When, where to see fireworks in the suburbs
Fireworks will soon fill the skies — and not just for the Fourth.
While some suburbs hold off on their displays until Independence Day, others get the party going sooner.
Here is a look at when to see fireworks and where:
Antioch
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, in Williams Park, Williams Road and Route 83, Antioch. antioch.il.gov.
Arlington Heights
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Racing, live music and activities for the whole family begin at 3 p.m. $2-$16 general admission. Tickets at arlingtonpark.com.
Aurora
5 p.m. Friday, July 4, at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. Family activities, food, live music and fireworks. Viewing at McCullough Park and RiverEdge Park. Shuttle buses available from multiple locations. Free. aurora-il.org.
Barrington
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. barrington4thofjuly.com.
Bartlett
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett. Music simulcast on 98.1 FM. Free. bartlett4thofjuly.com.
Batavia
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Engstrom Park, Main and Millview streets, Batavia. Savor the Flavor food vendors open from 5 to 9:30 p.m. $5 donation for parking at both high school parking lots (off Wilson and Main), the Ace Hardware parking lot and the Wilson Business Center on West Wilson Street. cityofbatavia.net.
Bensenville
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Liberty Fest 2014 in Redmond Park, 735 E. Jefferson St., Bensenville. Free. bensenville.il.us.
Buffalo Grove
Dusk Friday, July 4, at the Buffalo Grove Village Hall campus, 50 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove. Free. vbg.org.
Carol Stream
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the Carol Stream Town Center, 960 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Viewing from Town Center and Veteran's Park/Mitchell Lakes. A shuttle from Glenbard North High School and points along Lies Road runs from 7 to 11 p.m. Free. facebook.com/vilofcarolstream.
Cary
Dusk Thursday, July 3, at Lions Park, 1200 Silver Lake Road, Cary. Rain date for fireworks is dusk Thursday, July 10. Free. Parking $5 on the grass; $10 on the pavement. (847) 639-6100 or carypark.com.
Chicago
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. navypier.com.
Crystal Lake
Dusk Sunday, July 6, at Main Beach Crystal Lake, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake. $3-$15. crystallakeparks.org.
Deerfield
Dusk Thursday, July 3, in Brickyards Park, off Kates Road, on Fountainview Drive, Deerfield. Free. (847) 945-5000.
Elgin
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. For ticket information, visit grandvictoriacasino.com.
Elk Grove Village
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Lions Park, Lions Drive at Elk Grove Boulevard, Elk Grove Village. Free. elkgrove.com.
Fox Lake
9:15 p.m. Friday, July 4, over Columbia Bay on Fox Lake. Free. foxlake.org.
Geneva
Fireworks follow the Kane County Cougars baseball team's home games on Wednesday and Thursday, July 2-3, at the First Third Bank Ballpark, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva. Games begin at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, visit milb.com.
Glendale Heights
Dusk Wednesday, July 9, and Sunday, July 13, at Glendale Heights Fest in Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights. Free. (630) 260-6000 or glendaleheights.org.
Glen Ellyn
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road, Glen Ellyn. glenellyn4thofjuly.org.
Gurnee
Dusk Friday through Sunday, July 4-6, at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. For admission fees, visit sixflags.com/greatamerica.
Hawthorn Woods
Dusk Thursday, July 3, at Hawthorn Community Park, 42 Park View Lane, Hawthorn Woods. Free. vhw.org.
Hoffman Estates
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, on the grounds of Northwest Fourth-Fest at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. northwestfourthfest.com
Huntley
8:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Huntley Outlet Center, 11800 Factory Shops Blvd., Huntley. Free. huntley.il.us.
Itasca
Fireworks begin between 9:45 and 10 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Hamilton Lakes, Thorndale Avenue and Route 53, Itasca. Free admission; $20 parking per vehicle. itasca.com.
Lake Forest
9:40 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Deerpath Community Park, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest. Gates open at 5 p.m. Features concert headliner Gretchen Wilson. Admission is $10-$15; kids younger than 5 admitted free. friendslfpr.org.
Lake Zurich
9:15 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Henry J. Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Admission is $2 for resident adults; free for residents ages 17 and younger. $7 for nonresidents; free for kids 3 and younger. (847) 438-5146 or lakezurich.org.
Libertyville
8:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Butler Lake Park, Lake Street, Libertyville. The Village Band performs a special concert of patriotic music and other favorites. Free. libertyville.com.
Lincolnshire
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Drive, Lincolnshire. Free. (847) 913-2313 or lincolnshirecommunity.org.
Lisle
9:45 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 3-5, at Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival at Lisle Community Park, 1925 Ohio St., Lisle. $7. Free admission for the military (active and veterans) on Friday, July 4. eyestotheskies.org.
Lombard
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Madison Meadow Park, Lombard. Taste of Lombard admission $3; free for kids 9 and younger. tasteoflombard.com.
Mount Prospect
9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, and Friday, July 4, at the Lions Festival at Melas Park, Central and Busse roads, Mount Prospect. Free. mountprospect.org.
Mundelein
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Kracklauer Park, Seymour Avenue, Mundelein. Free. mundelein.org.
Naperville
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Naperville Exchange Club Ribfest, Knoch Park, 724 S. West St., Naperville. Free admission after 7:30 p.m. ribfest.net.
Oak Brook
9:15 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Oak Brook Sports Core Fields, 700 Oak Brook Road, Oak Brook. On-site parking $10. Fireworks rain date is Friday, July 4. oak-brook.org.
Oakbrook Terrace
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Terrace View Park, Route 83 and 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace. Free. oakbrookterrace.net.
Palatine
9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at the site of Hometown Fest, Community Park, Palatine and Oak, Palatine. Free. palatinejaycees.org.
Rolling Meadows
9:15 p.m. or dusk Friday, July 4, at Salk Park, 3699 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows. ci.rolling-meadows.il/us.
Rosemont
7 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at MB Financial Park at Rosemont, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Concert featuring the band Brother Trouble, followed by fireworks. Free. rosemont.com.
Schaumburg
Fireworks follow the Schaumburg Boomers baseball team's home games Thursday through Saturday, July 3-5, at Schaumburg Boomers Stadium, 1999 Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Game times are 6:30 p.m. July 3 and 4 and 6 p.m. July 5. For game ticket prices, visit boomersbaseball.com.
Sleepy Hollow
9:15 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Sabatino Park, Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. Fireworks parking opens at 7 p.m. $5 per car. sleepyhollowil.org.
St. Charles
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., St. Charles. Evening starts with 4 p.m. concert. Fireworks off Boy Scout Island with best viewing at Pottawatomie Park or Ferson Creek Park. Free; parking is limited. (630) 513-6200 or stcparks.org.
Streamwood
9:15 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Dolphin Park, 880 S. Park Blvd., Streamwood. Rain date is Saturday, July 5. Free. streamwood.org.
Vernon Hills
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Century Park, 1001 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. Music by the Big Fun Band, followed by fireworks over Big Bear Lake. Free. vernonhills.org.
Warrenville
Dusk Friday, July 4, at Cerny Park, at River Road and Forest View Drive, Warrenville. Free. warrenville.il.us.
Wauconda
Dusk Thursday, July 3, at Cook Park, 600 N. Main St., Wauconda. Free. waucondaparks.org.
Westmont
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Ty Warner Park, 801 Burr Oak Drive, Westmont. Free. (630) 963-5252 or westmont.illinois.gov.
Wheaton
Dusk Thursday, July 3, in Graf Park, 1701 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Free. wheatonparkdistrict.com.
Wheeling
9:15 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Wheeling's Evening Under the Stars event, Wheeling Village Hall, 2 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic. Free. wheelingil.gov.
Woodridge
9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. The villages of Downers Grove and Woodridge co-host a fireworks show at 75th and Lemont roads, Woodridge. Free. (630) 434-5500 or downers.us.