Best of the fests

Thursday 2
Eyes to the Skies
Don’t forget your neck pillow at this suburban festival: Your head will be craned for three days of evening balloon launches (6pm) followed by fireworks. Lisle Community Park, Rte 53 at Short St, Lisle. Thu 2, 3–11pm; Fri 3, Sat 4 11am–11pm. $3, kids 4 and under FREE.

Friday 3
Independence Eve Fireworks
Chicago’s crowning fireworks display excites folks into staking out a patch of grass in Grant Park as soon as Taste of Chicago opens at 10:45am. Silly early risers. We’d rather arrive in time for the 85th Army Band (8pm) to kick off the tunes for the 9pm show of fireworks. Chicago Lakefront near Jackson and Columbus Drs (tasteofchicago.us). 8pm, FREE.

Arlington Fireworks Celebration
Take a seat in the stands for an afternoon of racing and live music, followed by a 30-minute pre-Fourth fireworks show. Arlington Park Racecourse, 2200 W Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights (847-385-7500). 4pm. $5, advance $3.

Saturday 4
Itasca’s Fantastic Fireworks
A lineup of pre-fireworks bands includes blah ’90s alt-rockers Smash Mouth (8pm). Keep in mind, it’s the second-largest display in the state, which should eclipse hearing “Walkin’ On The Sun” for the thousandth time. Hamilton Lakes Office Campus, I-290 and Thorndale Ave, Itasca (630-773-0835). 6–10pm, FREE.

Independence Day the Glen Ellyn Way
And just what is the “Glen Ellyn way,” you might ask? The picture-perfect western ’burb rings in the Fourth with a noon parade through its downtown; food, live music and family activities at the park; and a colorful blast of fireworks. Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Rd, Glen Ellyn. Noon, FREE.

Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks
Celebrate in true aristocratic style at this tony North Shore ’burb. Kids’ entertainment starts at 5pm, and the Village People take the stage at 8pm; fireworks explode overhead at 9:30pm. Deerpath Park, 400 Hastings Rd, Lake Forest (847-234-6700). 5–10pm. $5, to bring in a cooler $10.

Fourth of July Fireworks at the Pier
Navy Pier’s Independence Day fireworks light up the sky to a patriotic soundtrack. Stick around afterward for a ride on the Ferris wheel or a beer on the terrace. Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave (312-595-7437). 9pm, FREE.

Wheeling Freedom Fest
Recession-wary Wheeling managed to squeeze out funding for a 7:30pm parade and a fireworks show at dusk—but vendors and entertainment are nixed from the fete. Somehow, I think we’ll live without another Beatles cover band. 333 W Dundee Rd, Wheeling (847-229-4605). 3pm–midnight, FREE.

Evanston Fourth of July Celebration
A parade steps off at Central Park and Central Streets at 2pm. Then at 7:30pm, concert bands work up the crowd until the fireworks start at 9:15pm. Evanston lakefront, Sheridan Rd and Lake St, Evanston (847-475-4585). 2pm, FREE.

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