Fourth of July activities in Northbrook 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 Northbrook and the surrounding areas.
July 4 Festivities
What:
Where: Westmoor Elementary School, 2500 Cherry Ln, Northbrook, IL, 60062
When: 4 p.m. July 4
Description: Featuring a full day of activities, including a morning 5K, a 4 p.m. parade on Cherry and Cedar Lane, and fireworks (approximately 9 p.m.) At Meadowhill Park. DJ entertainment starts at 7 p.m. at the Ed Rudolph Velodrome before the main display.
What: Glenview 4th of July Celebration
Where: Gallery Park, 2001 Patriot Blvd, Glenview, IL, 60026
When: 6 p.m. July 4
Description: Twilight Fireworks: at Gallery Park
What: Deerfield Family Days 2026
Where: Shepard Park, Deerfield, IL, 60015
When: Music starts at 5:30 p.m. July 3, fireworks scheduled for 9:15 p.m.
Description: Featuring a two-day celebration on July 3 and July 4, featuring a 5K race, parade, arts and crafts fair, carnival games, and fireworks. The festivities include a fireworks display and a parade on Deerfield Road.
What: Rock 'n' Run the Runway
Where: Chicago Executive Airport, 1080 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
When: Race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 27
5 pm - Gates open
6 pm-7:30 pm - Live music by 7th heaven
8:15-10:30 pm - Live music by ARRA
ARRA will break at 9:15 pm for fireworks
The day starts with a 5K run on the runways of the airport in the morning, and resumed in the evening with live music, various food trucks, adult beverages, children’s entertainment, and of course fireworks at the end of the night.
What: Buffalo Grove Fourth of July Fireworks & Celebration
Where: Willow Stream Park, 651 Old Checker Road, Buffalo Grove
When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 4
Description: Join the Village for an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration! Bring a picnic basket and a blanket out to Willow Stream Park as we celebrate America's birthday. The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band will present a patriotic-themed concert beginning at 7 p.m., while the fireworks display begins at 9 p.m.
Need-to-know info:
What: 2026 Community Fireworks Des Plaines
Where: Oakton College, 1600 Golf Rd, Des Plaines, IL, 60016
When: Community fireworks will be on Sunday, June 28.
Description: Gates open at 7 p.m. with the show starting at dusk (roughly 9:15 p.m.). Admission is free to the public, offering a major local celebration with music and family activities.
What: Frontier Days Festival
Where: Recreation Park, 500 E Miner St, Arlington Heights, IL, 60004
When: July 1 through July 5
Description: Organized by the volunteer-run nonprofit Frontier Days, Inc., the festival has brought the community together since 1976 with live entertainment, family activities, carnival rides, food and one of the largest Fourth of July parades in the region.
What: 2026 Independence Day Parade Des Plaines
Where: Center Street, Center St, Des Plaines, IL
When: 10 a.m. July 4
Description: The parade typically kicks off at the intersection of Center Street and Wicke Avenue, proceeding north through the city. It is a popular, family-friendly event featuring local bands, floats, and community groups.
What: Elk Grove Village Fireworks/Concert
Where: Rotary Green, 164 Lions Dr, Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007
When: Jake Owen and Rotary Green Concert at 8 p.m. July 4. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.
What: Northwest Fourth-Fest Hoffman Estates Fireworks
Where: 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy, Hoffman Estates, IL, 60192
When: 9:30 p.m. July 3
Description: This multi-day festival runs from July 3rd to July 5th, offering carnival rides, live music, and free family activities.
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 across Patch — including in roundups like this!
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