Fourth of July fireworks.
Grab a blanket and a patch of grass. It's fireworks time, and you're not going to want to miss these visual displays, taking over the skies in the city and suburbs.
Check out all July 4th events in the area, including food and drink deals.
Grant Park
Friday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.
The night starts with the 85th Army Band dazzling the audience with their harmonious sound, followed by the fireworks show at 9 p.m. The show's best views are in Grant Park and the museum campus to the south.
Navy Pier
Saturday, July 4; 9 p.m.
The Pier is no stranger to fireworks; it fills the lakefront with them on Wednesday and Saturday nights from Memorial Day through Labor Day. But amid all the multi-color fun is the biggie: The extended fireworks for the fourth is a 10-minute display set to patriotic music.
Evanston (Dawes Park)
Saturday, July 4; 9:15 p.m.
The Palatine Concert Band will play patriotic favorites from 7:30-9 p.m., followed by fireworks launched from Clark Street Beach. If you want your summertime fun to start even earlier, check out the parade at 2 p.m.
Arlington Heights (Arlington Park)
July 3; 7:30 p.m.
Arlington Park has a tradition of lighting up the northwest suburb's skies, with its annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration presented by Bank of America. This year the celebration will occur after racing on July 3.
Glencoe (Lakefront Park)
July 4; 9 p.m.
Fireworks on the beach! What could be better? How about a full day of patriotic fun, starting with a two-mile fun run at 8 a.m. a parade at 2 p.m. and a 6:30 p.m. BBQ at the beach. Added to the events this year will be a children's carnival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
Lake Forest (Deerpath Community Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m. Plan on starting your July 4th celebration at 5 p.m., when the Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks begins. You'll find food and beverages from local restaurants, live music and a new tweens and teens area, capped off by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Lincolnshire (Spring Lake Park) July 3-4
Lincolnshire will host a fireworks display on July 4. But you can start celebrating early with special kid-friendly events on July 3.
Morton Grove (Harrer Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
A Community Parade kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Central & Dempster and moves west to Harrer Park; hang out in the park for the afternoon, and snag a prime fireworks viewing spot. Fireworks blast off at 9:30 p.m.
Mundelein (Festival Grounds)
July 4; 9 p.m.
The evening fun at Kracklauer Park starts with a run, horseshoe tournament and karaoke contest. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
Northbrook (Techny Park)
July 4; dusk
There are plenty of ways to celebrate the stars and stripes on the 4th. A mile-long float-filled parade kicks off at 2:30. Fireworks begin at dusk.
Park Ridge (Maine East High School)
July 3; 8 p.m.
"Celebrate America" will feature stirring patriotic tributes to the people, the history, and the landscape of our America, plus Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with fireworks. Fireworks begin at dusk.
Skokie 3-D fireworks (Niles West High School)
July 4
Skokie's Fourth of July parade kicks off at noon and features marching bands, tumblers, live animals, drill teams, clowns, vintage automobiles, and more from Oakton Community College on Lincoln Avenue to Oakton Street, then east from downtown to Oakton Park. The 3-D firework action begins at dusk. The first 10,000 people get free pair of 3-D glasses.
Vernon Hills (Century Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
You might want to take a nap after the morning parade: It's going to be a full evening. Families will gather at Century Park at 6:30 p.m. to take in the sounds of J.P and the Cats. At approximately 9:30 p.m. the fireworks will overtake the skies over Big Bear and Little Bear Lakes.
Waukegan Harbor
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Want to watch fireworks at the water's edge? There's no need to head all the way to Chicago. Waukegan Harbor will be ablaze at 9:30 p.m.
Wilmette (Gillson Park)
July 3; 9:30 p.m.
Games and rides for children, entertainment, roving performers, and a Tastefest are all part of the festivities beginning at 4 p.m. A traditional concert of patriotic music by the Palatine Concert Band is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Wallace Bowl. It will be preceded by a sneak preview of this summer's Broadway Show Sneak Preview: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The Grand Fireworks display lights up the sky at 9:30 p.m. There will be shuttle bus service for $2.50 round-trip.
Winnetka (Duke Child's Field)
July 4; 9:15 p.m.
Pack a picnic dinner at listen to music by the 215 West. There will be face painters, a moon walk and and mini-golf for the kids. Fireworks with recorded musical accompaniment begins at 9:15 p.m.
Zion (Shiloh Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
A full day of food, fun and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
Barrington High School
July 4; dusk
Fireworks kick off at dusk from the Barrington High School front lawn. Before then you can explore an antique fire truck and listen to live music.
Bensenville (Redmond Recreational Complex)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Kick off your evening with the sounds of Radio Disney at 7 p.m. and Blood, Sweat and Tears at 8 p.m. Fireworks begin after the concert. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Bartlett (Apple Orchard Community Park) July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Party from noon to 9:30 p.m. There will be food and beer tents, a carnival, a tractor pull for all ages, face painting, turtle racing, bingo, music by Big Guitars from Memphis and Rt. 66 and the main event: fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Buffalo Grove Golf Course
July 4; dusk
The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band will delight with a special two hour pre-fireworks concert. This large and full range band has impressed audiences and will perform a variety of classic and contemporary symphonic band pieces as well as accompany the BG Singers. The annual fireworks display will immediately follow the concert, with excellent viewing from the Rotary Village Green, the Buffalo Grove Golf Course or Willow Stream.
Hoffman Estates (Village Hall Grounds)
July 4, 10 p.m.
The fireworks display kicks off at 10 p.m., but there's a lot going on all week. The Independence Day carnival runs from July 1-5.
Palatine (Community Park)
July 3; dusk
Fireworks start at dark, around 9 p.m., but before they do indulge your playful side at the carnival beginning at 4 p.m.
Des Plaines (Oakton Community College)
July 4 at 9 p.m.
At 4 p.m. the grounds at Oakton Community College will be available for picnicking, children's games, pony rides and face painting. The fireworks, provided by Mad Bomber, will get underway after 9 p.m. As in prior years, the Des Plaines Park District’s Community Concert Band will perform during the fireworks. In addition, a Petting Zoo, Patch 22, will be featured, along with a miniature train ride for kids.
Elgin Sports Complex
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Live music from World Class Noise, entertainment, food concession and fireworks show. Entertainment begins at 7 p.m.
Evergreen Park (Duffy Park)
July 2; dusk
Come early for the parade, which starts at 6:30 and heads to 91st and Richmond. Then stay for the fireworks show at dusk.
Glenview
July 4; 9 p.m.
The Twilight Show begins at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks set to start at 9 p.m. The show is climaxed by fireworks synchronized to patriotic music.
Fox Lake (Mineola Bay)
July 4; dusk
Fireworks will take over the sky at 9 p.m. with a parade in the morning.
Batavia (Engstrom Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Before the fireworks, Engstrom Park will be filled with the aroma of food vendors and the sounds of local music. The "Sky Concert" begins promptly at 9:30 p.m.
Lockport (Dellwood Park)
July 4; dusk
Games, concerts and fireworks beginning around dusk will make the 4th a day of fun in Lockport.
Lisle Community Park
July 4 at 9:45 p.m.
Fireworks will, appropriately enough, take over the sky in conjunction with the Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival. There will be live music, balloon events and a food court in addition to the 9:45 p.m. fireworks.
Lombard (Madison Meadow Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
The Taste of Lombard will feature more than just fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Get your fill of tasty eats like a lobster pita, fried Twinkies, cinnamon-roasted almonds, foot-long hotdogs and funnel cakes. Tons of live music is in store as well.
Naperville (Knoch Park)
July 4; 9:30 p.m.
Taking over the sky as part of Ribfest, Naperville's 30-minute fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. Also part of Ribfest are music acts like Sara Evans and Huey Lewis & The News. And, of course, ribs.
Blue Island (Eisenhower High School)
July 4; dusk
The city's Fourth of July parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at 123rd Street and Western Avenue and goes south on Western to New Street. The fireworks show is at dusk at Eisenhower Stadium.
Calumet City (T.F. North High School)
July 3; 9:15 p.m.
Festivities kick off with rock music from 6 p.m. on. Fireworks light up the sky at 9:15 p.m.
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