Western suburbs -

Fire up the barbecue, slice some watermelon, ignite the sparklers — it’s time for the Fourth of July.

So grab a picnic basket and a blanket and head to some of the events planned in your community or one nearby. Here are just some of the special Independence Day activities planned, including fireworks, parades and festivals.

 

(All events July 4 unless otherwise noted)

Addison
Place: Community Park, 120 E. Oak St.
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Why go: An evening of food, games and family fun will be offered before a fireworks display at dusk.
Sponsors: Village of Addison
Contact: (630) 543-4100

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Bensenville
Place: Richmond Recreational Complex, 735 W. Jefferson St.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Why go: The New Colony Six will perform before a fireworks show, and classic cars will be on display.
Sponsor: Village of Bensenville
Contact: (630) 766-8888

Berwyn
July 4: Fireworks at Morton High School start at dusk, around 9 p.m.

Bolingbrook
Place: Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Drive
Time: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. picnic, followed by air show and fireworks
Cost: Free. Food and beverages extra
Why go: An All-American picnic followed by one of the longest, largest fireworks displays in the Chicago area. Picnic includes wide variety of food, beverages and children’s activities before the air show and fireworks.
Sponsor: Village of Bolingbrook
Contact: (630) 226-8400

Brookfield
July 4: The parade starts at 10 a.m. and runs from Grand Boulevard to Brookfield Avenue and ends at Kiwanis Park, where Music in the Park will take place from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Music in the Park will feature performances by 215 West, Cavern Beat, Shortstop and My Alumni. Food and drinks will be sold at the park, but people are welcome to bring their own. A jumpy house will be set up for kids, and a strolling balloon artist will be in attendance.

Carol Stream
Place: The parade begins at the corner of Lies Road and County Farm Road and ends at the Ross Ferraro Town Center, Gary and Lies Roads; fireworks and entertainment are in the Town Center.
Time: Parade begins at 10 a.m.; entertainment and fireworks begin after 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Why go: The annual parade, themed “Carol Stream ... Care and Service to All,” features a host of participants, including the U.S. Navy Parade Band from Great Lakes Naval Base, the Jesse White Tumblers, the Honey Bear Dancers and the Glenbard North High School Marching Band. Later that evening, the Country Sky band will entertain before the fireworks show.
Sponsors: Village of Carol Stream, Carol Stream 4th of July Parade Committee
Contact: Village number is (630) 665-7050; parade contact is Kim Gieser, (630) 681-7562


Cicero/Stickney
July 4:  After 4:30 p.m., all Stickney and Cicero residents can enjoy free admission to Hawthorne Race Course’s Fourth of July Celebration, which will feature live harness racing starting at 7:20 p.m., live music, an outdoor barbecue, $1 draft beers, prize giveaways and a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Clarendon Hills
• Summer Family Festival
TIME 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 4
LOCATION Prospect Park, 315 Chicago Ave.
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 323-2626

• Fireworks
TIME Following the summer family festival
LOCATION Hinsdale Golf Club, 140 Chicago Ave.
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 986-5330

Darien

• Fourth of July fireworks display
TIME 9 p.m. July 4
LOCATION Lemont Road and 75th Street
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 434-5555

• Fourth of July parade
TIME 9:30 a.m., July 4
LOCATION Starts at Hinsdale South High School, ends at Eisenhower Junior High
FOR MORE INFORMATION Darien Chamber of Commerce, (630) 968-0004

Downers Grove

• Downers Grove Park District Museum Independence Day Ceremony
TIME 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 4
LOCATION Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave.
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 963-1309

• Fourth of July parade
TIME 12:45 p.m.
LOCATION Main Street and Warren Avenue heading north toward Downers Grove North High School, 4436 Main St.
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 434-5555

• Fourth of July fireworks display
TIME 9 p.m.
LOCATION Lemont Road and 75th Street
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 434-5555

Elmhurst
• Fourth of July Parade
TIME 9:30 a.m.
LOCATION Corner of York and Third streets
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.elmhurstjaycees.com

Glen Ellyn
• Independence Day Parade and Fireworks
TIME Parade begins at noon; fireworks start at dusk
LOCATION Parade runs from downtown to Lake Ellyn; fireworks will be at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.glenellyn.org

Hinsdale
• Fourth of July parade
TIME 10 a.m. Friday, July 4
LOCATION Starts at Sixth Street and Garfield Avenue and goes around Robbins Park
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 789 7097

Itasca
Place: Hamilton Lakes, intersection of Thorndale Avenue and Illinois Route 53
Time: 4 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; parking is $15 per car
Why go: Rock band Lifehouse, known for the hits “Whatever it Takes” and “First Time,” will take the stage at 8 p.m.; several area restaurants will offer a wide variety of picnic items, and the Westin Hotel will operate a beer and wine tent.
Sponsors: Village of Itasca, Hamilton Partners
Contact: (630) 773-0835

Lisle
Place: Community Park, Short Street and Illinois Route 53
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $7 general admission, $12 additional to attend Main Stage performance
Why go: Part of the 2008 Eyes to the Skies event, Fourth of July Parade begins at 3:30 p.m. Food, beverages and activities take place until fireworks begin around 9:15 p.m.
Sponsor: The Eyes to the Skies Committee
Contact: (630) 963-4280

Lombard
• Fourth of July Parade
TIME 11:30 a.m.
LOCATION Village Hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Call (630) 620-5700

• Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. at Madison Meadow Park (part of Taste of Lombard)

Lyons
July 3: The Faith Walk begins a 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ and will proceed to St. Hugh Parish and Lyons Evangelical Free Church before ending at Zion Lutheran, where refreshments will be served.

July 4: At 1 p.m., the Independence Day parade kicks off at Costello School on 46th Street and Winchester Avenue where it will travel east to Joliet Avenue, then north to the fire station, where it will conclude. Any car, bicycle, float, person or pet is welcome to enter the parade in honor of the Hofmann Tower’s 100th birthday. Parade applications can be picked up at Town Hall. At 7:30 p.m. in Smith Park on Lawndale, children can get their faces painted before the 9 p.m. fireworks.

North Riverside
July 4: The parade begins on 23rd Avenue and travels down Ninth Avenue to 24th Avenue. From 24th Avenue, it runs onto Second Avenue and then 26th Avenue before finishing at Veteran’s Park, where the Fourth of July Festival will be starting at 3:15 p.m. The festival will feature a disc jockey, inflatables, carnival games, a bingo tent, face painting and balloon sculpting.

Oak Brook

July 3: The Village of Oak Brook continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the inaugural Taste of Oak Brook, sponsored by McDonald’s Corp.

This years’ event will start at 4 p.m. and conclude with the annual Independence Day fireworks at dusk.

The event is free with no admission or parking charges, and will be featured at the Oak Brook polo grounds at 31st Street and Polo Drive.

Riverside
July 3: The Concert in the Park, featuring The Waterdogs, will begin at 6 p.m. in Guthrie Park.
July 4: The 5k Independence Run starts at the Water Tower at 7:30 a.m. Runners must register beforehand and can do so the day of the race or at www.getmeregistered.com. At 8:45 a.m., the Independence Day parade will begin at Big Ball Park. The parade will travel down Longcommon Road, ending at Guthrie Park, where a festival with a classic car show, inflatable attractions for children, music and food will take place until 1 p.m. 

Romeoville
Place: Romeoville Recreation Center, 900 W. Romeo Road
Time: 4:30 to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Why go: Free food/beverages, disc jockey and activities until fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.
Sponsor: Village of Romeoville
Contact: (815) 886-7200

Roselle
Place: Lake Park High School West Campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Why go: Three local bands will take the stage before a dusk fireworks display.
Sponsor: Village of Roselle
Contact: (630) 980-2000

Westchester
July 4: The parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The parade route will follow Dorchester Avenue to Belleview Avenue and onto Canterbury Street. From Canterbury, it will turn onto Portsmouth Avenue ending on Bond Street at the Community Center Park.

Westmont
• Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks
TIME  Festival is 4 to 9:15 p.m. and fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4
LOCATION Ty Warner Park, Plaza and Blackhawk drives
FOR MORE INFORMATION (630) 963-5252

Wheaton
• Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks
TIME Parade starts at 10 a.m. and the fireworks at dusk
LOCATION Parade runs along Main Street between Wesley Street and Wakeman Avenue; the fireworks will be held at the DuPage County Fairgrounds
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.wheatonjaycees.org

Woodridge
Place: Castaldo Park, 71st Street east of Illinois Route 53
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Why go: Family picnic under a canopy of trees at Castaldo Park, many children’s activities, food and beverages; fireworks begin at dusk at Zigfield Troy Golf center on 75th Street. Parking available in neighboring commercial parking lots.
Sponsor: Village of Woodridge
Contact: (630) 852-7000