We all love heading outdoors for Summer Festivals and family fun, but one of the best things to do in Lake County Next Weekend is saluting those stars and stripes on a blanket under the night sky Fourth of July fireworks! We all live for that moment, bringing out our best "ooo's and ahh's," (some of us get 3D glasses to see if they work, but they never do) as we hope our favorite kind of firework will be the next one to light up the smiling faces around us. (Mine are those white ones that look like fairy dust and make that uber-loud bang! I also like the weeping willow style of cracker that blossoms in assorted colors in the sky). This Fourth of July, whether you're looking for a parade route and live music or a beer garden with delicious food, Lake County has it! From neighborhood block parties and back yard cookouts, to community festivals, live music and fireworks, celebrate all-things-summer at Fourth of July Festivals in Lake County.
Get a glimpse of how you can spend a weekend in Lake County by viewing our new theme song, 'Lake County, the bounty of Illinois' by Dylan Kroll. View it below, tell us what you think and even share it with your friends if you like it.
This single day, multiple activity event starts with the State Bank of the Lakes "Run for Freedom" and ends with the Annual Fireworks Show in downtown Antioch. In between there is something for everyone, like sports tournaments, children's games, food and beverage vendors, a parade, and lots of music. Once the parade is over, and everyone is at Williams Park to enjoy the many activities, we will start the sports tournaments, kids fun fair, Fire Department water fights and bands.
The greatest party in the midwest is happening at Blarney Island this weekend! Start the weekend with the Biggest Boat Race of the season. Then enjoy a weekend of non-stop fun lined up with bands, boats, and great people watching! Don't have a boat? Take the shuttle boat from the Port of Blarney to Blarney Island! Please visit the website for a complete line-up of live entertainment.
Blarney Island 27843 W Grass Lake Rd Antioch, IL 60002
Register for the 21st Annual Antioch Run For Freedom. This well received walk/run has become a holiday tradition in Antioch attracting 1400+ participants. Both the competitive runner and casual walking family enjoy the challenging USATF Certified course that winds through the beautiful streets of Antioch. Antioch Run For Freedom will once again support the "Adopt-A-Package" program. Please join us in supporting our troops by donating items from the suggested list (list below). Bring the donation to the designated area on race day.
Antioch Scout House 770 Cunningham Drive Antioch, IL 60002
Start the July 4th Festivities in downtown Barrington with this 18th annual 10K Run, 5K Run/Walk, and 2K Fitness Walk. Compete for age-group awards on the challenging 10K and 5K courses and enjoy refreshments and free massages after the event. Entry fees include 10K Run $30.00 ($35.00 race day), 5K Run/Walk $30.00 ($35.00 race day) and 2K Fitness Walk $15.00. Please register online.
Downtown Barrington, Park Ave and Main St, Barrington
The parade will run from Barrington High School to the train station and will celebrate the wonderful community spirit of Barrington with lively bands, classic cars, local performers, and decorative floats, all embodying this years theme, "A Star Spangled Salute" in Barrington. This year’s parade will ignite the patriotic spirit and celebrate Barrington as a great American community.
Barrington Train Station, 201 S. Spring Street (Metra Lot), Barrington, IL 60010
The 31st Annual Barrington 4th of July Festival is 3 days of delicious food, great music and wonderful family entertainment. Located in the North Commuter Lot of the Metra Train Station, the festival is a Celebration for the whole family to enjoy, complete with children’s entertainment daily and live musical entertainment at night. Events for the 4th of July include the annual Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Family Fitness Run 10K run or 5K run/walk, 4th of July parade at 10am, and the grand opening of the Barrington’s White House and fireworks at dusk. Come out and celebrate Barrington's 150th Anniversary.
Downtown Barrington - North Train Commuter Lot, 201 Spring Street, Barrington
Friday July 3- Saturday July 4 Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday: 8am
Celebration begins Friday night at 5pm at the Brickyards Park with food, fireworks, family and fun. Then on Saturday join the downtown parade and a pancake breakfast in the morning followed by an endless array of food, arts and crafts, 10K Race/5K Walk, rides, petting zoo, bike parade and activities at Jewett Park, there will be something for everyone. Most of all, it is a time for the residents and families to mingle, share and reacquaint.
The parade starts off at 10am for this celebration. Festivities at Lakefront Park begin at 11am and continue until 11pm. Celebrate Fox Lake is a family-friendly event featuring live music, a craft show, games, food & beer Garden, and fireworks at dusk.
Downtown Fox Lake and Millennium Park Grand to Rollins Road, Fox Lake, IL
Nippersink Lake will be lit up with a fantastic fireworks show over the lake. Watch by boat or from one of the many lakeside venues, including Lakefront Park. This is a new location for the fireworks for 2015.
The festival showcases the work of 95 unique artists in a pristine setting overlooking a lake, spectacular gardens and 385 acres of majesty. All of the artwork embodies a botanic theme, use or material. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to see the masters at work, with interactive art demos and booth chats taking place all weekend long!
Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Celebrate Independence Day weekend with us at the Great America 4th Fest! This patriotic celebration will feature 3 days of everything there is to love about the 4th all in one place. Great specialty foods all weekend and great fireworks show every night 3rd - 5th. There will be daily exclusive coaster ride times, live music and visit the Coca-Cola® July 4th zone and be entertained by the live DJ, dance contests and games that help emphasize summer fun or participate yourself for a chance to win cool prizes! Six Flags Great America and Hurrican Harbor, I-94 and Grand Ave. (Rt. 132), Gurnee
Friday, July 3 - Saturday July 4 Friday: 4pm-11pm, Saturday: 3pm-10pm
On July 3, don’t miss a full music line up on the "Rock, White & Blue" main stage featuring "Modern Day Romeos", "KrashKarma", “Wayland”, “Otherwise” and headlining is one of the hottest rock bands around, "10 Years”. On July 4, festival-goers will enjoy more live music throughout the day with electrifying music from “Bella Cain”, “Weird-Science”, “Stolen Rhodes”, “Reverence”, and the Training Support Command Choir of Great Lakes. Besides that, children of all ages will have plenty to do in the Kids Zone, featuring tons of dynamite activities! On both days, a full schedule of live family entertainment acts are on the schedule; a “Fun and Fitness” area, designed for those who seek a challenging obstacle course, bingo, the Marketplace, with specialty exhibitor booths for fun shopping; an enormous paintball arena; and roving entertainment and costumed characters! Plus, thrilling carnival rides and games are a must go. After all of that, an abundance of delicious festival food and refreshing beverages and each night a spectacular fireworks show.
Naval Station Great Lakes - Ross Field, Rt. 137, Great Lakes
Take a look at last year's celebration to see what Naval Station Great Lakes has in store for the 2015 edition!
*Note the live entertainment in 2015 will differ from the 2014 schedule*
Friday-Saturday July 3-4, Fri 6-9 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.
Venture out to Community Park for an evening of live music from Deja Vu and fireworks on July 3rd. Bring a picnic dinner or dine on food and beverages available from local vendors. The on the 4th enjoy the parade. Route starts at Falkirk and Lagoon and ends at Village Hall with a flag raising ceremony.
Community Park, 42 Park View Lane , Hawthorn Woods
Beginning at 9:30 am enjoy the kid's bike and pet parade followed by the annual 4th of July parade at 10am in through downtown Highland Park. Immediately following the parade, head to Sunset Woods Park! From 11am-2pm enjoy food from various Highland Park restaurants, carnival games, pony rides, petting zoo, live music and more! Then come back at 6pm for the Grand Finale concert and stay until dusk for fireworks at Wolters Field. Sunset Park & Wolter's Field, 1801 Sunset Road, Highland Park
Begin the day at the Kiwanis 43rd Annual Pancake Breakfast. Then bring the family and come out and watch Lake Bluff's 105th Annual 4th of July Parade. This year's theme for the parade will be Independence Rocks. The parade steps off from Oak Avenue on E. Center Avenue. Then head over to Artesian Park at noon for some firehose games at and pickle ball at 1pm.
Downtown Lake Bluff, Center and E. Scranton Avenue, Lake Bluff
Come out and enjoy an evening of great food, music, fireworks and fun. Celebrate the 4th beginning at 6pm,(gates open at 5pm) with Six String Crossing at 6pm and Wynonna Judd taking the soundstage at 8pm. Admission tickets are $15 for Lake Bluff/Lake Forest residents and $20 for non-residents. Parking fees. VIP tickets and Family VIP pack tickets are also available.
Deerpath Community Park, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest
Bring the family out for a day of great fun, music, carnival rides, Taste of Summer, a boat parade and fireworks. Also enjoy live entertainment from StateLine Band and LAVA Rock. Residents & beach pass holders admission for adults is $2, age 17 and under free. Bring a valid driver’s license for proof of residency. Non-residents: Ages 4 and up $7 and ages 3 and under free.
The Village Band will perform a special concert of patriotic music and other favorites beginning at 7:30pm. Then enjoy the fireworks display at dusk, approximately 9:30pm.
Come out and enjoy this annual celebration. The fun begins on Friday with live entertainment, food and beer tent, carnival games and a classic car show. Then on Saturday start early with the famous Pancake Feast, then join us for the 5K run, followed by the annual 4th of July parade, the Cardboard Boat Regatta, live music, food, zip lining, pony rides and ending with the fireworks extravaganza.
Thursday, July 2 – Sunday, July 5 Thursday-Friday: 12pm-11pm, Saturday: 8am-11pm, Sunday: 8am-10pm
Event includes musical performances, food, drinks, arts and crafts, car show, carnival, activities for kids and adults, and much more. Live music from Samadhi Vibe, Infinity, Kashmir, Kevin Purcell & The Night Burners, Final Say and more. The parade will be held on Sunday, July 5th at 2pm down Hawley Street from Village Hall to Mundelein High School. Please visit the website for a complete schedule of activities.
Downtown Mundelein, Seymour Ave and Courtland St., Mundelein
Celebrate the 4th in a healthy way and join in on this professionally-timed race along a challenging and scenic route. Medals are awarded for the top 3 finishers in each category. Walkers are welcome also. Sign up early and save $5. There will also be a Free 1/2 mile kids run for ages 4-10. Each kid will receive a medal and no registration is required.
Keith Mione Community Park, 1401 N. Midlothian Rd., Mundelein
Enjoy family fun, music and fireworks at the 4th of July celebration. Fireworks will take place approximately at dusk. Please visit the website for updated information.
Village of Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach
The parade steps off at 9:00am and will be bustling with activity as the marching bands, floats, clowns, costumed characters, stilt walkers, local merchants, school groups, pageant winners and civic leaders pull out all the stops for another of Vernon Hills’ spectacular Fourth of July affairs. The evening events start with live entertainment featuring the Big Fun Band in Century Park at 6:30 to 9:30 with the fireworks at 9:30. Visit the website for more info.
Deerpath Drive south of Rt 60 & Century Park north of Rt 60 on Lakeview Pkwy. North of Rt 60 on Lakeview Pkwy, Vernon Hills
Choose from 2 different ways to enjoy the view of the fireworks on Bangs Lake. Pick from a 5 Course Dinner Extravaganza or BBQ on the Beach with DJ. Please call for more information.
Bring your family and friends to Cook Park to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, music, and food. The celebration begins at 6:00 pm and fireworks will begin at dusk. Come early to get a great view of the fireworks spectacular. The Park District will be selling food, drinks, and glow necklaces. Hosted by the Village of Wauconda, it has been a well-attended event that offers an opportunity for families and friends to celebrate the evening together. This year, the Village has received generous donations from a number of local governmental agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and community-minded individuals and businesses to help fund the Fourth of July festivities. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who helps make this community event safe and enjoyable.
Bring the family to the Lakefront in Waukegan after the sun goes down for the July 4th Fireworks show. The show will be visible along Waukegan Harbor and Sheridan Road. Show will begin around 9:30pm, but arrive early. Downtown Waukegan, Waukegan Lakefront, Waukegan
Bring the family out for the 4th of July festival. Enjoy a little league all-star baseball games, concerts, a fun fair, games, kiddie rides, fishing derby, candy scramble, family games, food, fireworks and much more.
Zion Park District & Shiloh Park, 2400 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion
