The Evanston Fourth of July Association will sponsor playground activities, a parade, fireworks and more on Independence Day, this Thursday, July 4.
Playground Activities
The Let’s Play Mobile Recreation Trailer will be at Foster Park Field, located at Simpson Street and Ashland Avenue, starting at 9 a.m., and will travel to Beck Park, located east of the canal from Lyons to Emerson Streets, at 11 a.m. Family playground activities will start at 9 a.m. at six Evanston locations: Lincolnwood School, 2600 Colfax St.; Willard School, 2700 Hurd Ave.; Kamen East Park, South Boulevard and Barton Avenue; Baker Park, Forest Avenue and Keeney Street; ETHS Track Area, 1600 Dodge Ave.; and Raymond Park, Chicago Avenue and Lake Street. Playground activities include Frisbee, jump rope competitions, sack races, pie eating contests, watermelon eating contests, and more. Visit evanston4th.org/activities for more information.
Kids Fun Run
Children age 12 years and younger are invited to take part in the half-mile Evanston 4th of July Kids Fun Run. Participants can register online or on race day from noon to 12:30 p.m. The run begins at 12:45 p.m. at Ackerman Park, located at Central Street and McDaniel Avenue. The $12 registration fee includes a t-shirt and packet to the first 200 registered, plus finish line refreshments. All proceeds benefit the Evanston Fourth of July Association.
Tennis Tournament
The finals of the citywide tennis tournament managed by the Evanston Community Tennis Association will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ackerman Park.
Parade
The award-winning Evanston 4th of July Parade begins at 2 p.m. on Central Street at Central Park Avenue and travels east to Ashland Avenue. The 2019 parade theme is “A Salute to Community Volunteers.”
Lawn chairs may be placed on the parkway along Central Street beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 1, in accordance with City ordinance. Chairs and blankets are not permitted on sidewalks or in the right-of-way.
Concert & Fireworks
The Palatine Concert Band will perform from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Arrington Lakefront Lagoon at Dawes Park, located at Sheridan Road and Church Street. Lakefront fireworks set to music will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.; tune in to FM 90.5. Fireworks are visible from most lakefront parks.
Free parking will be available in downtown Evanston public parking garages. Visit cityofevanston.org/residents/parking/lots-and-garages for locations and more information.
The Evanston Police Department will provide updates regarding traffic, parking and more on Twitter.
You can share photos of the festivities on social media using #ETown4th.
The Evanston 4th of July Celebration is organized by the Evanston Fourth of July Association, a private, non-profit, volunteer organization. All aspects of the celebration are funded by voluntary contributions from businesses and individuals. For more information, visit evanston4th.org.