade fireworks such as sparklers and smoke bombs on their own property. However, it’s illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under 18.

Michigan legalized most types of fireworks in 2011. See how the state stacks up here: 

Safety tips

Fireworks may be a highlight of Independence Day, but they result in injury if not handled properly. 

“Every fourth of July, or anytime fireworks are involved, we see … usually burns or blast-type injuries that involve most often the hands, but also usually the face,” said Dr. Bradley J. Uren, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan. 

Last year, 14,700 fireworks injuries were reported nationwide, a 52% increase, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Eleven people died in fireworks-related incidents, a 38% jump, usually because of misuse or malfunction.

In 2023, fireworks ignited 32,302 fires, including 3,760 structure fires and nearly $142 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

“The common theme is that people … have maybe heard the warnings but they don't think it applies to them or they don't think it can happen to them,” said Uren, the U-M doctor. 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers the following safety tips when handling fireworks: 

• Don’t light fireworks near buildings, cars or trees. 
• Soak used fireworks overnight in water before discarding them. 
• Have a bucket of water or a hose nearby. 
• Do not use aerial fireworks in state parks or recreational areas. 
• Only light fireworks during the allotted time frame set by the state.

Temperatures in various regions

Michigan is in for a hot and mostly sunny holiday weekend, with temperatures climbing across much of the state. 

Fourth of July temperatures will hit the mid-80s in southeast and western Michigan, rising to the low 90s by Saturday.

Related:

• Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in Michigan, rules and safety tips 
• Great Lakes water temperatures warming up ahead of Fourth of July weekend 

Northern Michigan will see highs near 85 on Friday before a slight cooldown. The Upper Peninsula should see highs near 80 with a chance of afternoon storms lasting through the weekend.

While the air heats up, water temperatures are also rising across the Great Lakes, offering some relief for holiday swimmers.

Temperatures in parts of Lake Erie have reached the mid-70s, the typical minimum for comfortable swimming, according to the National Center for Cold Water Safety.

Meanwhile, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron remain cooler, with temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s in the southern parts of the lakes. Conditions are similar in Lake Ontario, with temperatures in the low 60s. 

Lake Superior is even colder, with temperatures in the low 50s in the western region. 

Dry weather warning

With Fourth of July festivities approaching, dry weather in parts of Michigan could raise the risk of fires. Several counties have put burn restrictions in place to help prevent outdoor fires from spreading.

Most of the state is not experiencing a drought, but some parts of central Michigan and the western part of the Upper Peninsula are considered abnormally dry.

Open debris burning is prohibited in Antrim and Oscoda counties. Burn permit restrictions are also in effect in Houghton, Marquette, Leelanau, Charlevoix, Clare, Grand Traverse, Muskegon, Roscommon and Bay counties. 

Travel tips 

Gas prices in Michigan have dropped after reaching a 2025 peak of $3.32 a gallon last week, according to AAA. The current average for regular unleaded gas is $3.26 per gallon, down 3 cents from last week and 42 cents lower this time last year. 

Drivers are paying an average of $48 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline,  $9 less than 2024's highest price last July.

That drop in prices could offer some relief at the pump ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

AAA estimates that over 700,000 stranded drivers will need assistance as nearly 61.6 million Americans are expected to travel for the holiday weekend. 

The firm recommends that drivers do the following before heading on the road: 

• Check tires, including the spare, for proper pressure and tread depth. 
• Inspect brakes. A grinding noise could indicate a need for service. 
• Test the battery. If the engine is slow to start or lights are dim, it may be a signal to replace it. 
• Replace wiper blades to ensure they don’t streak or miss spots.
• Top off fluids, including oil, coolant, brake, transmission and power steering fluids. 
• Replenish your emergency kit essentials like batteries, first-aid supplies, water, non-perishable snacks, jumper cables, emergency flares and a basic tool kit.

Upcoming fireworks showcases in Michigan

Many communities across the state are celebrating Fourth of July with the holiday’s staple: fireworks. Here is a partial list of some of the many events planned across the state. 

• Hastings City Band: A Tribute to America, Hastings: July 2
• Salute To America, Dearborn: July 2-5 
• Marquette 4th of July - Marquette, July 3 
• Cascades Fourth of July Fireworks, Jackson: July 3 
• Wolverine Lake Fireworks, Wolverine Lake: July 3 
• Fourth of July Parade, Harbor Springs: July 3
• Independence Day Parade, Mason: July 3 
• Allegan Jubilee, Allegan: July 3 
• Fourth of July Celebration, Eaton Rapids: July 3-4
• Portland 4th of July parade, Portland: July 4 
• National Cherry Festival - Traverse City, July 4 
• Munising 4th of July - Munising, July 4 
• Fourth of July Celebration, Corunna: July 4 
• Lugnuts Independence Day Celebration, Lansing: July 4 
• Lexington Independence Day Fireworks, Lexington: July 4 
• Rackham Golf Course Fireworks, Huntington Woods: July 4 
• Clawson Fireworks, Clawson: July 4 
• Light Up the Bay fireworks display, Tawas City: July 4 
• Saugatuck-Douglas fireworks, Saugatuck: July 5 
• Grand Rapids Fireworks - Grand Rapids, July 5 
• 4th of July Fireworks Viewing Party, Owosso: July 5 
• Annual Rainbow Lakes Fireworks, Perrinton: July 5
• Lake Orion Fireworks- Lake Orion: July 5 
• Maceday Lake Fireworks, Waterford: July 5 
• Independence Day Fireworks at Harbor Park, Port Sanilac: July 5 
• Oakland County Fair Fireworks, Davisburg: July 11
• Uncle Sam Jam,  Woodhaven: July 11