2022 Guide to the Fourth of July in Lake County
By: Nick Borowitz 06/24/2022
Warm weather, cold drinks, grilled food and a healthy smattering of family and friends. That's the popular image that comes to mind when we think of the Fourth of July.
The past few years may have been (relatively) quiet, but that won't be the case for this summer. Cities, organizations and even neighborhoods are getting ready to celebrate America's birthday with a bang.
Lake county loves to have fun and celebrate each and every holiday. Read on to see what's happening in our guide to the Fourth of July festivities in Lake County.
Fourth of July Fireworks Displays
- Grayslake Fireworks (6/25) INFO»
- Zion Fireworks (6/30) INFO»
- Barrington Fireworks (7/1) INFO»
- Fox Lake Fireworks (7/2) INFO»
- Round Lake Beach Fireworks (7/3) INFO»
- Wauconda Fireworks (7/3) INFO»
- Deerfield Fireworks (7/3) INFO»
- Antioch Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Bitter Jester Grand Finale Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Mundelein Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Lake Forest Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Lincolnshire Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Highland Park Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Waukegan Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Vernon Hills Fireworks (7/4) INFO»
- Six Flags Great America Fireworks (July 2-4) INFO»
Fourth of July Festivals & Parades
Why wait for the Fourth when you can start the party in June? The Taste returns again this year to Central Park for a day of fun, food, beer and jamming tunes. Adding to that is a carnival with rides that the kids will want to go on again and again. New this year is the opportunity to rent a tent and/or chairs that have a sun shade and beverage holder.
Central Park, 250 Library Ln., Grayslake.
Barrington is celebrating the holiday for four full days. Fireworks will kick off the shindig on Friday evening and be held at Barrington High School. Live music fills the air throughout the celebration. Saturday will see 16 Candles rocking out to the favorites of the late 1980s, 1990s and the Aughts in the Metra parking lot. Pat McKillen will perform in the Metra lot on Sunday. The parade will start at 10 a.m. on Monday morning from Barrington High School to the Metra Commuter Lot.
Various locations throughout Barrington.
The festivities will kick off at 4 p.m. and the Fourth of July parade will proceed down Grand Avenue towards Lakefront Park. The music will begin at 5 p.m. and features a variety of live performances, food and different non-alcoholic beverages or beer for an additional cost. Fireworks will begin in the evening over Nippersink Lake.
Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Blvd., Fox Lake.
The Round Lake Area Park District will again offer fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend. The fireworks will launch at dusk on Sunday, July 3, near the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center. Prior to the fireworks, there will be live bands playing throughout the day, different food trucks, a variety of beer and mixed drinks for an extra cost and magic shows to keep the kids entertained beforehand.
Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach.
The Waukegan Park District parade returns this year to the city and will be held in honor of the first responders. The parade begins at 1 p.m. and starts at Franklin Street and Sheridan Road. It will proceed north and ends where Sheridan Road meets Jack Benny Drive.
Parade begins at Franklin Street and Sheridan Road, Ends at Sheridan Road/Jack Benny Drive.
The parade will kick off in the morning at 10:30 a.m. and follow the route through the downtown area and ends at noon. The red, white and blue box social will be held at Williams Park and begins at 4 p.m. There will be a variety of food and drinks for purchase from local vendors. The fireworks start at 9:15 p.m.
Williams Park, 400 Williams St., Antioch.
Spend the evening of the Fourth of July underneath the stars, watch the fireworks and rock out through the night to the hits of the 1980s at Deerpath Community Park. The 15th annual Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks will pack in a weekend's worth of fun into one night. Tommy DeCarlo (singer of the band Boston), and Rudy Cardenas of (contestant on season six of "American Idol") will be performing the classic hits of Boston and Journey. The fireworks will kick off at 9:40 p.m.
Deerpath Community Park, 95 Deerpath, Lake Forest.
The "Star-Spangled" holiday returns to Vernon Hills. The parade kicks off early in the morning and starts rolling at 9 a.m. There will be a variety of floats, walkers, clowns, performers and all manner of celebratory figures. The parade route starts at Deerpath and Atrium Drive. It will proceed south and the end of the route is at Hawthorn Elementary. Families and spectators alike will begin to gather at Century Park at 6:30 p.m. for a performance by The Big Fun Band. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
Parade starts at Deerpath Dr./Atrium Dr., ends at Hawthorn Elementary, 301 W. Hawthorn Pkwy., Vernon Hills.
After multiple intense rounds of competition from a wide array of incredibly young and talented artists, the finale of Bitter Jester Music Festival has arrived. The concert and the parking are free for everyone to watch and it ends with fireworks to celebrate whomever the winner may be. Food and drinks are available for purchase too and Wolters Field will offer an excellent view of the fireworks in Highland Park.
Wolters Field, 1080 Park Ave W., Highland Park.
The wonderful part about Mundelein Community Days is that it offers something for everybody! Have your pick of parades, fireworks, car shows, cold beer and non-alcoholic drinks, carnival rides and kid-friendly activities stretched out over four days. Each night wraps up with live musical performances by bands that span the genres. The festival wraps up Monday evening with the fireworks.
Kracklauer Park, 116 N. Lake St., Mundelein.
Celebrate the most exciting holiday of the summer with an epic three-day party that is full of thrills, fireworks and delicious Coca-Cola. Between hitting the 16 coasters, rides and cooling out at Hurricane Harbor Chicago, take a breather in the shade while a DJ keeps the beats bumping. Each night of the celebration will see the fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m.
Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Pkwy., Gurnee.
Celebrate the Fourth of July over two days when you visit Deerfield for their festivities. The party will be split between two days at two different parks. The first day takes places at Brickyards Park and will have food, music, games, a DJ spinning tunes and wraps up the night with fireworks at dusk. Day two has annual 5K run/walk, the dog show and parade, bike parade, arts and crafts show and concludes with the walking parade at noon in Jewett Park. A unique addition to Monday’s festivities is the sensory-friendly play area for children that need additional accommodations to enjoy the fun.
Brickyards Park, 375 Elm St., Deerfield.
Jewett Park, 836 Jewett Park Dr., Deerfield.
This year's installment of Lincolnshire's Red, White and Boom will take place between two days. The festivities will be split between North Park and Spring Lake Park. The first day of the festival has attractions, rides, food and beverages, a magic show and the Little Miss Ann Children's Concert. The end of the night will have live music performed by Spoken Four. On the second day, the 5K race starts in the morning with the parade starting at 11 a.m. The fireworks begin in the evening at 9:30 p.m.
North Park, 1025 Riverwoods Dr., Lincolnshire.
Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Dr., Lincolnshire.
Other Colorful Happenings Between July First and the Fourth
Fireworks are awesome and everyone loves a festival packed full of music, family and friends, cold beer and fun games. But sometimes, just kicking back and hanging out at your favorite venue is just as serene. Take a peek at these experiences that will scratch that itch for getting out during the weekend of the Fourth of July.
- Sky is The Limit Anniversary Benefit Celebration of the Arts at Dandelion Art Gallery (7/1) INFO»
- Waukegan Park District Movie in the Park - Trolls World Tour (7/1) INFO»
- Pint of Music at Buffalo Creek Brewery - The Centaurs (7/1) INFO»
- Brother's Field Movie Night: Independence Day (7/1) INFO»
- First Friday on Mainstreet Libertyville (7/1) INFO»
- Piano and Strings Chamber Works at Ravinia Festival (7/1) INFO»
- Bullycon 2022 at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center (7/1-7/2) INFO»
- ABBA The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA at the Ravinia Farmers Market (7/2) INFO»
- Morning Walking Tour of Naval Station Great Lakes (7/2) INFO»
- Afternoon Walking Tour of Naval Station Great Lakes (7/2) INFO»
- A Midsummer's Night Read For All Ages at Lake Forest Library (7/2) INFO»
- Glow in the Park - Party in the USA at Boundless Adventures (7/2) INFO»
- Pint of Music at Buffalo Creek Brewery - EBJ Band (7/2) INFO»
- Piano and Strings Chamber Works from Jesse Montgomery at Ravinia Festival (7/2) INFO»
- Dwight Yoakam and Old Crow Medicine Show at Ravinia Festival (7/2) INFO»
- Queer Ecology: Nature Beyond the Binary at the Brushwood Center (7/3) INFO»
- Lindy's 3rd of July Dinner and Beach Club Party (7/3) INFO»
- Pint of Music at Buffalo Creek Brewery - L&M Experience (7/3) INFO»
- Red, White and Booze Cocktail Class and Fireworks Viewing at Side Lot Brewery (7/3) INFO»
- Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles at Ravinia Festival (7/3) INFO»
- Fireworks and Beer at Tighthead Brewing Co. (7/4) INFO»
- "American Salute" with Lake County Symphony Orchestra at Buffalo Creek Brewing (7/4) INFO»
Beaches are a pretty good place to cool down in the summer heat. If you like craft beer, wine, or distilled spirits, consider (responsibly) hitting the Lake County Libation Trail. For other interesting experiences any day of the week, click here.
