A day to celebrate

Independence Day was on full display in Wheaton, from the flags adorning homes around town to the little girls with "U.S.A." painted across their cheeks chasing each other down Main Street.

Families staked out curbside seats early Friday morning along the city's annual Fourth of July parade route, a must-do event for both kids hoping to score free candy and politicians hoping to score votes.

Some, like Jim Archuleta, rolled into downtown on his mountain bike with his two kids, Corgan, 6, and Ava, 3, in tow.

"It's just a great family-friendly event," the Wheaton man said. "Nothing like a small-town parade."

In nearby Carol Stream, thousands of families lined up along Lies Road to watch the Glenbard North High School marching band, fire-twirling Hawaiian dancers and members of the Jesse White Tumblers snake their way toward the Ross Ferraro Town Center.

Several other communities throughout DuPage County followed suit with their own Independence Day festivities.

Glen Ellyn, Lisle and Villa Park held their own town parades complete with marching bands, floats and a host of volunteers flinging candy into the crowds.

Those looking for some finger-licking fun began lining up the door early to be the first into Naperville's Rib Fest.

By noon, the grills were fired up and families like Sheri Busker and her 6-year-old daughter, Alyssa, spent the day chowing down on plates of glazed ribs under the tents.

"We can't have it any better than this," she said.