The Barrington Hills Observer

Members of the Rolling Meadows High School marching band fly their flags during the Frontier Days Fourth of July Parade in Arlington Heights. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2024

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

As the Fourth of July approaches, so do themed events throughout the suburbs, including festivals, parades, fireworks displays, walks and runs, concerts and more. Here’s where and when you can celebrate.

Saturday, June 27

Carpentersville Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave., Carpentersville. Annual parade starts at South Lincoln Avenue and Main Street, continues east on Main, south on Washington Avenue to Spring Street, east on Spring to Carpenter Park. cville.org.

Stars ‘N Stripes Fest: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Cary-Grove Park, Three Oaks Road and North First Street, Cary. Food trucks, beer and hard seltzer sales, kids’ inflatables and activities and music from Hello Weekend. Fireworks at dusk. Free admission; parking is $20 per vehicle at the park, Cary-Grove High School, or Sunburst Bay. Swimming at Sunburst Bay Aquatic Center costs $10 for Sunburst Bay members and $15 for nonmembers. carypark.com.

Dundee Township fireworks: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Meadowdale Park, Besinger Drive and Maple Avenue, Carpentersville. Entertainment, food vendors and visit with community partners from 6-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Fireworks may begin 30 minutes earlier or later, depending on weather conditions. Rain date: June 28. dtpd.org.

Sunday, June 28

Freedom Car Show: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 28, in the Metra parking lot, between Onieda and Bartlett avenues, in downtown Bartlett. Trophies will be awarded for Best of Show, Top 10 and People’s Choice; trophy presentations at 3 p.m. Free for spectators. Hosted by 120Live Bartlett. Register: hanover-township.org.

Wednesday, July 1

Frontier Days Festival: 5-11 p.m. Wednesday, July 1; 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday, July 2; noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, July 3-4; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights. Carnival, Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, entertainment, food, soccer 3v3, Stampede Run/Walk, marketplace, family activities and more. Drone show featuring 400 drones at 9:35 p.m. Thursday. Main stage lineup: 7th heaven at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Soul Asylum at 8 p.m. Friday; Yachtley Crew at 8 p.m. Saturday; and American English at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Frontier Stage lineup: Uncle Sam at 5:30 p.m. and Exit 147 at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday; Backdated at 5:45 p.m. and Blackberry Jam at 9:30 p.m. Thursday; FaceNTime at 4 p.m., The PriSSillas at 6 p.m. and ARRA at 9:30 p.m. Friday; The Murley Rock Band at 4 p.m., TRIADD at 6 p.m. and Pino Farina Band at 9:30 p.m. Saturday; and Line Dancing with Boot Scootin’ Judy at 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. frontierdays.org.

Northwest Fourth-Fest: 5-11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 1-2; noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 3-4; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Carnival midway, kids’ zone, food and live entertainment Friday and Saturday; fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Friday; parade at 9 a.m. Saturday and more. Music includes Hello Weekend at 5:30 p.m. and 7th heaven at 8:30 and 10 p.m. Friday, and David’s House at 5:30 p.m. and Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press at 8:30 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Free. northwestfourthfest.com.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Patriotic Brass: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at the Robert G. Soule Amphitheater at Citizens Park, 511 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington. For America’s 250th birthday, the concert highlights the ESO’s brass and percussion sections with a program of patriotic and popular favorites. Bring a picnic basket and lawn chairs. Free. elginsymphony.org.

Thursday, July 2

Carnival patrons ride the Disk-O during the Bartlett Fourth of July Festival. | Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com, 2024

Bartlett Fourth of July Fest: 3-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 2-3; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 4; and 3-9 p.m. Sunday, July 5, in Apple Orchard Park, southwest corner of Stearns and Bartlett Road, Bartlett. The carnival will be open to those with disabilities from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2; registration required. Four nights of live music: Thursday: Anthem from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and 7th heaven from 9-11 p.m.; Friday: Mellencougar from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Julian Jumpin’ Perez from 8-11 p.m.; Saturday: Smokin’ Gunz from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Icons of Country from 8-11 p.m.; and Sunday: Modern Day Romeos from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Hairbanger’s Ball from 7-9 p.m. Skydivers at 7 p.m. Friday. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Parade at 1 p.m. Sunday. bartlett4thofjuly.com.

Lakeside Festival: 3-11 p.m. Thursday, July 2, and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 3-4, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at The Dole, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. 14 bands over four days on two outdoor stages, food, carnival rides, beer garden, superhero characters, kids’ decorated bike parade, kids’ ice-cream social, cornhole tournament and more. Fireworks at dusk Sunday. Music lineup: Thursday: Dangerous Joes at 3 and 7 p.m., Tennessee Whiskey at 5 p.m., and Thunderstruck at 8:30 p.m.; Friday: Southbound at 1 p.m., Petty Kings at 4 p.m., Pino Farina Band at 6 p.m., and Hi Infidelity at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: Judson Brown at 1 p.m., All American Throwbacks at 5 p.m., The Jolly Ringwalds at 7 p.m., and Modern Day Romeos at 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday: Yacht Rock-Ettes at noon, Crystal Lake Strikers at 2:30 p.m., Disco Circus at 3:30 p.m., Jonny Lyons & The Pride at 5:30 p.m., and Icons of Country at 6:45 p.m. Gate admission: $10 for 13 and older; $5 for 65 and older; and free for kids younger than 12 and active military with ID. Note: cashless payment. thedole.org/the-fest.

Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest: 5-11 p.m. Thursday, July 2; noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 3-4; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at Palatine Community Park, 250 E. Wood St., Palatine. Fireworks at dusk July 3, live bands, food vendors, parade July 4, carnival, fest expo July 4-5 and more. Free. hometown-fest.com.

Rockin’ in the USA Fourth of July Weekend Festival: 7-10 p.m. Thursday, July 2; 6-10 p.m. Friday, July 3; and 2-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Live music from tribute bands, including Listen to the Music, Boy Band Night, Super Diamond, Garth Guy, Toby Keith Made in America and Hillbilly Rockstarz. Also, festive competitions, including a patriotic costume contest and burrito-, apple pie- and hot dog-eating contests. A special appearance by the Honor Guard on July 4. Free. parkwaybankpark.com.

Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Sabatino Park, Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. Parking opens at 7 p.m.; $20 per car donation. If rained out, fireworks will move to Sunday, July 5. Free. sleepyhollowil.org.

Friday, July 3

Wauconda Community Fireworks: 6 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Cook Park, 600 N. Main St., Wauconda. Hosted by the village and Wauconda Park District. Music and concessions starting at 6 p.m. and fireworks at dusk over Bangs Lake. Rain date: July 5. Free. wauconda-il.gov.

Hometown Fest Fireworks: Dusk Friday, July 3, at Community Park, 262 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. Free. palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest.

Saturday, July 4

Barrington All-Star Brass Quintet: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, at Barrington’s White House, 145 W. Main St., Barrington. The ensemble will perform classic American standards and patriotic music on the porch before the Independence Day parade. Free. BarringtonsWhiteHouse.com/events.

Barrington Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, on Main Street in Barrington. Steps off at Barrington High School. Free. barrington-il.gov.

Barrington Fourth of July Fireworks: 9:30-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Free. barrington-il.gov.

America 250 celebration: 4-7 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at The Depot, 319 N. River St., East Dundee. Family-friendly fun, food, live music, community activities, and a hometown Pie Baking Competition, Kids Coloring Contest, balloon twisting, face painting, fireworks and more. Free. eastdundee.net.

Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July festival: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Sabatino Park, Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. One-mile fun run at 8 a.m. Fishing derby from 9-11 a.m. at Lake Sharon. Car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a $15 exhibitor donation for Illinois Special Olympics. Food and drinks from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade at 11:30 a.m. Fest rain date: July 5. Fireworks are at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2, with $20 per car donation. Rain date: July 5. sleepyhollowil.org.

Allison Smith of Elgin and her dog Dolan participate in last year’s Elgin pet parade, which took place just before the Fourth of July parade in Elgin. | Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com, 2025

Elgin Fourth of July Parade: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 4. The route runs on Douglas Avenue, from Slade Avenue to city hall, 150 Dexter Court, Elgin. Third annual Pet Parade at 9 a.m. starting at the NENA Butterfly Garden at Douglas Avenue and Ann Street, and continues along the parade route to Douglas and Highland. Register at elginil.gov.

Frontier Days Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4. Steps off from Dunton and Oakton streets, Arlington Heights. Parade travels south on Dunton to Miner and then east to Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St. Theme: “Celebrating 50 years — Frontier Days Festival.” Kids 4-12, accompanied by an adult, can check in at Olive and Highland streets for the decorated bike parade at 10 a.m. No Big Wheels. Free. FrontierDays.org.

Hawthorn Woods Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, on Lagoon Drive, Hawthorn Woods, and continues to the village hall. Followed by a flag-raising ceremony. Free. vhw.org/524/Parade.

Lake Zurich Independence Day Celebration: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Food, live music, fireworks and more. Includes Taste of Summer food trucks, Giant Bubble Show at 3 p.m., performance by Kelly Daniels at 7:15 p.m., and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free admission, $5 BYOB wristbands available. lakezurich.org.

Hometown Fest Parade: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 4, in Palatine. The parade proceeds south on Cedar Street to Slade Street, east on Slade to Brockway, north on Brockway to Wood Street and east on Wood to Community Park. Free. palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest.

Elgin’s Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks: 5-10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. Live music, food trucks and drinks, family-friendly games, a buttermaking activity, and a pie-eating contest sponsored by Herb’s Bakery at 7:30 p.m. Band lineup: Petty Betty from 5-6 p.m., Journey From the Heart from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Jump, America’s Van Halen Experience from 8-9:20 p.m.; VIP Lounge Area for $25 for age 12 or older; free for 11 or under with paid adult. Fireworks around 9:20 p.m. elginil.gov.

Buffalo Grove Fourth of July Fireworks & Celebration: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Willow Stream Park, 651 Old Checker Road, Buffalo Grove. The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band will perform. Fireworks show at around 9 p.m. Free. vbg.org.

Bartlett 4th of July Fireworks: 9:30-11 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Stearns and Bartlett roads, Bartlett. Free. bartlett4thofjuly.com.

Sunday, July 5

Crystal Lake Independence Day Parade: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 5, starting at 100 W. Woodstock St. and continuing down Dole Avenue to the Lakeside Festival grounds. Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Sponsored by the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, the city of Crystal Lake and the Crystal Lake Lions Club. clchamber.com.

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