Suburban festivals halted, fireworks shows canceled amid rainstorms

Festival grounds across the suburbs were cleared out Friday afternoon and a number of fireworks shows canceled as thunderstorms wreaked havoc at the start of the July 4 weekend.

Fireworks and other community events planned for Friday night in Wheaton, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Lisle, Aurora, Roselle, Wauconda, Hawthorn Woods and other towns were nixed.

“Safety is our highest priority when making decisions about outdoor events and unfortunately the forecast for severe weather and rain this afternoon and evening creates significant safety concerns,” Roselle officials said in a Facebook post announcing the cancellation of their town’s celebration.

Roselle officials are talking with vendors, performers and others involved to reschedule the event, which was to include live music, fireworks and a light show.

Wheaton and Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates kept the option for fireworks open into the early evening Friday. In Wheaton, the announcement regarding the night’s drone and fireworks was posted just before 8 p.m.

“Based on the advice of the National Weather Service and the forecast for storms expected around 9PM, tonight's event has concluded. The Fireworks & Drone Show will not take place tonight,” the post read. “While we know this is disappointing, the safety of our guests, participants, volunteers, vendors, and staff is our highest priority. ... A new date for the Fireworks & Drone Show will be announced as soon as it is confirmed.”

Palatine Jaycees’ Hometown Fest also shut down before reopening Friday afternoon, but the fireworks were called off. According to the village’s Facebook post, the fireworks would not be rescheduled.

Elsewhere, a fireworks show scheduled for Friday night in Wauconda’s Cook Park was canceled because of flooding, police announced on social media.

“The possibility of more rain will make setup impossible,” the post read.

Organizers intend to reschedule the event.

The Taste of Oak Brook festival, which had been expected to draw thousands of people Friday afternoon and night, was canceled, as well.

“Despite repeated attempts to remediate the weather-related issues, repeated rounds of inclement weather have resulted in extensive flooding, safety and structural issues and electrical hazards,” officials said in a Facebook post. “We will return bigger and better than ever in 2027.”

A fireworks show scheduled for Friday night in Aurora was postponed one week. It’ll now be held July 10 at RiverEdge Park and McCullough Park, officials announced.

Also canceled were Family Days activities and fireworks in Deerfield and Independence Fest and fireworks in Highland Park.

In Arlington Heights, many people scurried out of the Frontier Days festival grounds in Recreation Park when heavy rain started coming down about 1 p.m. Friday. Others huddled under a larger dining tent.

Strong winds blew over portable toilets and damaged the main entrance sign.

The carnival and food tent reopened after a few hours, though, and the entertainment resumed later in the day.

In Mundelein, officials shut down the Community Days carnival and Mundelein Munch food booths for about three hours early Friday afternoon because of the rough weather.

As at Frontier Days in Arlington Heights, Community Days shut down earlier than scheduled Thursday night because of weather.

With more rain predicted for Saturday, additional events for July 4 could be canceled. Check social media, community websites or event websites before heading to a festival or fireworks show this weekend to see if activities are occurring as scheduled.

Daily Herald staff writer Christopher Placek contributed to this report.