The response this year generally was positive to Wauwatosa's new location for July 4 fireworks, at the Wisconsin Lutheran College sports complex off Swan Boulevard, and plans are underway to bring the explosive patriotic display back in 2027 — with some caveats.
The biggest caveat is that the fireworks are unlikely to happen on the same day as the city's Independence Day Parade or even on back-to-back days. That is because the Wauwatosa Police Department, citing officer shortages, says it cannot commit to staffing both events so close together again.
And with July 4 falling on a Sunday next year, neither the parade nor the fireworks display is expected to occur on the holiday itself.
The Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Commission, a volunteer group of residents that plans the parade and other festivities throughout the year, is tentatively organizing the 2027 Independence Day Parade for Monday, July 5. No date has been confirmed yet for fireworks, though the most likely dates are Friday, July 2, or Saturday, July 3.
Police Chief James MacGillis told the commission at its Sept. 24 meeting that the department is currently operating at 74% of staff capacity, because of position vacancies, injury leaves and other absences. Tosa police were able to stretch their limited capacity for one day to staff both the parade and fireworks in 2026, but department leadership concluded the police staffing challenges are too great to replicate a single-day celebration in 2027.