Fireworks for 2023: All the displays around the Chicago area for the Fourth of July
The Fourth of July always seems to arrive before we know it, the height of summer here already. With the holiday weekend comes fireworks; read on to find the best show near you.
Downtown Chicago fireworks at Navy Pier are every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 10 p.m., with an earlier time of 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 1; more at navypier.org
Chicago-area communities are listed below with their holiday and pyrotechnics plans, many spread out over Independence Day weekend with July 4 falling on a Tuesday this year. If no time is mentioned, most displays begin at dusk after 9:15 p.m. and last about half an hour. Email us to add a show to this list.
Antioch: Parade at 10:30 a.m. July 4 from Antioch Community High School to Poplar Avenue. Fireworks at Williams Park (741 Main St.). Plus fireworks at dusk; antioch.il.gov
Arlington Heights: The local Frontier Days Festival at Recreation Park (500 E. Miner St.) is back for 2023, running June 30 to July 4; frontierdays.org
Aurora: The city of Aurora will host an Independence Day fireworks display July 3, best viewed from RiverEdge Park (360 N. Broadway Ave.) with music from DJ Suave Smooth; and McCullough Park (150 W. Illinois Ave.) with music from DJ Pena; aurora-il.org
Barrington: The celebrations in northwest suburban Barrington begin July 1 with Metra Lot Concerts through Monday, fireworks July 2 at Barrington High School (616 W. Main St.) and a parade at 10 a.m. July 4; barrington-il.gov
Bartlett: The town’s Fourth of July Festival is on for July 4 in Community Park (corner of South Bartlett and Stearns Roads). Fireworks are scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. July 4 and finish at around 9:45 p.m.; bartlett4thofjuly.com
Batavia: The “Batavia Sky Concert” will be 9:30 p.m. July 4 with fireworks set to music. A concert by the Batavia Community Band begins at 8:30 p.m.; bataviafireworks.org
Beecher: The Fourth of July Commission in the town of Beecher will host the 4th of July Festival from June 30 to July 4. Look for fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 4 at Firemen’s Park, 675 Penfield St.; villageofbeecher.org
Bensenville: The usual Independence Day Parade kicks off Bensenville’s “LibertyFest” celebration at 10 a.m. on July 4, starting at Town Center (12 S. Center St.) and ending at the Redmond Recreational Complex (545 John St.). Music begins at 6 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from the Public Works facility at 9:30 p.m.; bensenville.il.us
Bolingbrook: Grounds open at 3 p.m. July 4 for live music and fireworks at Bolingbrook Golf Club (2001 Rodéo Drive); bolingbrook.com
Bridgeview: The village’s “3rd of July Celebration” for 2023 will include music, food trucks and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. July 3 in Commissioners Park (8100 S. Beloit Ave.); bridgeviewparkdistrict.com
Buffalo Grove: The village is planning a July 4 concert 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. followed by a fireworks show at Willow Stream Park (651 Old Checker Road). Fireworks will be launched from the Buffalo Grove Golf Course; vbg.org
Burr Ridge: The Pleasant Dale Park District’s fireworks will be at dusk on July 3 in Walker Park (7425 S. Wolf Road). Food vendors will be there at 5:30 p.m., offering snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. Parking passes ($20) on sale; pdparks.org
Chicago Heights: The city’s fireworks and Family Fun Zone are July 3 this year, from 6 p.m. at Bloom High School’s north field; cityofchicagoheights.org
Crystal Lake: The Independence Day Parade is 1 p.m. July 2, with fireworks later at Main Beach (300 Lakeshore Drive); crystallake.org
Deerfield: The annual Deerfield Family Days is back for 2023 with fireworks at dusk July 3 in Shepard Park (440 Grove Pl.) with DJ music and food vendors from 5 p.m. Then a full day of activities and a parade at noon July 4 in Jewett Park (836 Jewett Park Drive); deerfield.il.us
DeKalb: Come to Hopkins Park (1403 Sycamore Road) for music and festivities starting at 2 p.m. July 4, fireworks will begin about 30 minutes after sunset; dekalbparkdistrict.com
Des Plaines: The community plans a fireworks display July 2 at Oakton Community College (1600 Golf Road), with gates opening at 7 p.m. Then parade at 10 a.m. July 4, from the intersection of Center Street and Wicke Avenue; desplaines.org
Downers Grove: The Village of Downers Grove Independence Day Parade is 1 p.m. July 4, from Main Street between Sherman and Grant. Then the fireworks show will be 9:30 p.m. (corner of 75th Street and Lemont Road); downers.us
Elburn: The Lions Club of Elburn will present a fireworks show July 8 at Lions Park (500 Filmore St.). Food and nonalcoholic concessions will be available; elburnlions.com/fireworks-show
Elgin: The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. July 4 at the intersection of Douglas and Slade. Starting at 5 p.m., food trucks will be parked along Grove Street. The city will host concerts in Festival Park (132 S. Grove Ave.) and the night will end with a fireworks display at about 9:20 p.m. on the Fox River; cityofelgin.org
Elk Grove Village: The village’s July 4 celebration begins with a concert with KC and the Sunshine Band music at 8 p.m. on Rotary Green (164 Lions Drive) and fireworks afterward, sponsored by the Lions Club; elkgrove.org
Elmwood Park: The village’s Fourth of July parade will start at 9 a.m. The holiday celebration at Elmwood Park High School (8201 W. Fullerton Ave.) runs 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; facebook.com
Evanston: The Evanston Fourth of July Association has announced a parade at 2 p.m. on Central Street, a live band in Dawes Park at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at the lakefront; evanston4th.org
Fox Lake: “Celebrate Fox Lake” has a parade at 11 a.m. July 1, then an event 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lakefront Park (71 Nippersink Blvd.) with fireworks at dusk; foxlake.org
Fox River Grove: The town’s annual fireworks event opens 6 p.m. July 8 at Picnic Grove Park with music and food trucks before the show (no entry after 9 p.m.); facebook.com
Frankfort: The celebration begins at 7 p.m. July 4 at Main Park (200 S. Locust St.) with music and fireworks at 9:15 p.m.; frankfortparks.org
Glencoe: “Party in the Park” at Lakefront Park (99 Park Ave.) begins 5 p.m. July 3, with live music, food trucks and fireworks over the lake from 9 p.m. The Independence Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m. July 4 at the intersection of South and Hawthorn; villageofglencoe.org
Glen Ellyn: The Fourth of July Parade begins at noon, this year on Fawell Boulevard, with fireworks at dusk at Lake Ellyn Park (645 Lenox Road); glenellyn4thofjuly.org
Glendale Heights: The annual Glendale Heights Fest (at 101 E. Fullerton Ave.) is back July 13-16, with fireworks July 16; glendaleheightsfest.com
Glenview: Northwest suburban Glenview has a July 4 parade at 11:30 a.m. and fireworks show at 9:20 p.m. in Gallery Park (2001 Patriot Blvd.) with music beginning at 7 p.m. and a flyover of a P-8 Poseidon at 8:30 p.m.; glenviewparks.org
Gurnee: Fireworks nightly July 1-4 inside the Six Flags Great America theme park (1 Great America Parkway) with regular park admission; sixflags.com/greatamerica. Also village fireworks for Gurnee Days Aug. 12-13; gurneeparkdistrict.com
Harvey: The city’s celebrations begin 3 p.m. July 1, with a parade on Broadway, a carnival and fireworks at dusk; cityofharveyil.gov
Hawthorn Woods: Fireworks are planned for July 3 at Community Park (5 Park View Lane), with the park opening at 3 p.m. with live music and food vendors; vhw.org
Highland Park: The village plans a remembrance of last year’s Independence Day Parade shooting. Events begin at 10 a.m. July 4 with a ceremony at City Hall, followed by a walk along the parade route, a picnic at Sunset Woods Park and live entertainment later at Wolters Field (1080 Park Ave. West) and a drone show at 9:30 p.m.; cityhpil.com
Hoffman Estates: The Northwest Fourth-Fest runs June 29 to July 2, including a carnival, live music, a parade at 9 a.m. July 1 and fireworks 9:30 p.m. July 2 at NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway; northwestfourthfest.com
Huntley: The Independence Day fireworks show begins at about 9:30 p.m. July 4 in Deicke Park (11419 IL-47); huntley.il.us
Itasca: The Village of Itasca will celebrate Fourth of July at Hamilton Lakes, located west of O’Hare Airport (intersection of I-390 and Park Boulevard). Opens 5 p.m. July 4 with food vendors and live music. Then fireworks at 10 p.m., choreographed to music and promoted as the largest fireworks display in Illinois.; itasca.com
Joliet: Joliet Slammer baseball games include fireworks the nights of June 30 and July 1-2 at Duly Field (1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive); jolietslammers.com. Then city fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 4 at Memorial Stadium (3000 W. Jefferson St.); joliet.gov
La Grange: Fireworks from La Grange Country Club will be 9:30 p.m. July 3, best viewed by nonmembers from Waiola Park at the corner of 47th Street and Waiola; facebook.com/LaGrangeCountryClub
Lake Forest: The 16th Annual Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks will be July 4 on the grounds just east of Deer Path Middle School (400 Hastings Road), set to music. Gate opens for a concert at 5 p.m.; tickets ($25-$350) at lfparksandrec.com
Lake Zurich: The annual Family Day at Paulus Park (200 S. Rand Road) begins 10 a.m. July 4 with music and food vendors. The day culminates in fireworks launched over the lake at about 9:15 p.m.; lakezurich.org
Lemont: A July 3 Independence Day Extravaganza at Centennial Park (16028 W. 127th St.) opens at 4 p.m. with fireworks at dusk; more information in Spring-Summer News at lemont.il.us
Lincolnshire: The town’s annual “Red, White and BOOM!” festival is planned for July 3-4, with food and live entertainment July 3 in North Park (1025 Riverwoods Road) and 10 a.m. parade, noon cardboard boat regatta and 9:30 p.m. fireworks July 4 in the Spring Lake Park neighborhood; lincolnshireil.gov
Lisle: The village will have July 3 fireworks at Lisle Community Park (1825 Short St.), starting 5:30 p.m. with live music on the Van Kampen Stage and the fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Then a parade 10 a.m. July 4 from Lisle Junior High School; villageoflisle.org
Lockport: Fireworks July 3 in Dellwood Park (corner of Woods Drive and Highway 171), hosted by the City of Lockport and Lockport Township Park District; lockportpark.org
Lombard: The village plans to host Fourth of July Fireworks at dusk on July 4 at Madison Meadow Park (E. Madison Street and S. Ahrens Avenue); villageoflombard.org
McHenry: The city’s fireworks will be 9:30 p.m. July 16 as part of Fiesta Days at Petersen Park (4300 Petersen Park Road). Fiesta Days runs July 13-23; mchenryfiestadays.com
Mokena: The village’s annual fireworks this year will be at dusk July 2, with music starting at 7 p.m. in Main Park (10925 W. La Porte Road). Then a parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4 at LaPorte Road; mokena.org
Morton Grove: The Morton Grove Days festival July 1-4 culminates with fireworks July 4 at dark at Harrer Park (6250 W. Dempster). Plus a parade at 2:30 p.m. July 4 and live music and a carnival all weekend; mortongrovedays.org
Mount Prospect: The local Lions Club has announced that the annual 4th of July Festival will be June 30 to July 4 at Melas Park (1500 W. Central Road) with a carnival, music and fireworks both June 30 and July 4 at 9:30 p.m.; mplions.org
Mundelein: The 2023 Mundelein Community Days Festival is scheduled to take place June 28 to July 4, mostly in the new location of Village Hall Plaza (300 Plaza Circle). Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 4; mundelein.org
Naperville: The hometown Naperville Salute will be at Rotary Hill (440 Aurora Ave.) June 30 to July 3; napervillesalute.org. Community fireworks will again be 9:30 p.m. July 4 at Frontier Sports Complex (3380 Cedar Glade Drive); napervilleparks.org
New Lenox: Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. July 4 at New Lenox Village Commons (101 Veterans Parkway), with music by Whiskey Thunder from 6 p.m.; newlenox.net
Northbrook: Fireworks at 9 p.m. July 4 at the usual location of Techny Prairie Park and Fields, corner of Voltz and Waukegan Roads. Plus other events all day, including a parade at 4 p.m. from Westmoor School; northbrook4thofjuly.com
Oak Brook: The annual Taste of Oak Brook is back July 3 at the Village Sports Core fields (700 Oak Brook Road). Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; oak-brook.org
Oak Lawn: Fireworks at dusk July 4 at Richards High School (106th Street and Central Avenue); olparks.com
Oak Park: The Village of Oak Park plans a parade at 10 a.m. July 4 from Longfellow Park (Ridgeland Avenue and Adams Street), but no fireworks are planned this year; oak-park.us
Orland Park: Independence Day concert (7:15 p.m.), Presentation of Colors (9:30 p.m.) and July 4 fireworks afterward in Centennial Park (15600 West Ave.); orlandpark.org
Oswego: The annual Fourth of July fireworks will be held at 9:30 p.m. July 4 at Prairie Point Park (4120 Plainfield Road); oswegoil.org
Ottawa: Fireworks after 9 p.m. July 4 on the Fox and Illinois Rivers at Ottawa Township High School (211 E. Main St.); pickusottawail.com
Palatine: Fireworks for the Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest, which runs June 30 to July 4 in Community Park (256 E. Palatine Road). Fireworks at dusk July 3; palatinejaycees.org
Palos Heights: The Independence Day Celebrations include food and music from 5 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m. July 3 in Community Park (south of Route 83 on 76th Avenue), then a parade at noon July 4 on Harlem Avenue; palosheights.org
Park Forest: The village’s Fourth of July Celebration begins at 6 p.m. July 4 with a parade from Main Street and Orchard, then a concert at the Village Green followed by fireworks at 9:15 p.m., launched from Central Park; www.villageofparkforest.com
Park Ridge: Fireworks July 3, beginning with live music at 8 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. Parking opens at 6 p.m. at Maine East High School (2601 Dempster St.); prparks.org
Pingree Grove: The community’s Independence Day Celebration is July 8, with a parade at 4 p.m. at Alta Vista Drive, with fireworks at dusk; facebook.com
Rochelle: The Independence Boogie is coming to the Chicagoland Skydiving Center (1207 E. Gurler Road) from 11 a.m. to nightfall July 1. There will be a full day of skydivers, aviation demonstrations and live music, ending in a display of pyro skydiving jumps and aircraft fly-bys at 9 p.m., concluding with fireworks; skydivecsc.com
Romeoville: Three simultaneous firework shows at 9:30 p.m. July 3 at Lukancic Middle School (725 Normantown Road), Volunteer Park (1100 Murphy Drive) and Discovery Park (300 S. Highpoint Drive); romeoville.org
Rosemont: The west suburban Parkway Bank Park has announced a lineup for its “Rockin’ In The Park” free concert series at 5501 Park Place; the concerts July 3 and July 6 have post-show fireworks; rosemont.com
Round Lake: Fireworks will be July 1 near the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center (2007 Civic Center Way), with bands and festivities as part of Beachfest from 3 p.m.; rlapd.org
Sandwich: The annual Sandwich Freedom Days is back with fireworks July 1 at Sandwich Fairgrounds (1401 Suydam Road); sandwichfair.com
Schaumburg: The popular way to see fireworks in Schaumburg is to catch a Schaumburg Boomers baseball game at Wintrust Field (1999 S. Springinsguth Road). There will be fireworks after select home games, including July 3 and 4; boomersbaseball.com
Skokie: The town hosts a downtown parade at noon July 4, then a “3D Fireworks Festival” beginning at 5 p.m. at Niles West High School (5701 W. Oakton St.); skokie4th.org
South Holland: A Family Fun Festival runs noon to 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (500 E. 160th Place), then fireworks at dusk; southholland.org
Spring Grove: The July 4 celebration will include a noon parade at Main Street and fireworks at dusk. Views from Thelen Park (8516 Winn Road) and Spring Grove Park (2102 Main St.); sg4thofjuly.com
St. Charles: The St. Charles Park District is planning fireworks at dusk July 4, launching from Langum Park, best viewing at Pottawatomie Park (8 North Ave.), Boy Scout Island and Mt. St. Mary Park; stcparks.org/july-4th
Tinley Park: This year, in response to recent security concerns the fireworks July 3 will be moved from McCarthy Park to the 80th Avenue Metra train station; facebook.com
Vernon Hills: The parade is back and steps off at 9 a.m. July 4 at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium Drive. Fireworks are planned for about 9:30 p.m. in the area around Big Bear and Little Bear Lake and Century Park; vernonhills.org
Wauconda: The Big Bang fireworks celebration is dusk July 3 at Bangs Lake; wauconda-il.gov
Waukegan: Fireworks will be 9 p.m. July 4 at Waukegan Harbor and Marina (55 S. Harbor Place); waukeganharbor.com
Warrenville: As organized by the Warrenville Friends of the 4th, the celebration kicks off with a downtown parade 6 p.m. July 3. Then fireworks will be 9:30 p.m. July 4 at Cerny Park (4S150 River Road), with events all day; warrenville.il.us
Westmont: The Independence Day Celebration will begin 4 p.m. July 4 with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Ty Warner Park (700 Blackhawk Drive), launched from the Willow Crest Golf Club. Also food trucks, music and more; westmontparks.org
Wheaton: Independence Day will be celebrated with a carnival from 5:30 p.m. and fireworks 9 p.m. July 3 in Graf Park (1855 Manchester Road), plus a downtown parade at 10 a.m. July 4; wheatonparkdistrict.com
Wilmette: “Fun & Fireworks” is planned for July 3; festivities and music begin 5 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Gillson Park (entrances from Lake and Michigan Avenues and Sheridan Road); wilmettepark.org
Winnetka: Fourth of July Parade starts at 10 a.m. July 4 on Elm Street and Glendale. Fourthfest opens 5:30 p.m. at Skokie Playfield (540-600 Hibbard Road) for fireworks at 9:20 p.m.; winpark.org
Woodstock: Fourth of July fireworks begin at dusk July 4 in Emricson Park (1313 Kishwaukee Valley Road with parking fee; use South Street entrance). Opens 7 p.m. Walk-ins can enter through South Street and Jackson Street entrances; woodstockil.gov
Yorkville: The town is planning a July 4 celebration with a parade starting 9 a.m. at Yorkville High School on Game Farm Road. Fireworks begin at dusk at the corner of Route 47 and Countryside Parkway. Plus viewing from the Yorkville American Legion Parking Lot (9054 E. Veterans Parkway); yorkville.il.us
Update: This story has new information about earlier Navy Pier fireworks on July 1, plus new entries for Morton Grove and Park Forest.
