Warrenville celebrates America’s 250th with two-day Fourth of July festival

This year’s Warrenville’s Fourth of July Celebration will be celebrating America’s 250th with the theme, “1776-2026: 250 Years in the Making.”

The two-day event, organized by the Warrenville Friends of the 4th, kicks off with a parade on Friday, July 3. The parade steps off at 6 p.m., heading south on Warren Avenue, west on Warrenville Road, south on Curtis Avenue, ending at Woodland Road. The judges' stand will be at Main Street and Warren Avenue.

Cerny Park, 4S150 River Road, opens at 5 p.m. with kids’ activities, including face painting and animals, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the pavilion. Warrenville’s own Katie Kostner will take the stage from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. followed by Snap Shot, a classic rock band, from 9 to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, the annual Firecracker 5K Run/Walk starts at 7:45 a.m. with the national anthem, followed by the 50- and 100-yard dashes for ages 3 to 6 and ages 7 to 10 at 7:50 a.m. at the Warrenville Park District Recreation Center. Cost is $5; includes participant ribbon only

The 5K all-ages race starts at 8 a.m. Cost is $40. It will be followed by the Sparkler 1-miler for all ages. It is $20. The scenic course incorporates the Illinois Prairie Path, Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve, and the streets of downtown Warrenville. Register at warrenvilleparks.org/event/firecracker-5k-2/.

Warrenville Athletic Association's annual Cerny Series Baseball Games begin at 10 a.m. at the ball field.

The lineup for children’s parade will start at 11:30 a.m. at St. Irene’s Church on Warren Avenue, with the annual “Walk, Run, Scoot or Ride” Parade stepping off at noon on Warren Avenue and continuing to Cerny Park.

The vendors booths open at noon at Cerny Park with the opening flag ceremony and VFW rifle squad at 12:15 p.m.

Sing your heart out with karaoke from 12:30 to 7 p.m. in the pavilion. Or check out the Fire Department Water Fights from 2 to 4 p.m. on the east side of the park.

The Warrenville Historical Society is hosting free bingo and prizes from 2 to 3 p.m. in the pavilion, and Warrenville's annual Horseshoe Contest will be 2 to 4 p.m. (sign up at the pits before 2 p.m.

There will be kids’ entertainment including face painting, balloons and games from 2 to 7 p.m. in the pavilion and park area. Mary Macaroni & Impastas Show offers children's entertainment from 3 to 4 p.m. at the pavilion.

The main stage will open at 3 p.m. with the sounds of rock 'n roll from Room to Move. It will be followed by Brass on Fire playing high-energy rock and soul featuring three-piece brass horns from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The headliners Hairbanger's Ball, an 1980s hair rock tribute band, will take the stage from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m.

At 9:15 p.m., there will be the singing of the national anthem, immediately followed by the fireworks.

Virtual Quack Pot Duck Race

Sponsor a duck in a Virtual Quack Pot Duck Race. This event combines a traditional 50/50 raffle with a rubber duck race for a fun, festive fundraiser that benefits the race winners, the DuPage Veteran Mentor Program, and the Warrenville Friends of 4th.

All three duck races will take place online with a live viewership at Cerny Park at 7 p.m. July 4. The winner need not be present if their duck wins a race. All ducks compete in Race 1, that race’s winner will not compete in Race 2, and those two winners will not compete in the Grand Prize Race.

It will be limited to 1,000 entrants. Purchase a virtual racing duck for $10. Three winning ducks will split a maximum post of $5,000 (if all 1,000 tickets are sold) with the first runner-up race for $500 (or 10%); second runner-up race, $750 (or 15%); and third grand prize race, $1,250 (or 25%). The nest egg is split with 50% to the race winners and 50% to the two organizations hosting the event.

Duck sponsorships are available online through 6 p.m. July 4. Sponsor tickets will also be sold in person at the Fourth of July celebration at Cerny Park.

For information on the festival, visit facebook.com/WarrenvilleFriendsOfThe4th/. Financial donations to put on the annual festival and fireworks also are accepted throughout the year. Drop off a check at city hall or donate funds digitally via PayPal.