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Mundelein Days will kick off July 4 celebration
Shah Quaiyoom loves the Mundelein Days Parade, helping to organizaing, announcing and enjoying the atmosphere. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES
MUNDELEIN: 7 to 9 p.m., Music by “Slamabama” in Kracklauer Park; 9:30 p.m. fireworks
LIBERTYVILLE: 7:30 p.m., Musical performance by the Libertyville Band at the Butler Lake bandshell; 9:30 p.m., fireworks at Butler Lake Park
VERNON HILLS: 8 a.m., Bike decorating contest for children ages 4-12 at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium Drive; 9 a.m., Fourth of July Parade starts at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium; 6:30-9 p.m., Music by “Big Fun” in Century Park; 9:30 p.m., fireworks at Century Park
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Updated: July 29, 2012 6:26AM
Parades, music and fireworks will highlight some of the festivities that residents can enjoy at local celebrations over the Fourth of July holidays.
Mundelein kicks off many of its pre- Fourth of July festivities during the annual Mundelein Days Festival, which runs from June 28-July 1 in downtown. Those activities include the Fort Hill Heritage Museum’s 25th Anniversary Patriotic Celebration at 9:45 a.m. on June 30 and the annual Mundelein Community Days Parade at 2 p.m. on July 1.
Shah Quaiyoom, parade chairman for Mundelein Days, said there are about 85 entries for this year’s parade, which starts near the Mundelein Village Hall and heads west down Hawley Street to Mundelein High School. Entrees include marching bands, floats and other special attractions, many of which are decorated in red, white and blue for the holiday.
“It is a Fourth of July parade, even though it’s not on the Fourth,” said Quaiyoom.
Meanwhile, on the Fourth of July, there will be musical entertainment in Kracklauer Park in the evening followed by the fireworks display starting around dusk. Pyrotechinco, a Pennyslvania fireworks company, is doing the fireworks for the village this year at a cost of $14,000.
Vernon Hills kicks off its Fourth of July activities on the day itself with a bike decorating contest for children ages 4-12. Kids will adorn their bikes with banners, flags and in other patriotic ways. Traditionally about 20 to 30 children participate in the bike decorating contest and prizes are awarded for the kids with the best decorated bikes, according to Lisa Fischbach, parade coordinator for Vernon Hills.
Immediately following the bike decorating contest, the Vernon Hills Fourth of July parade starts at 9 a.m. July 4 at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium Drive and then heads down Sullivan Drive and west to Aspen. This year, there are 97 units participating in the parade, including marching bands, floats, Shriners groups and other special attractions.
While many other communities hold their parades at other times during the summer, Fischbach said Vernon Hills always has its parade on the Fourth of July.
“It’s usually packed. There are people from the beginning to the end,” he said.
In the evening, the Vernon Hills Park District will host live music of the 1960s and ‘70s performed by the “Big Fun Band” starting around 6:30 p.m., followed by the annual fireworks show starting at about 9:30 p.m.
Vernon Hills is spending $24,000 on its firework show this year and will be using Melrose Pyrotechnics, who has done the fireworks show for the past several years.
