The Best July 4th Festival

Mt. Morris celebrates the July 4th holiday like no other town around. We claim dominance because Mt. Morris has the official Freedom Bell for the state of Illinois, rung every July 4th since 1963 to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Our Freedom Bell has a fascinating history that includes a young Ronald Reagan, a Cubs baseball game at Wrigley Field, and a cigar-chomping Mt. Morris legend. You can read the colorful history here.

Mt. Morris is known for its fireworks display. Thousands fill the former football field behind the David L. Rahn school, spilling into neighboring blocks and backyards for a spectacular 20-30-minute show.

Two more outstanding July 4th events deserve a ‘shout-out.’ Fly in (or drive out) to the gut-busting Fly-in Breakfast at the Ogle County Airport, on the east end of Mt. Morris, sponsored by the Ogle County Pilots Inc.

Or, bring family and friends to the Mt. Morris Fire Fighter’s Association 45th annual breakfast at the soon-to-be-replaced firehouse on the corner of Center Street and McKendrie Avenue. Expect a line at both breakfasts, but it moves quickly and is worth a few minutes’ wait.

The Mt. Morris Let Freedom Ring festival is the best of small-town America, packed with food, fun, music, games for young and old, a festival queen, patriotic program, parade, fireworks and more. Here is the complete July 2, 4 and 5, 2025, schedule.

Plan your holiday around the Let Freedom Ring festival to make memories that last a lifetime.