Check your local July 4th parade time

For Rolling Meadows and Des Plaines, holding their Independence Day parades exactly on the Fourth of July means changing the time.

In Des Plaines, parade spectators park in church lots around the downtown area, which would be problematic if the parade and church services coincided, said Karen Kozenczak, Des Plaines director of media services.

"Whenever the holiday falls on Sunday we just make the parade later," she said. The Des Plaines parade will step off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 4.

Rolling Meadows has also moved its July Fourth parade, this time to 1:30 p.m. The city alternates parade routes every other year to send it through different sections of town, said Barry Krumstok, assistant city manager.

This year's route goes by about four churches, so a Sunday morning time would be particularly difficult, he said.

"The City Council discussed it, and the feeling is the Fourth of July should be celebrated on the Fourth of July," said Krumstok. The parade is staged by the city and the Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce.

Given that July 4 falls on a Sunday, most Northwest suburbs that hold parades moved them to Saturday, July 3. These include Barrington, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Prospect Heights.

Mount Prospect also is holding its Independence Day parade on July 4, but its traditional parade time is 1 p.m.

"There was no discussion," said Maura El Metennani. village spokeswoman. "It's always on the Fourth."

Arlington Heights is holding its parade on Monday, July 5. The parade's traditional staging area is the campus of St. Peter Lutheran Church, 111 W. Olive St., which is a busy place with its own worship services and other activities on Sundays, said Carmella Lowth, parade chairman.

One of the benefits of being alone on the 5th, organizers said, are the number of musical units that will be available to march in Arlington Heights.