With the Independence Day holiday comes fireworks — and with this year’s America 250 Semiquincentennial, we can expect some extra rockets’ red glare this year in and around Lake County. Read on to find the best displays near you.
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Most of the celebrations are spread out over the Independence Day weekend. (July 4 falls on a Saturday this year.) If no time is mentioned, most displays begin at dusk (about 9:15 p.m.) and last about half an hour.
Antioch: Parade at 10:30 a.m. July 4, starting at Antioch Community High School, followed by Party in the Park at 4 p.m. and fireworks at dusk in Sequoit Creek Park (845 Main St.); antioch.il.gov
Barrington: Main Street parade at 10 a.m. July 4, then fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Barrington High School (616 W. Main St.); barrington-il.gov
Buffalo Grove: The America 250 celebration at Willow Stream Park (651 Old Checker Road) begins with a patriotic-themed concert by the Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band at 7 p.m. July 4, with fireworks at 9 p.m., launched from the Buffalo Grove Golf Course and viewable from the park or Village Campus; vbg.org
Deerfield: The Deerfield Family Days is back in Shepard Park (440 Grove Place) with live bands, carnival games and food vendors from 5:30 p.m. July 3 and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Then the parade at noon July 4 begins at Deerspring Pool (200 Deerfield Road); deerfield.il.us
Fox Lake: Celebrate Fox Lake for America 250 includes a parade that starts at Grant Community High School at 10 a.m. June 27, then an event from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lakefront Park (10 Riverview Ave.) with fireworks at dusk; foxlake.org
Fox River Grove: The town’s annual fireworks event opens at 5 p.m. July 11 at Picnic Grove Park with music and food before the show; foxrivergrove.org
Gurnee: Fireworks for Star-Spangled Nights are July 3-4 inside Six Flags Great America (with regular park admission); sixflags.com/greatamerica. Also, village fireworks for Gurnee Days on Aug. 8; gurneeparkdistrict.com
Highland Park: Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 3 at Preserve of Highland Park (1207 Park Ave. West). Then the village plans an Independence Day parade at 10:30 a.m. July 4 (from 1707 Saint Johns Ave.) and a Star-Spangled Pool Party at Hidden Creek Aquapark (1220 Fredrickson Place); enjoyhighlandpark.com
Lake Forest: The 18th Annual Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks will be July 4 at Deerpath Community Park (400 Hastings Road), set to music. Gate opens for a concert at 5 p.m., fireworks at dusk; lfparksandrec.com
Lake Zurich: The annual Independence/Family Day at Paulus Park (200 S. Rand Road) begins at 10 a.m. July 4 with music and food vendors. Then, fireworks are launched over the lake at about 9:15 p.m.; lakezurich.org
Libertyville: The fireworks event at Butler Lake Park (835 W. Winchester Road) begins with a concert by the Village Band at 7:30 p.m. July 4 at the Band Shell, followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; libertyville.com
Lincolnshire: The annual Red, White and BOOM! festival will be July 3-4, with food and entertainment July 3 in North Park (1025 Riverwoods Road), followed on July 4 by a 10 a.m. parade, 1 p.m. cardboard boat regatta and 9:30 p.m. fireworks in Spring Lake Park (49 Oxford Drive); lincolnshireil.gov
McHenry: The city’s fireworks will be at 9:30 p.m. July 12 as part of Fiesta Days at Petersen Park (4300 Petersen Park Road). Fiesta Days will be July 9-19 with carnival rides, live music, an art fair and a 1:30 p.m. July 19 parade; mchenryfiestadays.com
Mundelein: The Mundelein Community Days 2025 will be June 27 to July 5, mostly near Seymour Avenue and Crystal Street. Fireworks are 9:30 p.m. July 4, with a parade from Mundelein High School (1350 W. Hawley St.) at 1 p.m. July 5; mundelein.org
Round Lake: Beachfest opens at 5 p.m. with live music and food vendors, then fireworks at 9:15 p.m. July 4 near the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center (2007 Civic Center Way); rlapd.org
Vernon Hills: The parade will start at 9 a.m. July 4 at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium Drive. Music begins in Century Park (1002 Lakeview Parkway) at 6:30 p.m., followed by fireworks around 9:15 p.m; vernonhills.org
Wauconda: The Big Bang fireworks celebration is dusk July 3 at Bangs Lake, in Cook Park (600 N. Main St.) and the surrounding area; wauconda-il.gov
Waukegan: Music from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 4 at On the Rocks (175 N. Harbor Place). Fireworks will be at 9:30 p.m. at the Waukegan lakefront; waukeganil.gov
Wheeling: The village’s Rock ’n’ Run the Runway event is June 27, with bands from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:15 p.m., all at Chicago Executive Airport (1080 S. Milwaukee Ave.); program at wheelingil.gov
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Zion: The annual Independence Day celebration of fireworks, food, activities and live music at the Zion Park District Band Shell (next to the Park District Leisure Center at 2400 Dowie Memorial Drive) begins at 6 p.m. July 4 with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; zionparkdistrict.com