Images: Independence Day parades, festivals, and community events
Abbie Landa of Glenview donned a patriotic costume for the Mount Prospect parade.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Marion Bensing, 12, of Arlington Heights rides the float for Lattof YMCA during the Mount Prospect parade.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Peter Anast, 11, of Mount Prospect had his face painted for the Mount Prospect parade.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
The Band of the Black Watch from Kenosha, Wis. march in Friday's Fourth of July parade in Vernon Hills.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Lucy, a black Lab mix, watches the Mount Prospect parade as owner Keith Gerber holds .
Marisa Delgado, a senior at Lake Park High School, holds a Marine pull up bar for 70 seconds as part of a flex arm hang challenge during the Fourth of July Ribfest in Naperville.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Charles Robinson, owner of Robinson's Ribs in Chicago and Oak Park sauces up several slabs of ribs during the Fourth of July Ribfest in Naperville
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
The Colt drum and bugle corps from Dubuque, Iowa march in Vernon Hills' Fourth of July parade on Friday.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Carrie Adams, 8 of Mundelein, celebrates Fourth of July in style Friday in Vernon Hills.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Billy Croft of Billy Croft & the Five Alarm Band, entertains part of the Fourth of July Ribfest crowd in Naperville.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Tony Kroll of New Lenox holds a stuffed banana while waiting in line to buy ribs during the Fourth of July Ribfest in Naperville.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Michele Christidis, holds her daughter Jordan, 7 months, while looking at metal lawn art during Eyes to the Sky in Lisle.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Mike Tuvshintulga of Glenview jokes with his son Ezo Tuvshintulga and his friend, during Eyes to the Sky in Lisle.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Ulysses Hernandez, 11, of Chicago attends Eyes to the Sky in Lisle.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Doug Pelletier of Chicago holds his daughter Maeve Pelletier, 2, after winning a stuffed animal in a fire hose game during Eyes to the Sky in Lisle.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
A parade fan waves his American flag in the middle of the street at the beginning of the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade on Friday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn walks in the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade on Friday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn greets the people along the parade route of the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade on Friday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Mackenzie, 7, and Makayla Richards, 5, of Cary add a little color to the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade on Friday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Claudia Reese, 19, Lexi Hogarth, 19 and Alli Harwell, 19, all of Arlington Heights use the roof at the home of Brian Daily to watch the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade on Friday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Benjamin Ptak, 14, of Sleepy Hollow marches in the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade as part of the Civil Air Patrol honor guard.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Michael Johnson and Jake Priester both of Prospect Heights try their best to get candy at the Arlington Heights 4th of July parade on Friday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Members of Stateline County Band from left Dennis Myers, Robert Jess and Mark Villarreal perform at the Lake Zurich Fourth of July family day at Paulus Park.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Veteran Shawn Bloomer of North Chicago plays bocce ball during the Lake Zurich Fourth of July family day in Paulus Park on Friday.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Elizabeth Krause, 4 of Lake Zurich, plays a ring toss game during the Fourth of July family day in Paulus Park Friday.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Ed Searing, center, with the Lake Zurich VFW Post 11020 cooks with his sons Matt Searing, left, and Don Searing during the Fourth of July family day at Paulus Park in Lake Zurich. It's the 22nd year that the VFW Post hosted a picnic for veterans from the VA hospital in North Chicago.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Ely Barrientos, 7, of Rolling Meadows awaits the start of the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Jack Kuntz, 3, of Palatine, his sister, Mairead, 5, and parents, Jen and John watch the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney leaves no one wondering what office he holds as he marches in the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Damien Ortega, 6, of Rolling Meadows is being pulled in his fire engine during the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Breann Kuznicki, 1, of Palatine watches the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade with her mom, Kelly, Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Brian Mc Adow of Woodstock, his wife, Kelly and daughter McKenna, 2, watch the during the Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade while visiting with family Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Rainey Roy, 6, of Barrington watches the Barrington Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
The Fourth of July parade heads eastward along Main Street Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Ben Weibel, 3, of Barrington rides his bike in the Barrington Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Wauconda's Barry Desfor is a member of the American Legion Post 911 and the VFW Post 2486 and participates in a flag folding demonstration during Island Lake's town picnic on the Fourth of July.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Madison Carr, age 3, digs into a hot dog along with her twin sister Sara, left, during Friday's Island Lake town picnic in Veterans Park.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Nicole Dodge, left of McHenry, walks alongside her daughter Ainsley Dodge, 2, during a pony ride Friday at Island Lake's town picnic in Veteran's Park.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Two-year-old Ezequil Bello, center, watches as his dad Baltazar Bello, both of Island Lake, digs for goodies during a treasure hunt on the Veteran's Park beach in Island Lake Friday. The town held a community picnic follow its Fourth of July parade.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Elle Knoll, 3, of Hoffman Estates rides on the shoulders of her dad, David, during the Hoffman Estates Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Matthew Pearson, 5, and Arianna Wieliczko, 4, both of Hoffman Estates, await the start of the Hoffman Estates Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Nelly Konkel, 4, of Hoffman Estates covers her ears as a column of emergency vehicles approaches during the Hoffman Estates Fourth of July parade Friday. Holding her is grandmother, Elizabeth Greczek, also of Hoffman Estates.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Fire engines pass along Illinois Ave. during the Hoffman Estates Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Kiley Quezada, 8, of Gilberts watches the Hoffman Estates Fourth of July parade Friday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk marches in Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk marches in Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Nicholas Principe, 4, and his mother Melissa Principe of Wheaton watch Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Chuck Eilertsen of Westchester visits family to watch Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
U.S. congressman Peter Roskam marches in Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin marches in Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Various political floats participated in Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Former Wheaton residents Ella Pfeiffer, 9, and Aubrey Pfeiffer, 7, watch Wheaton's 2014 Independence Day parade.
Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Matthew Pyrek, 6, gives his friend Carter Dustin, 4, both of Gilberts a lift to see into a 1957 Chevy 210 Bel Air during the Buick GS Club of America car show Friday in Sleepy Hollow.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Tweleve-year-old Lindsey Realmuto, sports a flag printed shirt during the Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade Fourth of July Parade Friday in Sleepy Hollow.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Bryce Pfeifer, 10, of Lake in the Hills and Webelos den 36 carries the flag during the Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade Fourth of July Parade Friday in Sleepy Hollow.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Tara McCarthy, 18, left, and her mom Regina sport some colorful hats during the Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade Fourth of July Parade Friday in Sleepy Hollow.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Mike Rice, 20, of Sleepy Hollow, from left, Becky Rydz, 21, of Algonquin, and Eric Hof, 21, of Sleepy Hollow spray the crowd from the back of a Rutland Dundee Fire Rescue vehicle during the Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade Fourth of July Parade Friday in Sleepy Hollow.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Drew McTague, 4 sits with Nathan, 8 and Natalie Gerritsen, 10, left to right, on the back of a firetruck after riding bikes in the Tartans/Hills neighborhood's annual Fourth of July kids' bike parade in West Dundee. The annual parade began in 1991 and is organized by the neighborhood, with Tim and Elizabeth Ward heading the organization of the event for the past few years.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Ben Dawson, 5 of West Dundee receives encouragement from his mom, Katherine before the start of the Tartans/Hills neighborhood's annual Fourth of July kids' bike parade in West Dundee. The annual parade began in 1991 and is organized by the neighborhood, with Tim and Elizabeth Ward heading the organization of the event for the past few years.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Ben Dawson, 5 of West Dundee rides his bike decorated with American flags at the Tartans/Hills neighborhood's annual Fourth of July kids' bike parade in West Dundee. The annual parade began in 1991 and is organized by the neighborhood, with Tim and Elizabeth Ward heading the organization of the event for the past few years.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Ben Dawson, 5 of West Dundee rides his bike decorated with American flags at the Tartans/Hills neighborhood's annual Fourth of July kids' bike parade in West Dundee. The annual parade began in 1991 and is organized by the neighborhood, with Tim and Elizabeth Ward heading the organization of the event for the past few years.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Aiden Jaquez, 6, gets a head start with his family, Margie Clark, Addison Clark, 6, and grandmother Kathleen Taylor, of Montgomery close behind him at the July Fourth Great Western Freedom 4 to benefit Lazarus House at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles on Friday.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Michael Skora, 17, of St. Charles, center, and other runners line up just before the start of the July Fourth Great Western Freedom 4 to benefit Lazarus House at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles on Friday.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Robert Simmons of Lake in the Hills pauses for a moment before the start of the July Fourth Great Western Freedom 4 to benefit Lazarus House at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles on Friday.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Rich McKenna of Geneva hugs his son Ryan, 9 before the start of the July Fourth Great Western Freedom 4 to benefit Lazarus House at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles on Friday.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
The Elgin Fire Department heads along Douglas Street during the Elgin Fourth of July Parade Friday.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Governor Pat Quinn, center, waves to the crowd during the Elgin Fourth of July Parade Friday. Illinois State Senator Michael Noland is pictured to the right.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
The St. John's Lutheran float heads down Douglas Street during the Elgin Fourth of July Parade Friday.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
A shadow from the Kane County Forest Preserve Mounted Rangers falls into the crowd during the Elgin Fourth of July Parade Friday.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
An American flag is proudly presented during the Elgin Fourth of July Parade Friday
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Elgin Sports Hall of Fame inductee Bob Thoren, who recently turned 90, waves to the crowd during the Elgin Fourth of July Parade Friday. Thoren was in the Elgin High School class of 1942 and an outstanding golfer.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Margaret Zywick, 8 of Vernon Hills, is ready to march with her fellow Troop 40001 girls scouts in Friday's Vernon Hills Fourth of July parade.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Members of the Lake Prairie Federation YMCA Guides & Princesses have fun spraying the crowd during Friday's Fourth of July parade in Vernon Hills.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
The Vernon Hills Fourth of July parade heads down a packed Deerpath Drive on Friday.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
Countryside Fire Protection District firemedics Frank Faamasino, left, and John Sherwood raise the American Flag during a ceremony Friday at the start of the Vernon Hills Fourth of July parade.
Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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