Fireworks, parade and Fourth of July fun

By Bob Bong

Here’s a rundown of area Independence Day

events planned to celebrate America’s birthday between now and the Fourth of

July.

BRIDGEVIEW: The Bridgeview Park District

will celebrate Independence Day with a picnic on Wednesday, July 3, at

Commissioners Park, 8100 S. Oketo Ave. Food will be available from Sno Daze

Tropical Sno, Zacarelli’s pizza, Beavers donuts and Don Rafa tacos.

DJ Mike will provide entertainment from 5-10

p.m. Those Funny Little People will be there at 8 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk

(about 9 p.m.)

SUMMIT: The Summit Park District will

have an evening of fun beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, at Summit

Park, 5700 S. Archer Road. There will be beer, food, music. Fireworks show

starts at dusk. Bring the family a blanket and chairs to reserve your spot. For

more information, call 708-496-1012.

BROOKFIELD: Brookfield’s Fourth of July

Parade starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at the corner of Grand and Garfield and heads

due south on Grand to Brookfield Avenue, and then east to Kiwanis Park.

That’s where the village annual Party in the

Park will be held from noon to 8 p.m. with music, food, beverages and fun.

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LYONS: Lyons will host its annual

Independence Day Parade starting at 1 p.m. Thursday. The parade begins at 46th

Street and Lawndale Avenue. It heads east on 46th to Joliet Avenue, and north

on Joliet to the fire station.

The Kids Party in the Park will be held from

6-9 p.m. in Veterans Park, located on the west side of Lawndale, just north of

the village hall, there will be games and activities for children. Live music

will be played.

The fireworks display, which always draws a

big crowd, begins at dusk at the park.

RIVERSIDE: The celebration begins

Wednesday night with Concert in the Park in Guthrie Park, located downtown near

the train station.

A 5K run starts at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. You can

register online or at the water tower near the train station.

The parade starts at 8:45 a.m. Thursday at Big

Ball Park, at Delaplaine and Longcommon roads, and then heads south on

Longcommon to Guthrie Park. A community festival will be held at 10:30 a.m. in

Guthrie Park until 1 p.m. with food and beverage vendors.

BERWYN: Berwyn’s annual fireworks show

starts at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, in the football stadium of Morton West

High School, 2400 S. Home Ave. Gates open at 7 p.m.

Children’s games and activities will be

offered from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Morton High School band will play starting at

8:15 p.m. Opening ceremony will begin at 8:30 p.m. followed by a 20-minute

fireworks show.

The Morton Booster Club will be selling

refreshments.

EVERGREEN PARK: The annual Evergreen Park Independence Day Parade will march

down 95th Street at 6:30 p.m. July 3. Fireworks will begin around 9 p.m. at

Duffy Park, 92nd and Millard.

CRESTWOOD: The Windy City Thunderbolts

and Village of Crestwood will celebrate with Crestwood’s annual Sparks at the

Park on July 3 at Ozinga Stadium, 14011 Kenton Ave. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Fireworks follow the movie “The Princess and the Frog,” which starts at 7 p.m.

The Grill behind home plate will be open and

alcohol and food will be available. Outside food and drink is allowed in the

ballpark for the event.

PALOS HEIGHTS:Palos Heightswill celebrate from 4:30-11:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at

Memorial Park, 7607 College Drive. Events include food vendors, beer tent, face

painting, a petting zoo, and giant slide. A DJ will entertain from 4:30-8:30

p.m. and a live band will perform from 8:30-11:30 p.m. Fireworks over Lake

Katherine will begin at 9:15 p.m.

There will also be a parade at noon on the

Fourth of July from the BMO Harris Bank north down Harlem Avenue to 119th

Place. The Sensory Friendly Block runs from 120^thand Harlem to

Route 83. Fun begins at noon. For information, call 708-361-1807.

OAK LAWN: Oak Lawn kicks off the

Independence Day celebration with its annual Fourth of July Parade starting at

10 a.m. at 95^thStreet and 51^stAvenue and

heads west on 95^thto 55^thCourt.

After the parade ends, continue the fun at the

Oak Lawn Park District’s Party in the Park Fourth of July event at Memorial

Park, 102nd and Major Avenue. Admission is free as it’s the park district’s 75^thanniversary.

Day time festivities will begin with a variety

of family activities from noon to 4 p.m. that includes: A treasure hunt, Adult

and Youth Watermelon Eating Contests, nature scavenger hunt, fishing derby,

kids’ tattoos, carnival games, inflatables, bingo, crafts, magician, balloon

animals, concessions and more!

Take a short stroll from Memorial Park to

Stony Creek Golf Course, Restaurants and Banquets to participate in a mini-golf

tournament and longest drive contest. The facilities dining room will also be

open for food and drink purchases.

Free evening entertainment will be held at the

football field at Richards High School, 106th Street and Central Avenue. Gates

will open at 6 p.m. GAC Entertainment will provide music at 7 p.m. followed by

a fireworks display at 9 p.m. that is co-sponsored by the Village of Oak Lawn.

ORLAND PARK: Orland

Park’s celebration include a free outdoor concert Thursday from 7:15-9:15 p.m.

featuring Suburban Cowboys at Centennial Park, 15600 West Ave. followed by the

presentation of colors and the village’s annual fireworks show at 9:15 p.m.

OAK FOREST: Oak Forest’s 32nd annual Oak

Fest runs July 3-7 and there will be fireworks at dusk on the Fourth of July at

159th Street and Central Avenue.

TINLEY PARK: Tinley

Park has a full day of events planned for the Fourth of July and it all starts

with one of the Southland’s most popular yearly 5K races. TheÊStars & Stripes 5K Run/Walk presented by Republic BankÊwill

step off from McCarthy Park at 8 a.m.

Opening ceremonies for the remainder of the

events planned by the Tinley Park-Park District will be at 4 p.m. Batting cages

and miniature golf will be open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the area in

between the race and the rest of the events planned for the day. Free

watermelon will be available from 6-6:30 p.m.

Activities include food tent, beer tent,

bingo, penny carnival, horseshoe tournament, and face painting. Music will

begin at 4:15 p.m. on the main stage with Peter Oprisko, the Hat Guys will

start at 5:30 and play until the fireworks. Also entertaining the crowd will be

Loopy and Cazoo the clowns, Dale the Magical Balloon Dude, and Bruce Korosawa’s

Polka Band.

The Tinley Park Fireworks Extravaganza display

will cap everything off at dusk.