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4th of July Weekend in Chicago: Fireworks, Festivals, and More Things to Do With Kids

Chicago has lots of parades and fireworks for July 4th weekend. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Parks Department
Chicago has lots of parades and fireworks for July 4th weekend. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Parks Department
7/2/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Looking for the best things to do in Chicago this 4th of July weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Not sure what to do with the kids this 4th of July weekend in Chicago? We've rounded up tons of events this weekend, including fireworks, parades, festivals, and carnivals for patriots of all sizes! And plenty of the things to do in Chicago this 4th of July weekend are perfect for littles who can't stay up late enough to see fireworks: Kids can enjoy parades in Hyde Park, Hinsdale, or Arlington Heights, concerts in Rosemont, Grant Park or Cantigny Park, or festivals in Washington Park or Oak Brook.

Beat the heat this weekend in Chicago at one of the best free public pools or lakeside beaches. Or get out of town for the Fourth of July weekend with a Chicago-area day trip, by staying at a local campground, or discovering one of the best children's museums in the country.

More Things To Do in Chicago this Week with Kids

 

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Don't miss the beautiful 4th of July fireworks in Chicago over Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Don't miss the beautiful 4th of July fireworks in Chicago over Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier

Things to Do In Chicago with Kids Fourth of July Weekend

Barrington Fireworks and Fourth of July Celebrations

Barrington
Tuesday, July 2-Thursday, July 4, 2024
Kick off Independence Day with a fireworks show at Barrington High School. Musical performances will be held in the Metra parking lot throughout the weekend, while the parade will take place on Tuesday, July 4. READ MORE

Frontier Days

Arlington Heights
Wednesday, July 3-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Arlington Heights' annual Fourth of July fun fest has live entertainment, a carnival, a 5k race, food vendors, a Fourth of July parade, and fireworks. READ MORE

Bridgeview 3rd of July Celebration

Bridgeview
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Live music from a DJ and food trucks will precede fireworks at Commissioners Park in Bridgeview. Music starts at 5:30pm and food trucks continue throughout the night. READ MORE

Lemont July 3rd Celebration

Lemont Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, DJs, food vendors, live music, and a KidZone at Centennial Park. The celebration concludes a week of fun activities in the southwest suburb. READ MORE

Taste of Oak Brook

Oak Brook Wednesday, July 3, 2024
The Village of Oak Brook offers local families a taste of its cuisine and a little fun at the annual Taste of Oak Brook festival. Kids' activities include face painting, a bounce house, and a petting zoo. Fireworks will start at 9:30pm. READ MORE

Northwest Fourth Fest

Hoffman Estates
Wednesday, July 3-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Live entertainment, a carnival, a parade, kids activities, food and fireworks take over the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates for the week of the Fourth of July. Kids Zone attractions include a petting zoo, inflatables, a balloon artist, face painting, and crafts. A new drone light show takes over the sky on July 5. Fireworks take place on July 6. READ MORE

Summer Fireworks at Navy Pier

Downtown Wednesday, July 3 & Saturday, July 5, 2024
Fireworks fans of all ages can enjoy a spectacular display, synchronized to music, for FREE every Wednesday and Saturday night at Navy Pier.  READ MORE

Mount Prospect Lions Club Annual Fourth of July Festival

Mount Prospect
Wednesday, July 3-Sunday, July 7, 2024
A carnival, live entertainment, food, and beer & wine are available at this annual festival. Fireworks shows light up the sky on July 4 and July 7. READ MORE

Wheaton Independence Day Celebration

Wheaton Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Enjoy a day of lawn games, concessions, music, and giveaways followed by fireworks at Wheaton's Graf Park. A Boy Scout troop will perform a flag ceremony before the fireworks begin at dusk. READ MORE

Deerfield Family Days

Deerfield
Wednesday, July 3-Thursday, July 4, 2024
Deerfield celebrates families and Independence Day at this annual festival. Enjoy a DJ, food vendors, carnival games, bounce houses, and fireworks on July 3, and a 5K, breakfast in the park, an arts and crafts show, a bike parade, a dog show, live music, rides, and games on July 4. READ MORE

Orland Park Fourth of July Celebration

Orland Park
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Celebrate Independence Day with live music and fireworks at Centennial Park. The celebration is the conclusion of a weekend festival that includes a 5k run, concerts, and more. Concessions, wine, and beer are available for purchase. READ MORE

Westmont Independence Day Celebration

Westmont
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Westmont celebrates Independence Day at this annual event featuring food trucks, concessions, beer, crafts, games, and music. The day concludes with fireworks at Ty Warner Park. READ MORE

Hinsdale Fourth of July Parade

Hinsdale
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Hinsdale's Independence Day Parade is on Thursday, July 4 this year, starting at 10am. The lineup includes nearly 60 entries including fire trucks, dancers, color guards, and local organizations & dignitaries. The West Suburban Concert Band will perform at the end of the parade route. READ MORE

Aurora Fourth of July Parade

Aurora
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Aurora hosts its annual Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. on the holiday. The parade steps off from Benton Street and River Street, continues east on Benton toward Broadway, north on Broadway to Downer Place and west to River Place, where it concludes. READ MORE

4th on 53rd Parade & Free Festival

Hyde Park
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Celebrate the 4th of July in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, with a beloved local tradition going back 30+ years - the 4th on 53rd Parade and Free Festival! The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. with marching bands, floats, community groups, and kids on decorated bikes - with a free festival after the parade from 12-3 p.m. featuring performances, games, bouncy houses, face painting, magician, and more! READ MORE

Wheaton 4th of July Parade

Wheaton
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Wheaton celebrates Independence Day with the return of its Fourth of July Parade. The town encourages locals to create an entry into the parade with the them of Star Spangled Summer.. READ MORE

Fourth of July in Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Celebrate the Fourth of July in Glen Ellyn with a parade and fireworks on July 4. This year's parade grand marshal is Village Attorney Greg Matthews. READ MORE

Glenview Fourth of July Celebration

Glenview
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Glenview celebrates the Fourth of July with floats, a bike parade, entertainers, live music and giveaways in Gallery Park. Fireworks will go off at 9:20 p.m.. READ MORE

Winnetka Fourth of July Celebration

Winnetka
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Independence Day in Winnetka includes a celebration for families at Skokie Playfields. Activities include a giant slide, inflatables and rides, sports activities, a balloon artist, crafts, and more. A parade kicks off the activities at 10am, and the day wraps up with fireworks at 9:20pm. READ MORE

Elmwood Park 4th of July Celebration

Elmwood Park
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Elmwood Park celebrates Independence Day with a parade, live music, and fireworks. READ MORE

Highland Park Independence Day

Highland Park
Thursday, July 4, 2024
The City of Highland Park commemorates Independence Day with a remembrance ceremony, a parade, and Fourth Fest in 2024.  The morning starts with a ceremony to remember those impacted in the events of the 2022 parade in Highland Park.  The community will also hold a parade along a new route through Downtown Highland Park at 1 p.m. Following the parade’s conclusion, community members will enjoy entertainment, rides, carnival games, a petting zoo, and other family-friendly activities at Sunset Woods Park as part of Fourth Fest, presented by the Park District of Highland Park... READ MORE

Elmhurst 4 on the 4th and Kids 1K

Elmhurst
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Run four miles to celebrate the Fourth of July! Kids ages 5-12 can participate in a 1K kids' dash. No strollers will be allowed in the 4-mile. READ MORE

Rockin' in the Park in Rosemont

Rosemont
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Listen to a different local band every Thursday and select holidays throughout the summer at Parkway Bank Park in Rosemont. Fireworks follow select shows. READ MORE

Live on the Lake!

Downtown
Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening, Navy Pier presents local musical acts performing live for families. From cover bands to jazz to DJs to country music—there is something for everyone at the Navy Pier Beer Garden. READ MORE

International Festival of Life

Washington Park Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, 2024
The International Festival Of Life  features a very diverse showcase of culture and music from the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and United States.  The objective of the festival is to bring nations together and live together as one. READ MORE

Tinley Park Ribfest

Tinley Park Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Enjoy music, ribs, kiddie rides, fireworks and more at Tinley Park's annual Ribfest. Single day admission is $15 or $55 for a family of up to six people. READ MORE

Mundelein Community Days

Mundelein
Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Mundelein's annual community festival includes fireworks, a carnival, a parade, music, food, contests and games and lots of kids activities. This year, the festival has been moved to Village Hall Plaza. READ MORE

Naperville Salute

Naperville
Friday, July 5-Sunday, July 7, 2024
Naperville Salute honors veterans with a celebration full of live music, fireworks, family fun, and a ruck march. Family activities include include exotic animals, face painting, interactive ninja course, patriotic crafts, magic, balloon animals and more! READ MORE

Cantigny Outdoor Concerts

Wheaton
Sunday, July 7
Families can enjoy a series of tribute bands, military music, and bluegrass groups at the bandshell at Cantigny every Sunday at 3pm. READ MORE
Summer Film Series photo courtesy of Millennium Park
Summer Film Series photo courtesy of Millennium Park

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Lake Geneva beach photo courtesy of Mommy Poppins

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Places featured in this article:

Lake Ellyn Park & Boathouse
Frontier Sports Complex
Illinois Beach State Park