With the Fourth of July this week, grab your swimsuits and sunscreen for a hot day of celebrating the United States’ independence. Enjoy a handful of activities in Forest Park and its surrounding communities that will keep you entertained over the long holiday weekend.
Friday, July 4
During the Fourth, the Park District of Forest Park’s aquatic center will be open during its normal hours to pass holders and village residents from noon to 5 p.m. Starting at 4 p.m., the park district is hosting live music on the lawn at 7501 Harrison St. Later that evening, there will be fireworks.
Though Forest Park doesn’t have a Fourth of July parade, many of its neighboring communities do. So, if you’re looking to catch some marchers and candy, the Oak Park parade starts at 10 a.m. from Longfellow Park and travels north on Ridgeland, then east to Whittier Elementary School. The Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce’s First Fridays event starts after the parade. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be entertainment and food on Chicago Avenue between Lombard and Humphrey.
In Brookfield, the parade also starts at 10 a.m. at Grand Boulevard and Garfield Avenue, heads south down Grand, east on Washington Avenue, then south on Arden Avenue. It ends next to Kiwanis Park, where, following the parade, there will be bands, food, a bounce house and a balloon artist.
The North Riverside parade also steps off at 10 a.m. from 9th Avenue and 26th Street, where it heads east to Veterans Park. There’s a festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Guthrie Park. Later in the evening, from 7 to 9 p.m., Commons Park hosts family activities with food and a band. Fireworks can be seen around 9 p.m. from Riverside Golf Club and nearby sidewalks.