Severe weather closing suburban festivals, canceling fireworks shows

Festival grounds across the suburbs were cleared out Friday afternoon as thunderstorms wreaked havoc at the start of the July 4 weekend.

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.

Activities temporarily were halted to give organizers time to decide if they should continue with the schedule or cancel for the second-straight night.

Palatine Jaycees’ Hometown Fest shut down temporarily Friday afternoon, too.

Elsewhere, 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 on social media.

Aurora’s Fourth of July parade remained scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday.

In Mundelein, officials temporarily shut down the Community Days carnival and Mundelein Munch food booths Friday because of the rough weather. The carnival and food booths had shut down earlier than scheduled Thursday night because of the thunderstorms, too.

Opening activities of Northwest Fourth Fest in Hoffman Estates, the Bartlett 4th of July Fest and Taste of Oak Brook were delayed Friday as well.

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.