Fourth of July photo gallery
State Representative Elaine Nekritz of Lake Forest does cartwheels on the streets of Des Plaines during the town's annual Fourth of July parade Saturday July 4th.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Slawek Borek and his daughter, Emily, 2, enjoy the Lake Zurich Family Day at Paulus Park Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Caleb Ruckh, 2, of Sugar Grove rides with his dad during Sugar Grove's Fourth of July bike Parade on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Hundreds of people gaze into the sky watching the fireworks show during the Taste of Oak Brook Friday night.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
Zack Teschke, 5, of South Elgin waits for his next opportunity to grab some candy during the South Elgin Independence Day parade Saturday.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
Runners start the Great Western Freedom 4 at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles Saturday.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
The Vernon Hills annual Fourth of July parade brings laughter and cheers Saturday.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Jessica Behning, 18, and the Duet Dance Academy of South Elgin perform as they work the route during the South Elgin Independence Day parade Saturday.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
Ruthee Livi, a junior on the Rolling Meadows High School Color Guard, marches in the Rolling Meadow Fourth of July parade Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Kaylee Angle,6, of Streamwood hands out roses to people on the parade route at the Hoffman Estate Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Keegan Knott, 3, of Lake Villa, poses with Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse before the start of Saturday's Fourth of July parade in Vernon Hills.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Vernon Hills village president Roger Byrne tosses candy to kids during the Fourth of July parade Saturday morning.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Zoe Blazier, 6, of Elgin watches the parade on Douglas Avenue in downtown Elgin Saturday.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Getting a taste of the Fourth of July excitement, Ryan Hess, 5, of Lake Zurich enjoys an ear of roasted corn at Paulus Park at the Taste of Lake Zurich Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Katelynn Bryant, 10, of West Chicago tries out the "Stilth" Saturday at Cantigny in Wheaton with the help from her mom, Rachel during the Fourth of July celebration.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Despite a little rain, Ethel Tolbert of Lake Zurich shows her true colors as she joins in the fun at Paulus Park for the Lake Zurich Family Day Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Wauconda's fireworks display over Cook Park and Bangs Lake.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Saturday's Fourth of July parade in Sleepy Hollow.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
With the American flag proudly posted on the tree, the Roscoe and Kondrad families prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July at Paulus Park in Lake Zurich Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Scott Speare of Campton Hills finished first in the Great Western Freedom 4 race at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles Saturday.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
Deer Park's Randy Lewis does a hop, skip and a jump as he shuffles his way with the St. Michael's Marching Miters Precision Drill Team during the Fourth of July Parade in Barrington Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Alyssa Messina, 13, of Sleepy Hollow rides her motorized scooter along the route of the Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
Eileen Pearse and her daughters Mary, 2, and Maggie, 1, dance in the streets to music while waiting for Wheaton's annual Fourth of July parade to start Saturday.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
Bob and Patti Alberding of Barrington enjoy their view of the Barrington Fourht of July parade Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Gary "Mumbles" Johnson of Elburn of the Hope Clown Ministries signs some songs to motivate the kids before the start of Sugar Grove's Fourth of July bike parade on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn waves during the Arlington Heights Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Parade grand marshals Norma and Perry Mann, front row, Elaine and Bill Soto, center row and Bea Lewis, back, wave flags while riding in a street car in the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade on Saturday July 4th.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Ten-year-old Ryan Gold of Vernon Hills celebrating the Fourth of July Saturday in Vernon Hills.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
The 1776 Northwest Suburb Color Guard kick off the Fourth of July parade in Rolling Meadows Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Kyle Brady, a runner for North Central College, crosses the finish line first at the Freedom Four Run at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn Saturday.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
Umbrellas were the order of the day at the Jaycees Hometown Festival in Palatine on Saturday July 4th. The festival continues Sunday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Sweet Baby Ray ribber Larry " Duce" Raymond of Wood Dale prepares rib Saturday.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Dancers from the Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl participate in Elgin's Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Red, white, and blue hats, T-shirts, and banners were the order of dress at the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade on Saturday July 4th.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Des Plaines VFW Post 2992 Color Guard lead off the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Runners dash onto the streets during the Freedom Four Run.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
World War II veteran Bob Terreberry of Schaumburg enjoys his moment with other veterans being honored on this day of independence at the Fourth of July parade in Hoffman Estates Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Christian Stone, 4, and his sister Shaye, 7, dance in the streets while waiting for Wheaton's annual Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
Fireworks light the sky over Geneva's Elfstrom Stadium after a Kane County Cougars game Friday night.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Grace Auersch, 6, Big Rock rides with her mom Deanna during Sugar Grove's Fourth of July bike parade on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Skylar Beegun, 4, of Lake Zurich is on top of the world as she enjoys herself at Paulus Park on Saturday for the Fourth of July.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Holly Paoli, 11 months, sleeps through the Mt. Prospect Fourth of July parade Saturday while being pushed in a stroller by her dad, Chris.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Naperville Kid Rib judges from left, Breann Tjaarda,13, Ryan Maher,14 and Danielle Kochurka check out ribs Saturday during Ribfest in Naperville.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Tim Ward of West Dundee uses his son Jack, 5, as a human shield to avoid getting hit by water from a super soaker during the Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
The Sugar Grove Fourth of July bike parade waits to get underway on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
Andrew Witmer, with Des Plaines Boy Scouts Pack 160, helps carry a giant American Flag in the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Hundreds of runners line up at the start of the Freedom Four Run at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn Saturday.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
Ryan Mc Laughlin, 6, of Arlington Heights pilots a pedal plane with the St. James Theatre Productions group during the Mt. Prospect Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Despite the overcast weather and slight drizzle, people lined the streets for Wheaton's annual Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Brad Meyer | Staff Photographer
Kelsey Gramins, 7, of Vernon Hills is all smiles after winning second place in the bike decorating contest at the annual Vernon Hills Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
The American Legion and VFW lead the Mt. Prospect Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Boy Scouts with Des Plaines Pack 160 carry the American Flag in the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Watching the action of the Fourth of July parade, Grace Hammond, 7, of Hoffman Estates, shows her true colors with her red, white and blue face Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Vernon Hills' Fourth of July parade organizer Lisa Fischbach of Vernon Hills makes her rounds Saturday morning before the start of the parade.
Paul Valade | Staff Photographer
Rolling Meadows Racing Rays march in the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Des Plaines Park District dancers perform in the Fourth of July parade Saturday.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Kailan Gogerty, 3, of Mt. Prospect waves her flag as light rain begins to fall during the Mt. Prospect Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Janet Arthur of Des Plaines rides in a jeep with American Legion Post 36 during the Arlington Heights Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Erin Collard,15, of Naperville judging the rib contest at Naperville's Ribfest Saturday.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Hamilton's artillery member Ed McComb, left, chats with Wheaton resident Ed Shea Saturday about a 3Lb cannon during Fourth Of July celebration at Cantigny in Wheaton.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
Emma Grace Witt, 4, of Arlington Heights, waves for candy during the Arlington Heights Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Fireworks light up the sky and grandstand at Arlington Park Friday night. More than 34,000 spectators viewed the display in Arlington Heights.
Jason Chiou | Staff Photographer
Shane Loughney a Barrington High School graduate of 2005, just returned from Afghanistan a few days ago and rides with other veterans in the Barrington Fourth of July parade Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Rib judging at Naperville's Ribfest Saturday.
Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer
The Gail Borden Public Library "Book Cart Drill Team" perform during the Elgin parade Saturday.
Kevin Sherman | Staff Photographer
The village of Wauconda held their annual fireworks display at Cook Park and could be seen by hundreds of boaters on Bangs Lake.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
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