Are you looking for ways to show your American spirit this Fourth of July? Luckily, events in and around Oak Park have you covered so you can rock red, white and blue in style.
Events in the western Chicago suburbs include firework displays, parades, festivals and even a 5K Independence Day run for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.
Oak Park
In Oak Park, residents can once again celebrate Independence Day when the annual parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on July 4 from Longfellow Park at Ridgeland Avenue and Adams Street.
Parade participants will march north on Ridgeland to Augusta Street, then turn east to finish near Whittier Elementary School. While some may be disappointed by the lack of fireworks, this festive celebration will allow residents and visitors to appreciate the village’s beauty and history on what will hopefully be a bright, sunny summer day.
The village’s fireworks were canceled in 2022 after the mass shooting that took place during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. The fireworks in Oak Park are historically funded by local businesses or private donations. In 2023, no such donor stepped up in time for the village to coordinate an event. In 2024, village officials said no entity stepped up again.
Riverside/North Riverside
In Riverside, locals looking to get active before chowing down on burgers, hot dogs or ice cream at celebrations can participate in the 44th annual Independence Day 5K run at 7:15 a.m. Runners will receive goodie bags and Dri-Balance shirts. It’s $35 to participate, and runners sign up based on gender and age.
At 8:45 a.m. July 4, an Independence Day parade will start at Big Ball Park. After, a community celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will take place at Guthrie Park.
In North Riverside, a free-to-attend parade will begin at 10 a.m. July 4 at Ninth Avenue and 26th Street, heading east to Veterans Park. At the park, a little league game will begin.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Village Commons, kids’ entertainment and food will be available. Hello Weekend will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by fireworks provided by the Riverside Golf Club.
Brookfield
Neighbors looking to celebrate in Brookfield can attend the Fourth of July parade and march to the “Party in the Park” on July 4 in Kiwanis Park. The parade will start at 10 a.m. on the corner of Blanchan Avenue and Kemman Avenue with exciting floats, marching bands and community members processing down the street.
After the parade, the “Party in the Park” at 8820 Brookfield Ave. will include live music from The Redmonds at 12:30 p.m. and Whiskeyfist at 3:30 p.m. Food and drinks from Beach Avenue BBQ will be available for purchase.
Berwyn
At 8 p.m. July 3, a fireworks display will take place in Berwyn at the Morton West High School football stadium. The event is hosted by the World’s Largest Laundromat and is free to attend. Fireworks start after dark, but attendees might want to show up early to get a seat.
Other nearby events
At Navy Pier, a firework show will begin at 9 p.m. July 3. Firework enthusiasts can find a spot along the lake and watch the annual show for free. Navy Pier also hosts firework shows twice a week throughout the summer.
At Soldier Field, fireworks will be on display following the Chicago Fire soccer game against the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the game will vary in price.
At Blue Island, a parade through the uptown business district will begin at noon. A free firework show will begin at Waterfall Park at 9 p.m.
In Bridgeview, the Park District will host a free celebration starting at 9:15 p.m. July 3 with food trucks and a live DJ for visitors to enjoy.
Burbank hosts a “Party in the Park” the weekend prior to the Fourth of July with food, live music, games and carnival rides. This year, it’ll be June 27-30. A free-to-attend fireworks display will take place at 9:45 p.m. June 29.
In Des Plaines, the community can be dazzled by a free firework show at 9:15 p.m. June 30 at Oakton College. The event will have a DJ, games and refreshments.
Elgin’s Fourth of July parade will take place at 9:30 p.m. July 4 in Festival Park. The free event will include music, food, activities and fireworks starting at 9:20 p.m.
