Fireworks are our favorite part of the 4th of July, along with barbecues, bike parades, and waving the flag. There are so many festivals and activities to choose from on the holiday weekend.
June 30
Cary
Dusk Friday, June 30, at Cary Summer Celebration, Lions Park, 1200 Silver Lake Road, Cary. Free admission. Parking $5 on grass; $10 on pavement. (847) 639-6100 or carypark.com.
Mount Prospect
Dusk Friday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 4, at 79th Annual Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival, Melas Park, 1500 W. Central Road, Mt. Prospect. Free. mplions.org.
July 1
Elgin
9 p.m. Saturday, July 1, Festival Park, 132 S. Grove, Elgin. Free. cityofelgin.org.
Fox Lake
Dusk July 1, Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Blvd., Fox Lake. Free. foxlake.org.
Geneva
Fireworks begin following the Kane County Cougars baseball team’s home games against the Peoria Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1, through Monday, July 3, Northwestern Medicine Field, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva. For game and ticket information, visit kccougars.com.
Grayslake
Dusk, Saturday, July 1, at Grayslake Family Picnic and Fireworks, Central Park, 250 Library Lane, Grayslake. Free. (847) 223-7529 or glpd.com.
Lisle
9:45 p.m. Saturday through Monday, July 1-3, at Eyes to the Skies Festival, Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle. Free-$8. eyestotheskies.org.
Wheeling
Dusk Saturday, July 1, at Wheeling Rock ‘n’ Run the Runway fest, Chicago Executive Airport, 1020 Plant Road, Wheeling. $40-$45 admission for fest. rocknruntherunway.com.
July 2
Crystal Lake
Dusk Sunday, July 2, Main Beach, 300 Lake Shore Drive. $3. crystallakeparks.org.
Gurnee
10 p.m. Sunday, through Tuesday, July 2-4, Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. Fireworks are part of the park’s July Fourth Fest. For park admission fees. sixflags.com.
Hoffman Estates
Dusk, Friday, July 2, at Northwest Fourth-Fest, Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Free admission and parking. hoffmanestates.org or northwestfourthfest.com.
July 3
Arlington Heights
Dusk, Monday, July 3, Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Admission for all-day events of racing and entertainment is $4-$22. arlingtonpark.com.
Deerfield
9:15 p.m. Monday, July 3, Brickyards Park, 375 Elm St., Deerfield. Free. deerfield.il.us.
Great Lakes
9:45 p.m. Monday, July 3, and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Ross Field at Great Lakes Naval Station, 601 D St., Gate 3, Great Lakes. free. mwrgl.com.
Hawthorn Woods
Dusk Monday, July 3, Hawthorn Woods Community Park, 5 Park View Lane, Hawthorn Woods. Free. vhw.org.
Mundelein
Dusk Monday, July 3. Best viewing areas include the Metra station, village hall plaza and the Community Days festival grounds. Free. mundelein.org.
Naperville
9:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, at Naperville Exchange Club Ribfest, Knoch Park, 724 S. West St., Naperville. Admission fees vary; visit ribfest.net.
North Aurora
9:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, along the Fox River. Rain date is Tuesday, July 4. Free. northaurora.org.
Oak Brook
Dusk, Monday, July 3, at Taste of Oak Brook, Oak Brook Sports Core and Polo Club, 700 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook. Free admission. On-site parking available for $10 per vehicle (while space is available). oak-brook.org.
Palatine
Dusk, Monday, July 3, at Palatine Hometown Fest, Community Park, 262 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Free. palatinejaycees.org.
Roselle
9:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, Lake Park High School, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Roselle. Free. roselle.il.us.
Schaumburg
Fireworks follow the 6:30 p.m. baseball games on Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4, at Boomers Stadium, 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. To buy tickets, visit boomersbaseball.com.
Warrenville
Dusk Monday, July 3, Cerny Park, River Road and Forest View Drive, Warrenville. Free. warrenville.il.us.
Wauconda
Dusk, Monday, July 3, Cook Memorial Park, 600 N. Main St., Wauconda. Free. waucondaparks.org.
July 4
Antioch
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Williams Park, 741 Main St., Antioch. Free. antioch.il.gov.
Aurora
9:35 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway St., Aurora. Free. aurora-il.org.
Barrington
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Free. barrington.il.gov.
Bartlett
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Apple Orchard Park, near South Bartlett and Stearns roads, Bartlett. Free. (630) 837-0800 or bartlett4thofjuly.com.
Batavia
Batavia Fourth of July Sky Concert: 5-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Engstrom Park, Main and Millview streets, Batavia. bataviafireworks.org.
Bensenville
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Redmond Recreation Complex, 735 E. Jefferson, Bensenville. Free. bensenville.il.us.
Buffalo Grove
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Rotary Village Green, Buffalo Grove. Viewing options include the village green and Willow Stream Park. Free. bgrotary.org.
Carol Stream
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Carol Stream Town Center, 960 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Free. carolstream.org.
Chicago
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Free. navypier.com.
Downers Grove/Woodridge
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Lemont Road and 75th Street, Downers Grove. Free. events.downers.us.
Elk Grove Village
Fireworks follow concert at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Rotary Green, 164 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village. Free. elkgrove.org.
Glen Ellyn
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. Free-$3. glenellyn4thofjuly.org.
Highland Park
“Float & Watch Fireworks” 8:15-10:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Hidden Creek AquaPark, 1220 Fredrickson Place, Highland Park. $5. (847) 433-3170 or pdhp.org.
Huntley
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4; visible from Deicke and Warrington parks, Huntley. Free. huntley.il.us.
Itasca
9:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Hamilton Lakes, Thorndale Ave. and Route 53, Itasca. Free admission; parking $25/car. itasca.com.
Lake Forest
9:40 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks, Deerpath Community Park, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest. $15-$20 fest admission. Kids under 5 are free. (847) 234-6700 or friendslfpr.org.
Lake Zurich
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Henry J. Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. $2-$7. lakezurich.org.
Libertyville
Dusk, Tuesday, July 4, Butler Lake Park, Lake Street. Libertyville. Free. (847) 362-2430 or libertyville.com.
Lincolnshire
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Drive, Lincolnshire. Free. village.lincolnshire.il.us.
Lombard
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Madison Meadow Park, Madison Street and Ahrens Avenue, Lombard. Free. villageoflombard.org.
Oakbrook Terrace
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Terrace View Park, Route 83 and 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace. Free. (630) 941-8300.
Rolling Meadows
9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Community Center parking lot, 3705 Pheasant Drive. Free. ci.rolling-meadows.il.us.
Rosemont
Fireworks follow the Heartache Tonight concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Rockin’ in the Park, MB Financial Park at Rosemont, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Free. rosemont.com.
Round Lake Beach
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach. Free. (847) 546-8558 or rlapd.org.
Sleepy Hollow
9:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Sabatino Park, Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. Fireworks parking opens at 7 p.m., donations requested. sleepyhollowil.org.
St. Charles
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., St. Charles. Free; parking is limited. stcparks.org.
Streamwood
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Dolphin Park, 880 S. Park Blvd. Free. (630) 736-3800, ext. 3, or streamwood.org.
Vernon Hills
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Century Park, 1001 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Free. (847) 367-3700 or vernonhills.org.
Westmont
9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Ty Warner Park. 801 Burr Oak Drive, Westmont. Free. westmontparks.org.
Wheaton
Dusk, Tuesday, July 4, Graf Park, 1855 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Free. wheatonparkdistrict.com.
Woodstock
Dusk Tuesday, July 4, Emricson Park, 1313 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock. Parking $8. woodstockil.gov.
July 8
Island Lake
Dusk on Saturday, July 8, at Island Lake Lakefest; viewing at Watertower Park and Eastway Park, downtown Island Lake. Free. villageofislandlake.com.
Fox River Grove
Dusk Saturday, July 8, Picnic Grove Park, Birch Lane, Fox River Grove. Free. (847) 639-3170 or foxrivergrove-il.org.
July 12
Glendale Heights
9:30 p.m. Wednesday July 12, and Sunday, July 16, at Glendale Heights Fest, Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights. Free. (630) 260-6000 or glendaleheightsfest.com.