Gather your camping chairs, sunblock and cold drinks, because the north suburbs have plenty of fun planned for the Fourth of July holiday. You can register now for various 5K races, plan to march in a parade, get friends together to watch fireworks or start shopping for hot dogs, piccalilli and mustard (no ketchup, please).
Here are festivities planned for the north suburbs on July 3 and 4.
Evanston
Festivities in Evanston are scheduled for July 4 and organized by the Evanston Fourth of July Association, a non-profit group.
Morning games are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at six locations: Lincolnwood Elementary School at 2600 Colfax St., Willard Elementary School at 2700 Hurd Ave., Kamen Park at 1111 South Blvd., Baker Park at 605 Forest Ave., Evanston Township High School at 1600 Dodge Ave. and Robert Crown Community Center at 1801 Main St.
A Kids Fun Run for children 10 and under is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. at Ackerman Park, 2500 Central St. The run is 0.7 miles long and runners head west on Central Street to Fire Station 5, then run back to the park. Registration is $15 per child, and the first 125 checked-in participants will receive a special t-shirt, race bib and ribbon.
Parents can register their children for the Fun Run online at https://evanston4th.org/morning-games-and-events/.
Tennis matches are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bent Park at 2524 Cowper Ave. and managed by the Evanston Community Tennis Association.
The Fourth of July Parade is scheduled to step off at 2 p.m. at Central Street and Central Park Avenue. The parade will travel east to Ryan Field at Ashland Avenue.
The Palatine Concert band will perform at the Arrington Lakefront Lagoon at Dawes Park, 1700 Sheridan Rd., from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show will also be broadcast over 90.5 FM.
Festivities end with a bang with fireworks at the lakefront at 9:30 p.m.
Glencoe
Glencoe’s celebration takes place across July 3 and July 4, with the beach closed on July 3 and open to season pass holders only on July 4.
Glencoe’s Party in the Park is scheduled to take place from 5 to 10 p.m. on July 3 at Lakefront Park, 99 Park Ave. Food trucks and beer and wine sales will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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At 6 p.m., the group Boy Band Review will perform at Party in the Park. The night ends with fireworks at approximately 9 p.m.
Festivities continue the next day with a free Fun Run at 8 a.m. at the Glencoe Metra Station at 724 Green Bay Rd., Glencoe. The run has four age sections, and is open for ages 7 and up.
Early Childhood Games are scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Kalk Park, 260 Park Ave.
A new Bags Tournament with teams of two at Kalk Park is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Glencoe’s Independence Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m. at its usual route beginning at South and Hawthorn Avenues.
Glenview
In Glenview, a bike parade kicks off on July 4 at 11:15 a.m. at Jackman Park, 1011 Lehigh Ave., Glenview. It will be followed by the Independence Day Parade, which steps off at Harlem Avenue and Glenview Road at 11:30 a.m.
Festivities continue into the night at Gallery Park, 2001 Patriot Blvd. At 6 p.m. a live DJ and food vendors will offer food and music, followed by the Glenview Concert Band at 7 p.m. The night ends with fireworks at 9:20 p.m. Find a parking map here; parking will cost $20 in most lots.
Northbrook
At 7:30 a.m., the Liberty Loop 5K Run/Walk will take place, and kids get their turn at 8:30 a.m. with the Liberty Lap Fun Run. Register at nbparks.org/events/libertylooplap.
At 4 p.m., kids can gather at Cherry Lane at Westmoor School and ride their decorated bikes in a bike parade, which will be followed by the Fourth of July parade.
The Fourth of July parade route will start just west of Westmoor School, 2500 Cherry Lane, and end at Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane.
DJ entertainment will take place at the Velodrome at Meadowhill Park, 1479 Maple Avenue.
Fireworks will take place at dusk. They can be viewed from Meadowhill Park and Techny Prairie Park and Fields, 1750 Techny Road.
Find a list of all Northbrook July 4 events at eventcreate.com/e/northbrook4thofjuly
Skokie
Skokie’s downtown parade steps off at noon at Oakton College on Lincoln Avenue on July 4, marches northwest to Niles Center Road, north to Oakton and east to Oakton Park. This year’s grand marshal is actress, comedian and writer Esther Povitsky. The 2025 military grand marshal is retired Lt. Col. Arnie Oskin and the parade will be emceed by Ilene Collins.
The festivities continue at Niles West High School at 5701 Oakton St. at 6:30 p.m. with Red, White and Boom performing. Live music from Maggie Speaks is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and the show will end with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Wilmette
Wilmette’s Independence Day celebration takes place on July 3. The Yankee Doodle Dash 5K begins at 8 a.m. at Gillson Park, 800 Gillson Park Dr.
A Star Spangled Splash event is scheduled for Centennial Park, 2300 Old Glenview Rd., from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is free for residents, with a daily fee applicable to non-residents.
Later in the day, fun and fireworks are scheduled from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Gillson Park. Find more information at wilmettepark.org/event-list/fun-fireworks/
Winnetka
Winnetka’s Fourth of July celebrations begin with a Firecracker 5K Run at Green Bay Trail, 130 Wilson St. Check-in is from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
Winnetka’s Independence Day Parade steps off at the corner of Elm Street and Glendale Avenue at 10 a.m., then proceeds east on Elm Street and finishes at Village Green Park, 525 Maple St., Winnetka. Find information at winpark.org/wpd-events/winnetkas-fourth-of-july-celebration/
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Festivities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park include a flag-raising ceremony, a children’s flag parade and family foot races.
The festivities continue later in the day at Duke Child’s Field, 1321 Willow Rd., Winnetka at 7 p.m. The Breakfast Club will perform live music and a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Food and dessert will be available for purchase.
Fireworks finish off the night at 9:20 p.m. and will be visible from Duke Child’s Field.