Celebrate Independence Day weekend at Mundelein Community Days

Bring your friends and family out to Kracklauer Park on Seymour Avenue for the annual Mundelein Community Days.

From July 1-4, the Village of Mundelein presents music, food, carnival rides, a pet parade and more for people of all ages to enjoy.

"It's a community celebration centered around Fourth of July," Assistant Village Administrator Mike Flynn said. "It's a chance for the community to get together and for neighbors to meet one another in a fun atmosphere."

Mundelein Munch runs all four days from noon to 11 p.m. and will feature food vendors such as Dairy Queen, Brothers BBQ, Tamales Diana and Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza.

Daily highlights include:

• Friday: Events start at 10 a.m. with a police statue dedication. Named "The Protector," the statue is of a police officer and two children and is meant to commemorate the dedication and service the Mundelein Police Department has shown for the community.

When attendees aren't admiring the beauty of the Mundelein pageant queens, who will be introduced at 4 p.m., they can ride fire engines or some classic carnival rides. Musical entertainment will be performed by R&B band R Gang from 5-7 p.m. and rock/funk band Samadhi Vibe from 8:30-11 p.m.

• Saturday: While animal lovers admire the cute pet tricks and pet parade that starts at 9 a.m., car lovers can look at cool cars from around the area at the car show that runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities such as bingo, kids crafts, horseshoe tournaments, pony rides, and even a jalapeño eating contest make sure there is something for everybody to enjoy.

• Sunday: Come bright and early for a pancake breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m. Caricatures, ceramics painting, Irish dancers, jugglers and music by rock band Adam Ezra Group and Final Say follow.

The parade will be from 2-4 p.m. This year, the parade will form in the Mundelein Metra Station parking lot. Due to the construction on Hawley Street, the parade will run west on Division Street from the Metra lot to Midlothian Road, north on Midlothian to Hawley Street, then to Mundelein High School.

• Monday: Events get started early with a 5K run/walk and half-mile youth run. Activities such as face painting, watermelon and pie eating contests and a tae kwon do demonstration follow. Fireworks and music by country band Bella Cain will close the night.

Admission is free. For details, visit mundelein.org.