HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Fourth of July activities in Highland Park could have extra sparkle in 2026, the 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, of the Declaration of Independence.
The holiday falls on a Saturday in the middle of a three-day weekend, July 3-5. To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar, Patch has put together a guide to fireworks and other celebrations in Highland Park and the surrounding areas.
The Preserve of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave W - July 3 at 9:30 p.m.
Independence Day festivities begin on July 3 with the Park District’s Independence Fest, followed by the return of the City’s fireworks display that evening. The City’s America 250-themed parade will bring a celebration of our nation’s history to Downtown Highland Park when it steps off at 10:30 AM on July 4.
400 Hastings Rd - July 4 at 5 p.m.
Celebrate the spirit of America’s 250th anniversary at the 2026 Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks! This fun family event is brought to you by the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation. All proceeds after festival expenses are used to support programs of the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department.
Duke Childs Field, 1321 Willow Rd - July 4 at 7 p.m.
Join the village for the best fireworks show on the North Shore! Viewing for fireworks will be held on Duke Child’s Field.
Village of Glencoe, 675 Village Ct - July 3 at 9 p.m.
Glencoe's Dazzling firework display over Lake Michigan can be enjoyed from Lakefront Park.
Celebrations around the country recall not only the events leading up to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, but also look forward and aim to make the 4th of July weekend a massive, multigenerational cultural moment focused on community connections and charitable giving.
America’s Block Party, an unprecedented coast-to-coast initiative, is one of the signature events of America 250, the congressionally chartered nonprofit overseeing the semiquincentennial celebration.
A Times Square Ball Drop, a rolling series of ball drops, timed to occur at midnight on July 3 in every U.S. time zone from Guam to American Samoa, is part of the “Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show,” creating a nearly 24-hour celebration of the 250th anniversary. It’s part of the broader “Giving 4th” initiative that aims to make and establish Independence Day the biggest annual day of giving.
A time capsule will be buried in Philadelphia to be opened in 2276 on July 4. It contains a carefully curated collection of letters and artifacts reflecting the leadership, institutions, and communities that shape the country today. It will include contributions from all three branches of the U.S. federal government and submissions from each of the 50 states, Washington D.C., and five territories.
Separately, the White House’s Freedom 250’s biggest spectacles are the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, running June 25 to July 10; the July 4 Salute to America Fireworks, also on the National Mall; “Sail 4th 250,” billed as the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world in New York Harbor; and Rushmore 250, an iconic 4th of July fireworks on July 3 alongside military concerts and live presidential reenactors.
Are you planning an event this summer? Feature it so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!
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