Independence Day parades step off around the suburbs this weekend
Here are some of the parades planned to celebrate Independence Day in the suburbs:
Saturday, July 2
Northwest Fourth-Fest Parade: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 2, along Illinois Boulevard in Hoffman Estates. Free. northwestfourthfest.com.
Yorkville Fourth of July Parade: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 2, Town Square, Yorkville. Town Square Activities begin immediately after the parade and end at noon. www.yorkville.il.us.
Carpentersville Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, the village hall 1200 L.W. Besinger Drive, Carpentersville. Ends at Carpenter Park. exploreelginarea.com.
Prospect Heights Independence Day Parade: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, from St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights. prospect-heights.il.us.
Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest Parade: 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2, ending at Community Park, 262 E. Palatine Road, Palatine. palatinejaycees.org/hometown-fest.
Sunday, July 3
Island Lake Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Sunday, July 3, stepping off from Cotton Creek Elementary School, 545 Newport Court, Island Lake. The theme will be "Not All Superheroes Wear Capes." villageofislandlake.com/events.
Bartlett Lions Club Fourth of July Parade: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Parade route: Oak Avenue from North Avenue, south to Railroad Avenue; Railroad Avenue from Oak Avenue to Main Street; Main Street from Railroad Avenue to South Bartlett Road; and South Bartlett Road from Main Street to Stearns Road. The parade features horses, floats, fire engines, bands, Shriners, community groups and more. bartlett4thofjuly.com/parade.html.
Crystal Lake Independence Day Parade: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Steps off on Woodstock Street and proceeds down Dole Avenue to end at the festival grounds at Lakeside Arts Park. Presented by the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, City of Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake Lions Club. facebook.com/clchamber.
Waukegan Park District's American Independence Parade: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Steps off from Franklin Street and Sheridan Road, Waukegan. Parade will travel north to Jack Benny Drive and Sheridan Road. This year's parade theme is "Hometown Heroes." The Grand Marshal will be Vista Health System. Free. waukeganparks.org/parade.
Mundelein Community Days Parade: 2 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Forms in the Mundelein Metra Parking Lot and proceeds west on Division, north on Seymour, then west on Hawley Street to Mundelein High School. mundelein.org.
Warrenville's Independence Day Parade: 6 p.m. Sunday, July 3. "Superheroes & Warrenville-ans Parade" travels south on Warren Avenue, west on Warrenville Road, south on Curtis Avenue, ending at Woodland Road and Curtis Avenue. Judges' stand at Curtis and Forestview, where the national anthem will be sung by Jenny Lund and Lucy Hawke. www.facebook.com/WarrenvilleFriendsofthe4th/.
Monday, July 4
Elgin Fourth of July Parade: 9 a.m. Monday, July 4, at Douglas and Slade avenues, Elgin. Spectators can watch the parade on Douglas Avenue, between Slade and Highland Avenue. It ends in front of Elgin City Hall. This year's theme is "No Place Like Home." Free. cityofelgin.org/1740/Fourth-of-July.
Vernon Hills July 4 Parade: 9 a.m. Monday, July 4. Steps off from Deerpath and Atrium drives, Vernon Hills. Parade winds through the Deerpath neighborhood, starting at Countryside Fire and ending at Hawthorn Schools. Register on the village website to be a part of the parade. vernonhills.org.
Aurora Independence Day procession: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. Instead of a parade, Aurora will hold a procession this year, beginning at Phillips Park and traveling throughout the city. Public safety vehicles and a Heroes' Trolley of local veterans will pass by locations throughout the city. At designated "candy zones," the procession will slow down so spectators can get candy. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. at RiverEdge Park and McCullough Park in downtown Aurora. For the route and approximate arrival times, go to www.aurora-il.org.
Barrington Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, steps off from Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington, and proceeds to the Metra Commuter Lot. barrington-il.gov.
Bensenville Libertyfest parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, traveling east on Green Street, continuing south on York Road, turning east onto Jefferson Street, and finishing at the Redmond Recreational Complex, 545 John St., for Taste of the Towns. www.bensenville.il.us.
Des Plaines Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. Steps off at the intersection of Center and Wicke streets, Des Plaines. This year's theme is "Celebrating our Heroes and Community." Includes community floats, live music and strolling entertainment. Free. desplaines.org.
Frontier Days Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, in Arlington Heights. Parade steps off from Dunton and Oakton and travels south on Dunton to Miner and east to Recreation Park. frontierdays.org.
Hinsdale Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. Starting at First Street and Park Avenue, south on Grant to Eighth Street. www.villageofhinsdale.org.
Lisle Fourth of July Parade and Ice Cream Social: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. Parade begins at Lisle Junior High, 5207 Center Ave., and proceeds through downtown ending at the village hall. Lisle Heritage Society's annual ice cream social follows at Museums of Lisle Station Park, 921 School St. Free. lisleparkdistrict.org/specialevents.
Villa Park Fourth of July parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. Villa Park VFW Post 280 hosts a two-mile parade, with "Unifying Our Freedom" theme, starting at 300 Ardmore Ave., west on Central to Harvard, south on Harvard to Madison, east on Madison to Summit, north on Summit to Park, west on Park to Ardmore. villaparkvfw.org.
Wheaton Independence Day Parade: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. South on Main Street, west on Union Avenue, south on Wheaton, and east on Front Street. wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/july4.
Antioch Independence Day Parade: 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 4, at Williams Park, 400 Williams St., Antioch. antioch.il.gov.
Lincolnshire Red, White & Boom parade: 11 a.m. Monday, July 4, beginning near Sprague School, 2425 Riverwoods Road, and ending at Spring Lake Park, Lincolnshire. lincolnshireil.gov.
South Elgin Fourth of July celebration: 11 a.m. to noon Monday, July 4, Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St. This event features a reverse parade featuring 25 floats and vehicles set up at the park, and South Elgin High Marching Storm performing on the soundstage. www.facebook.com/SouthElginIllinois.
Rolling Meadows Fourth of July Parade: 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 4. Steps off from Rolling Meadows High School parking lot, 2901 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. Parade proceeds from the parking lot west on Central Road, north on Owl Lane, east on Kirchoff Road, left at Plaza Drive, ending in the parking lot. cityrm.org.
Sleepy Hollow Fourth of July Parade: 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 4, at Sabatino Park, Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow. Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade. sleepyhollowil.org.
Glen Ellyn Fourth of July parade: Noon Monday, July 4, Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road. Starting at Ellyn Avenue, west on Crescent Boulevard, north on Main, and east on Linden Avenue to Lake Ellyn. Grand marshals are hometown Olympic athletes: speed skater Ethan Cepuran, swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger, and gymnast Alex Diab. www.glenellyn4thofjuly.org.
Oakbrook Terrace Independence Day Parade: Noon Monday, July 4, starting at city hall, 17W275 Butterfield Road, and winding through the streets northwest of Terrace View Park. For parade route, www.oakbrookterrace.net.
Downers Grove Independence Day Parade: 1 p.m. Monday, July 4. Parade, with Grand Marshal Downers Grove native and Olympic silver medal winner Savannah Harmon, starts at Main and Grant streets, south on Main to Warren Avenue. www.downers.us.
Northbrook Bike Parade and Mile Long Parade: Bike Parade at 2:15 p.m. Monday, July 4, at Cherry Lane and Western Avenue. Mile-Long Parade at 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, on Cherry Lane, from Western Avenue to Shermer Road, and Shermer to Walters Avenue. northbrook4thofJuly.com.