Festival of Life Union Park’s annual festival celebrates the lifestyle, heritage, and cultures of the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and the U.S. The four-day festival also includes music, arts and crafts, food and drinks, three-on-three soccer tournaments, and more. Fri 7/1-Mon 7/4: noon-10 PM, Lake and Ashland, festivaloflife.biz, $15-$25 single day pass, $45-$100 four-day pass. Frontier Days Festival The Wallflowers, Plain White T’s, and American English take the stage at Recreation Park. A Fourth of July parade, carnival, and “stampede” run will also take place. Fri 7/1-Mon 7/4: 8 PM, 500 E. Miner, Arlington Heights, frontierdays.org, free.Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival School of Rock, Serendipity, and Brace for Impact are just a few of the bands making an appearance at Melas Park’s 78th annual carnival this year. The fest features food vendors, a beer and wine tent, and fireworks. Fri 7/1-Mon 7/4: Fri 6-11 PM, Sat-Mon 1-11 PM, Central near Busse, Mount Prospect, mplions.org, $18 single-day wristband.Naperville Ribfest Sheryl Crow, 3 Doors Down, and Gin Blossoms headline this celebration at Knoch Park, featuring food vendors such as Armadillo’s BBQ & Rib Company and Porky ‘N’ Beans. In addition to food and music, the festival will include carnival rides, magic shows, and fireworks at 9:30 PM on the Fourth of July. Fri 7/1-Mon 7/4: noon, 724 S. West, Naperville, ribfest.net, $12 general admission.Northwest Fourthfest The “Burbs’ Biggest Fourth of July Celebration” features performances by local bands, animal exhibits, pie-eating contests, food vendors, a craft fair, and a carnival packed with more than 40 rides. There’s also a fireworks show on July 3 at 9:30 PM and a parade that kicks off on July 4 at 9 AM. Fri 7/1-Mon 7/4: times vary, see website, 5333 Prairie Stone, Hoffman Estates, northwestfourthfest.com, free.
July 4 Parade and 3-D Fireworks in Skokie The parade runs east along Oakton Street from downtown Skokie to Oakton Park, featuring marching bands, tumblers, drill teams, clowns, vintage automobiles, and more. At 5 PM, the 3-D fireworks (apparently that’s a thing) begins at Niles West High School; the first 10,000 patrons to arrive receive a free pair of 3-D glasses. Live music from Empty Pockets and Semple, children’s games, and face painting starts at 6:30 PM. Mon 7/4, noon, 9300 Weber Park, Skokie, skokieparks.org, free.July 4 Celebration and Fireworks in Westmont Ty Warner Park hosts an afternoon of Independence Day festivities, including a petting zoo, face painting, balloon sculptors, a watermelon-eating contest, and more. The Grand Avenue Big Band performs live music prior to the fireworks display at 9:30 PM. Mon 7/4, 4 PM, 700 Blackhawk, Wesmont, westmontparks.org, free.
