Images: The Fourth of July
Runners begin The Great Western Freedom 4 road race at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles Wednesday morning.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Heat waves start to show at 8 a.m. as the pack leads the way at the start Wednesday at The Great Western Freedom 4 road race at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Dan Morgan, a senior at Burlington Central High School, stretches Wednesday before the start of The Great Western Freedom 4 road race at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. He said his goal was only to have fun.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Base drummer Alex Miller can hardly see the crowd around his drum Wednesday at the South Elgin Fourth of July parade. He plays with the South Elgin High School marching band.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The South Elgin High School cheerleaders march over the Fox River bridge Wednesday at the South Elgin Fourth of July parade.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline marching percussion unit performs Wednesday at Elgin Fourth of July parade.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The South Elgin marching band performs Wednesday at Elgin Fourth of July parade.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The crowd stands and applauds as the American Flag passes Wednesday at Elgin Fourth of July parade.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The Vernon Hills Park District poms and cheer perform for the crowd during the Vernon Hills Fourth of July Parade Wednesday morning on Deerpath Drive.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
The Vernon Hills Fourth of July Parade kicked off Wednesday morning winding down Deerpath and Atrium Drives.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Five-year-old Clara Sheridan of Vernon Hills shows off her decorated bike as she participates in the Vernon Hills Fourth of July Parade Wednesday morning.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Four-year-old Maddy Gardner, left, and 3-year-old Olivia Altergott, both of Wauconda wave as the Vernon Hills Fourth of July Parade kicked off Wednesday morning winding down Deerpath and Atrium Drives.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Eight-year-old Natalie Gorgius of Island Lake is decked out in red, white and blue during the Island Lake Fourth of July Community Picnic at Veterans Park Wednesday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Three-year-old Audrey Fox of Island Lake enjoys a hot dog during the Island Lake Fourth of July Community Picnic Veterans Park Wednesday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Lifeguard Robert Biedron dons a festive hat at Lincolnshires Red White and Boom 2012 event Wednesday at Spring Lake Park.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Racers dash for the water during a cardboard boat regatta at Lincolnshires Red White and Boom 2012 event Wednesday at Spring Lake Park.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
12-year-old Sahsa Pinchuk, left, and 14-year-old Naomie Lapointe, both of Lincolnshire compete in a cardboard boat regatta as Lincolnshire held their Red White and Boom 2012 event on Wednesday at Spring Lake Park.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Left to right are cousins Izabella Nelson-Carrillo, 6, Cailyn Nelson-Teague, 4 and Alaina Nelson-Carrillo, 4, with Charles Teague of Aurora enjoying the 4th of July parade in Aurora on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Ethan Greiff, 4, of Aurora, cheers the start of the 4th of July parade in Aurora on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Emerson Massie, 5, of Aurora, cools off in a fountain sculpture along Benton Avenue while waiting for the 4th of July parade in Aurora on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Austin Cure, 8, of Bolingbrook cools off with a snow cone at the Taste of Lombard on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Madison Turek, 4 of Lombard, plays the Derby Race game with her grandma Irene Turek at the Taste of Lombard on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Anthony Weaser, 8 and his sister Adrianna, 4, of Lombard, find some shade to have their lemon ices during the Taste of Lombard on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Janet Alman of Wheaton uses a big umbrella for shade while watching the 4th of July parade in Glen Ellyn on Wednesday with her kids, left to right, Sarah, 3, Jacob, 6 and Ashley, 3.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Michael Chrissy from Gigis Playhouse throws out some candy as he and Erin Gunsteen with Emmett Gunsteen, 2, take part in the 4th of July parade in Glen Ellyn on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Natalie Snow, 7, of Wheaton, gets a shady spot in her wagon to watch the 4th of July parade in Glen Ellyn on Wednesday.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Jason Wendt of Arlington Heights shades is son, Lucas, 2, with an umbrella as the watch the Mount Prospect Fourth of July parade Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jack Fitzgerald, 5, of Mount Prospect, aims a fan at his cousin, Tyler Fitzgerald, 3, of Schaumburg, as he helps him cool off during the Mount Prospect Fourth of July parade Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jack Morman, 7, originally of Mount Prospect and now living in Denver, fans himself while waiting for the arrival of the next parade group during the Mount Prospect Fourth of July parade Wednesday. He comes back every year to watch the parade and visit family.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
The Prospect High School marching band and flag team pass during the Mount Prospect Fourth of July parade Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Fire engines pass during the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Philip Holzer, 13, helps carry the American Flag while marching with Boy Scout Troop 160 during the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Governor Pat Quinn greets Joel Long of Des Plaines during the Des Plaines Fourth of July parade Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Allison Mulhern of Palatine has fun on a ride with her son, Peter, and her friends daughter, Brianna Holmes, both 5-years-old, during the Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Aiden Yang, 5, of Palatine takes advantage of the spray of a cooling station during the Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Karolina Sen, 2, of Palatine catches a toy shark with the help of her dad, Piotr, during the Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest Wednesday.
JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Emily Fagan, 5, of Bartlett in the extreme heat competes in the 40 lb weight division class tractor pull at the Bartlett Fourth of July festival on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Carol Nice of Schaumburg walks away with a cool lemonade in the souvenir cup, her way a keeping cool at the Bartlett Fourth of July festival on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Elk Grove Village resident Tony Passaro, 21, cooks up hot dogs for the hungry in the extreme heat at Bartletts Fourth of July festival on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
A mass of humanity floods the streets during the Fourth of July parade on Wednesday in Arlington Heights.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Bill Christiansen of Des Plaines Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 311 taking a moment to wipe down his sweaty head while marching in a very hot Fourth of July the parade on Wednesday in Arlington Heights.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Aidan Nagy, 2, of Arlington Heights points out what he likes in the Fourth of July parade while dad, Steve provides a higher vantage point during the parade on Wednesday in Arlington Heights.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Noel Pawlak of Palatine hands out balloons at the Arlington Heights Fourth of July parade on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Festival worker Hanna Schwertfeger, 12, holds a cool towel to her head during the extreme heat at the Hoffman Estates Northwest Fourth Fest at the Sears Centre Arena on Wednesday
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Eliza Incledon, 7, of South Barrington, shows her cool colors in the extreme heat which kept many people away from the first Hoffman Estates Northwest Fourth Fest held at the Sears Centre Arena on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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