Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Living in the Area

Best small town 4th of July Fireworks

 

 

Looking for a great place to watch the fireworks this year? Check out these great places!

 

Anitoch

July 4
9:15 p.m.
Free
Williams Park Pavilion, 400 Williams St.

Arlington Heights

July 1
Dusk
$22 adults $5 children
(must present tickets upon entrance)
Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave.

Aurora

July 4
9:35 p.m.
Free
RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway Ave.

Barrington

July 4
Dusk
Free
Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St.
Bring a blanket.

Bartlett

2018 Fourth of July Festival
July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road.
No pets are allowed on the festival grounds.

Beach Park

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Zion Park District, 2400 Dowie Memorial Drive
Event begins at 3 p.m. with food vendors, fun fair, kiddie rides and games. The Zion-Benton Township High School band will perform at 4:15 p.m. followed by Wild Daisy at 6 p.m. and the Deja vu Band at 8 p.m.

Batavia

July 4
9:30 p.m
Free
Main Street and Millview Drive
Event begins at 5 p.m. with food vendors available followed by a live performance by Orange Star at 6 p.m. The Batavia Community Band performs at 8:15 p.m.

Bensenville

LibertyFest
July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Redmond Recreational Complex, 735 E. Jefferson

Berwyn

July 1
7 p.m.
Free
Morton West High School Football Stadium, 2400 Home Avenue
Children’s activities from 7-8:15 p.m. Morton High School Band performs from 8:15-8:30 p.m.

Bolingbrook

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Drive
Event begins at 3 p.m. with local restaurants, food trucks and Miller Lite/Skyy Vodka Celebration bar. A live DJ will play from 3 to 5:30 p.m., followed by The Boy Band at 5:30 p.m. and ARRA at 7:45 p.m.

Bridgeview

July 3
9 p.m.
Free
Commissioner’s Park, 81st and Oketo
The celebration will begin at 5 p.m. with music and entertainment, along with food trucks.

Buffalo Grove

July 4
9:15 p.m.
Free
Rotary Village Green, the Buffalo Grove Golf Course, and Willow Stream Park
Event begins at 7 p.m. with a concert by the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band.

Burr Ridge

July 3
Dusk
Free
$10-$20 parking fee
Walker Recreation Center, 7425 S. Wolf Road
Bring a blanket.

Burbank

June 30
9:30 p.m.
Free
Michael Looney Park, 77th and Narragansett East
Event will include carnival rides, face painting, petting zoo and more.

Chesterton, Ind.

July 2
9:15 p.m
$7 per car with Indiana plates, $12 for out-of-state plates
Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N. 25 E
Event begins at 6 p.m. Food vendors will be available.

Chicago

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.

Chicago Heights

July 3
9 p.m.
Free
Bloom High School’s North Field, 101 W. 10th St.
Event begins at 6 p.m. with music in the family fun zone preceding the fireworks display.

Clarendon Hills

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Prospect Park, at Chicago, Prospect, Norfolk and Oxford Aves.

Crystal Lake

July 7
2:30 p.m.
Fireworks at dusk
$3 per person
Crystal Lake Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive

Crown Point, Ind. 

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free. Donations accepted.
Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St.

Deerfield

July 3
9:15 p.m.
Free. Donations accepted.
Brickyards Park, 375 Elm St.
Event begins at 5 p.m. with food and a silent auction. Energy Productions will provide entertainment at 6 p.m.

Downers Grove

July 4
9:45 p.m.
Free
75th St. and Lemont Road

East Chicago, Ind.

July 3
5-10 p.m.
Free
E.C. Marina & Jeorse Park Beach, 3301 Aldis Avenue

Elk Grove

July Fireworks Spectacular
July 4
4-10 p.m.
Free
Rotary Green, 164 Lions Drive
Independence Day concert featuring Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy. Fireworks directly following the concert.

Elgin

July 4
After concert
$35-$75
Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave.
Event begins at 5 p.m. with food and drink and a concert by Kool & the Gang and The Commodores. Fireworks immediately follow the concert.

Elmwood Park

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Elmwood Park High School, 8201 W. Fullerton Ave.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with a performance from Generation at 7:30 p.m.

Evanston

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Downtown Evanston
Event begins at 7:30 p.m. with a live performance from Palatine Concert Band.

Evergreen Park

July 3
9:15 p.m.
Free
Duffy Park, 9200 S Millard Ave.
Parade begins at 6:30 p.m.

Frankfort

July 4
9:15 p.m.
$10
Main Park, 200 S. Locust St.
Event begins at 5 p.m. with carnival games, giant inflatables, face painting and other activities. A DJ dance party begins at 5:15 p.m., followed by live music at 7:30 p.m.

Franklin Park

June 30
Dusk
Free
West Leyden High School, 1000 N. Wolf Road, Northlake
Gates open at 6 p.m. with live music and entertainment beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting until the fireworks display. Bring a blanket.

Glencoe

July 4
9 p.m.
Free. Donations accepted.
Lakefront Park, 647-699 Longwood Avenue
Event begins at 6 p.m. with food vendors available and live music by Spoken Four at 6:30 p.m.

Glen Ellyn

July 4
Dusk
Free
Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road.
Event begins at 1 p.m. with family activities such as an inflatable obstacle course and eight-penny carnival games, face painting and live music with concessions available. $3 for afternoon activities.

Glenview

July 4
Dusk
Free
Gallery Park, 2001 Patriot Blvd.
Live music begins at 7 p.m. with a performance by the Glenview Concert Band. The fireworks display will be set to a recorded musical score.

Glenwood

July 4
9 p.m.
Free
Brookwood Jr. High School, 201 Glenwood-Lansing Rd.

Grayslake

June 30
Dusk
Free
Central Park, 250 Library Lane
Event begins at 3 p.m. and will feature kids rides, games, food vendors and live music from The Complex at 3 p.m. and Mike & Joe at 6:30 p.m.

Gurnee

June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3, July 4
9:45 p.m.
Six Flags Great America

Hazel Crest

July 4
Free
8:45 p.m.
Commissioners Park, 2600 W. 171st St.

Highland, Ind. 

July 4
9 p.m.
Free
Homestead Park, 8099 5th Street
Bring a blanket and lawn chair.

Highland Park

July 4

9:30 p.m.
Free
Wolters Field, 1080 Park Ave. W.
Event begins at 4 p.m. with food vendors and the Bitter Jester Music Festival.

Hobart, Ind. 

July 4
9 p.m.
Free
Festival Park, 111 E. Old Ridge Road
Event begins at 6 p.m. with food vendors and music from Oscar and the Majestics.

Huntley

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Deicke Park / Betsey Warrington Park, 1419 IL-47
Bring a blanket and lawn chair.

Itasca

July 4
9:45 p.m.
Free
On-site parking is $25 per car.
Live music begins at 7 p.m. with Pat McKillen and continued at 8 p.m. with Maggie Speaks. Fran and Anton Cosmo. Food and drink vendors will be on site.

Joliet

July 3
9:30 p.m.
Free
Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St. at Bluff Street
Live music and food available for purchase.

July 4
9:20 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m.
Free
Joliet Memorial Stadium, 3000 W. Jefferson St.

Kirkland

July 1-4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Franklin Township Park, 201-299 3rd St.
The three-day festival concludes with the “largest fireworks in northern Illinois.”

Lake Bluff/Lake Forest

July 4
9:40 p.m.
$15 for Lake Forest/Lake Bluff residents, $20 for nonresidents, kids 5 and under are free
Deerpath Community Park, 400 Hastings Road
Gates open at 5 p.m. Live music begins with a performance from 97Nine at 6 p.m., followed by Hairball at 8 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Lake Zurich

July 4
9:15 p.m.
Residents: Adults $2, 17 and under free. Non-residents: 4 and up $7
Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road
Event will begin at 1 p.m. with food and drinks, a children’s petting zoo from 1-6 p.m., inflatables and live performances from Focal Point at 1 p.m., Teenage Mutant ’90s Turtles at 4 p.m. and Hello Weekend at 7 p.m.

Lansing

July 4
10 p.m.
Free
Downtown Lansing, 201 E. Shiawassee St.
The day begins with a parade including clowns, antique and specialty automobiles, musicians, dance troops, community groups, and military units. Fireworks begin after a free concert by the Lansing Concert Band.

Lemont

July 3
9:30 p.m.
Free
Centennial Park, 16028 127th St.

Libertyville

July 4
Dusk
Free
Butler Lake Park, 835 W. Winchester Rd.
Attendees may bring food and drink as well as chairs or a blanket. The Village Band will be performing at 7:30 p.m.

Lincolnshire

Red, White & Boom 4th of July festival
July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Drive

Lockport

July 3
8-10 p.m.
Free
Dellwood Park, IL-171 & Woods Dr.
Parking is limited.

Lombard

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Madison Meadow Park,: E Madison St & S Ahrens Ave
Attendees can bring food and drinks. Limited parking is available.

McHenry

July 7
Dusk
$5 cars (receive five tickets for entry, $1 additional passengers), $1 all others, free for children younger than age 3.
Petersen Park, 4300 Peterson Park Road

Merrillville, Ind. 

July 3
9 p.m.
$5 per car
Hidden Lake Park, 6355 Broadway
Event begins at 6 p.m. with live music by The Mud Sharks, food vendors and a beer garden.

Midlothian

Thunder over Midlothian
June 29
9:30 p.m.
Free
Memorial Park, 14500 S. Sawyer

Mokena

July 4
About 9 p.m.
Free
Mokena Main Park, 10925 W. LaPorte Road
Event begins at 5 p.m. with food, inflatables, mechanical bulldog ride, reptile show, face painting and balloon artists along with children’s games. Live performances begin at 6:30 p.m. by the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry reenactment followed by the Encore Concert Band at 7:30 p.m.

Morris

Grundy County Fair
July 2
Dusk
Free
Grundy County Fairgrounds, Illinois Rt. 47

Morton Grove

July 4
Dusk
Free
American Legion Memorial Civic Center, 6140 Dempster St.
Event begins at 4 p.m. with a food court and beer garden. The Mystery Girls Band will perform at 5 p.m. followed by Sealed with a Kiss at 6 p.m. The Neverly Brothers will conclude the live music with a performance at 7 p.m.

Mount Prospect

Mount Prospect Lions Club Annual Festival
July 4, 8
9:30 p.m.
Fireworks are free, festival is $20
Melas Park, 1326 W. Central Road

Mundelein

July 1
9:30 p.m.
Free
Viewing locations: Metra train station parking lot, Village Hall, across from Fairhaven School and Munch Ground

Naperville

Ribfest Fireworks
July 4
Dusk
Free after 5 p.m.
Knoch Park, 724 S. West St.

New Lenox

July 4
Dusk
Free
New Lenox Village Commons, 1 Veterans Parkway
Event begins at 6 p.m. with live performances from Epic and the Joliet American Legion Band. Face painting, crafts and activities will also be offered.

Northbrook

July 3
Dusk
Free
Village Green Park, 1479 Maple Ave.
Event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a DJ performance by Energy Productions. Food trucks will be available.

Northlake

Leydon Township Annual Firework Show
June 30
Dusk
Free
West Leyden High School, 1000 Wolf Rd.

Oak Forest

Oak Fest
July 3-8
9:30 p.m.
Free. $5 Parking fee.
159th Street and Central Avenue
Attendees are encouraged to purchase $5 VIP viewing area passes for July 4 fireworks from 7-10 p.m. to avoid crowds. Private bar offered. July 4 event ranges from 3-11 p.m. with bingo from 3-9 p.m. and carnival from 3-11 p.m. Live performances by The Millennials at 3 p.m. and The Flex Group at 6:30 p.m.

Oak Lawn

July 4
9 p.m.
Free
Richards High School, 106th Street and Central Ave.
Event begins at 6 p.m. with GAC Entertainment providing music at 7 p.m. preceding the fireworks display.

Oak Park

Oak Park Parade and Fireworks
July 4
Dusk
Free
Oak Park and River Forest High School football stadium, near East Ave. and Lake St.

Oswego

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Prairie Point Park, 4120 Plainfield Road
Bring a blanket and lawn chair. Event begins at 3 p.m. and features live performances by the American Legion Band and the Fox Valley Orchestra. Outside food and drink are allowed, but no alcohol.

Palatine

Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest
July 3
Dusk
Free
Community Park, 262 E. Palatine Rd.

Palos Heights

July 3
Dusk
Free
Memorial Park, 7607 W. College Dr.
Event begins at 4:30 p.m. with pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatable attractions, face painting and live music.

Park Ridge

July 3
Dusk
Free
Maine East High School field, 2601 E. Dempster St.
Attendees are encouraged to bring food. Alcohol and grills not permitted. A DJ-led dance party begins at 6:30 p.m., with children’s entertainment also available. Live music performances begin at 8 p.m.

Plainfield

July 3
Dusk
Free
Plainfield Central High School, 24120 W. Fort Beggs Drive
Plainfield Park District’s Patriotic Picnic and Fireworks begins at 6 p.m. There will be a bike parade, Touch-a-Truck, and a DJ, among other attractions.

Romeoville

July 3
9:30 p.m.
Free
Village Park, 900 W. Romeo Rd.

Roselle

July 3
9:30 p.m.
Free
Lake Park High School West Campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave
Food trucks on site.

Rosemont

Rockin’ In the Park Concert & Fireworks
June 28 – Sept. 6
7-10 p.m
Free
MB Financial Park, 5501 Park Place
Outside food and coolers are prohibited. Parking is available at the Parkway Bank Park parking garage and is free with validation from any of the park’s vendors.

Skokie

July 4
Dusk
Free
Niles West High School, 5701 Oakton.
Event begins at 5 p.m. Food will be available, as well as family fun and games. Live music by The Goo Roos will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Mike and Joe at 8 p.m., concluding with 3D fireworks at dusk. Customized 3D fireworks glasses are available for the first 10,000 visitors.

South Holland

July 4
Dusk
Free
Veterans Memorial Park, 450 E. 160th Pl.
Prayer at the gates, rib fest, home plate grill, kids train rides, live music, hot wing and pie eating contests.

St. Charles

July 4
Dusk
Free. $10 parking fee for nonresidents.
Pottawatomie Park, 8 N. Ave.
Event begins at 6 p.m. with a live performance by Shout Out, while glow novelties will also be sold by the Glow Zone.

Thorton

July 4
Dusk
Free
Hubbard Park, 100 Hubbard St.
Concessions available from 5-9 p.m.

Tinley Park

July 4
9:15 p.m.
Free
McCarthy Park, 16801 S. 80th Ave.
Event begins with opening ceremony at 4 p.m. Food tents will be on site. Activities include penny carnival, horseshoe tournament, face painting and inflatables. At 4:15 p.m. Peter Oprisko will perform, followed by The Hat Guys at 5:30 p.m.

Valparaiso. Ind. 

July 4
9:15 p.m.
Free
Urschel Field, 2564 Valley Drive
Event begins at 6:30 p.m. with food vendors and live music from The Unit.

Vernon Hills

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Century Park, 1001 Lakeview Parkway
Event begins at 6:30 p.m. with live music from The Big Fun Band leading up to fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Wauconda

July 3
Dusk
Free. Donations are accepted.
Cook Park, 700 N Main Street

Waukegan

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Viewing areas: Harbor area, parking lots on Sheridan Road and along the beach.

Westmont

July 4
Dusk
Free
Ty Warner Park, 700 Blackhawk Dr.

Wheaton

July 3-4
9 p.m.
Free
Graf Park, 1701 Manchester Road
Event will feature carnival games and rides, with a live DJ. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Wheeling

Rock N Run the Runway
June 30
Dusk
Free
Chicago Executive Airport, 1020 Plant Road
Annual 5K, live music and fireworks.

Wilmette

July 3
9:30 p.m.
Free
Giilson Park at the Lakefront, 101 Lake St.
Event will feature performances from Justin Roberts & The Not Ready for Naptime Players at 5 p.m., The Pack Drumline at 6 p.m., The Jesse White Tumblers at 7 p.m., the Illinois Brass Band at 7 p.m. and the FlatCats at 7:30 p.m. Roving entertainers, carnival games, rides and more will also be present.

Winnetka

FourthFest
July 4
9:20 p.m.
Free
Duke Childs Field, 1321 Willow Road
Fourthfest will feature music, food and family activities.

Yorkville

July 4
Dusk
Free
Near Route 47 and Countryside Parkway
The celebration includes a performance by the Yorkville Community Band.

Zion

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Free
Shiloh Park, 2400 Dowie Memorial Dr.

 

Information courtesy of WGN

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