Independence Day(s)

Lincolnshire's planned Independence Day celebration is so big, two days are needed to hold all the festivities.

The "Red, White & Boom!" festival is scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Spring Lake Park, 49 Oxford Drive. That's just south of Route 22 at the corner of Oxford and Lincolnshire Drive.

The event is staged by the Lincolnshire Community Association, a not-for-profit civic group that hosts community events throughout the year. The Independence Day festival is its biggest annual event.

The information and ticket booth open the first day at 4 p.m., as does the food court. Popcorn, snow cones and ice cream will be available.

The first official event also begins at 4 p.m.: An interactive kids concert featuring an act called "Macaroni Soup!" will run for an hour on the tennis court's music stage.

The food court and beer tent will be open for business from 5 to 10 p.m. Food and beverages from Flatlander's Restaurant and Brewery, La Rosa Italian Restaurant, Cosi and other eateries will be available. The Rotary Club will be selling roasted corn, too.

More activities are scheduled throughout the night, including music from Personalities Inc. on the music stage.

Friday's schedule is larger - and the fun starts earlier.

The village's 27th annual Independence Day 5-kilometer run kicks off at Spring Lake Park at 8 a.m.

A bicycle and stroller contest starts at 11 a.m. at the Lincolnshire Swim Club's parking lot, 2 Yorkshire Lane.

Also at 11 a.m., a parade will step off from Sprague Elementary School, 2425 Riverwoods Road. The route ends at Spring Lake Park.

At noon, ticket sales resume and the food court and beer tent reopen.

Other planned activities include: a cardboard boat regatta, which begins at 2:30 p.m. at Spring Lake; music from Double Shot, at 7:30 p.m. on the music stage; the announcement of the Lincolnshire Community Association's Citizen of the Year at 9;15 p.m. on the music stage; and a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show at the park.

For more information, visit www.lincolnshirecommunity.com.

Red, White & Boom!

THURSDAY

4 to 9:30 p.m. Information booth and ticket sales

4 to 10 p.m. Food court, featuring popcorn, snow cones and Ben & Jerry's ice cream

4 to 5 p.m. Kids concert, featuring Macaroni Soup (tennis court music stage)

5 to 10 p.m. Food court and beer tent

5 to 9 p.m. Attractions (baseball diamond)

7:30 to 10 p.m. Music entertainment featuring Personalities, Inc. (tennis court music stage)

FRIDAY

8 to 10 a.m. 27th annual Fourth of July 5-kilometer race

11 a.m. Bicycle and stroller contest (Lincolnshire Swim Club parking lot)

11 a.m. to noon Parade (Sprague Elementary School)

Noon to 9 p.m. Information booth and ticket sales

Noon to 9:30 p.m. Food court and beer tent

Noon to 4 p.m. Attractions (baseball diamond)

1 to 3 p.m. Police child ID booth (Spring Lake pavilion)

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Cardboard boat regatta (Spring Lake)

7:30 to 9:15 p.m. Music entertainment, featuring Double Shot (tennis court music stage)

9:15 p.m. Announcement of the Citizen of the Year Award (tennis court music stage)

9:30 p.m. Fireworks