F-16 Flyover Highlights St. Cloud’s 80th Fireworks Celebration
ST. CLOUD (WJON News) -- Organizers are getting ready for a huge fireworks show in St. Cloud this Saturday.
This year marks the 80th consecutive year of the St. Cloud Fireworks show. It's also America's 250th birthday.
The events are all taking place at Wilson Park starting at 3:00 p.m. There will be a big military experience in the park this year, including the Minnesota Military Museum, St. Cloud Stand Down, and the St. Cloud VFW Post 428.
Board Chair Jason Bernick says you'll also see an F-16 flyover.
From our Air Force base in Duluth, two F-16s will fly right over the river. We've been approved and everything is lined up. So, weather permitting, we're all set to go.
The Benton County and Stearns County History Museums will also have displays in the park. The band Diamond Back will perform on the main stage starting at 6:00 p.m. until the fireworks start. A second stage will have the St. Cloud Municipal Band playing starting at 8:30 p.m.
Organizers estimate about 40,000 people watch the fireworks over the Mississippi River at Wilson Park. St. Cloud Fireworks Director Christina Buttenhoff says they've amped up the fireworks this year for the 80th anniversary of the show, and America's 250th birthday.
We put a little bit more into the fireworks budget. We're going to have one heck of a show. I've calculated that we'll have 1,320 seconds - or 22 minutes - of American pride.
Buttenhoff says this year's finale will be something to see.
There is a free shuttle bus running to and from Wilson Park beginning at 6:00 p.m. with parking in the St. Cloud Public Library parking lot.
Brantley Gilbert 2026
Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt