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Aurora Historical Society Plans Fourth Of July Celebration

The Aurora Historical Society will hold its 57th annual Independence Day celebration at the William Tanner House Museum from 11 a.M. To 2 p.M. On Thursday, July 4.

The event will take place on the museum grounds at Oak Avenue and Cedar Street on Aurora's near WestSide.

The celebration is a free, family-oriented event open to the whole community, Aurora Historical Society officials said.

During the event, the historic William Tanner House, built in 1857, will be open for tours.

Outside on the museum grounds, there will be a petting zoo, face painting and balloon creations, organizers said. Hot dogs, chips, drinks and ice cream will be available for purchase.

Entertainment will include juggler Andy Head from 12:15 to 1 p.M. At 1 p.M., the children in attendance will gather to ring the historic bells on the site, including the old Center School bell and Aurora's Liberty Bell. The bell-ringing ceremony commemorates the first ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia upon adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Historical Society officials said.

The ringing of the bells will be followed by a patriotic concert by the American Legion Band. The afternoon will conclude with a pie-eating contest, organizers said.

For information on the event, call the Aurora Historical Society's offices at 630-906-0650, go to www.Aurorahistory.Org or go to the group's Facebook page, facebook.Com/aurorahistory.

Concerts in the Park set in Geneva

The Geneva Park District will offer its annual Concerts in the Park series in July at River Park at 151 N. River Lane along the Fox River in Geneva.

The free events will be held on Wednesdays beginning the second week in July, and all ages are invited to attend, organizers said.

Those attending can bring their lawn chairs and blankets to River Park for an evening of live entertainment, according to a press release about the series. Concerts will begin at 7 p.M. And run until 8:30 p.M. Food trucks will be on site, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, organizers said.

The 2024 Concerts in the Park lineup includes on July 10 Mr. Myers, playing "Caribbean rock," and GV's Italian Street Food truck will be on site; on July 17, country band Hillbilly Rockstarz will perform, and Hippie Grilled Cheese Co. Food truck will be at the park.

On July 24, FeelGood Party Band will play music from the 1960s to today, with K's Vending food truck on site; and the series will close on July 31 with The Stingrays playing rock music of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, with Waffadilla food truck at the park.

In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be canceled. For more information about Concerts in the Park, go to www.Genevaparks.Org or call 630-232-4542.

Hike planned for parents with strollers

A special hike for parents with strollers has been scheduled by the Kane County Forest Preserve District.

The hike will be held from 9 to 10 a.M. Friday, Aug. 2, at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve at 42W855 Bahr Road in Hampshire.

The interpretive hike will highlight local ecology and the beauty of the preserve, district officials said.

The hike will stick to paths that are friendly for strollers, officials said.

Advance registration is required for the free program. To register, go to www.Kaneforest.Com/register, call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.Com.

To view a full roster of Forest Preserve District of Kane County programs, go to www.Kaneforest.Com or find the district on social media by searching @forestpreserve.

Will County recruiting judges for upcoming election

Will County is seeking to recruit and train about 500 new election judges from both major political parties to serve in the Nov. 5 election, a news release from the Will County Clerk's Office said.

Election judge applicants must live in Will County, be registered to vote and complete training, the release said. College students and high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply.

High school students must have a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and obtain written approval from a principal, teacher and parent. Student applications will be available when school begins, the release said.

Application forms are available at www.Willcountyclerk.Gov to apply and schedule training. Applicants can also email the clerk's office at electionjudge@willcounty.Gov.

Election judges receive $200 for training and working Election Day with other opportunities for additional pay.

Earlier this year, the clerk's office trained about 1,500 election judges who served in the March primary election, the release said.

Scarecrow Contest applications available

Applications are now available to take part in the Scarecrow Contest that will be part of St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend  planned for Oct. 11 to 13 in downtown St. Charles.

Applications can be found online at www.Scarecrowfest.Com/scarecrowcontestapplication. For those who want to print out and complete the contest application, the form can be mailed to or dropped off at the St. Charles Business Alliance at 2 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL 60174.

The deadline to submit an application is Sept. 15, event organizers said.

There are prizes given for winners in the contest. In the Mega/Mechanical Category, first place receives $500, second place receives $350 and third place receives $250. For the three other categories – the Business Category, Clubs/Not-for-Profit/Schools Category and Individual Category – first place receives $200, second place receives $150 and third Place receives $100.

For more information on Scarecrow Weekend, go to www.Scarecrowfest.Com.

Renovation work closes Duerr Forest Preserve until fall

Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve in South Elgin is closed for renovations through September, according to a post on the Forest Preserve District of Kane County's Facebook page.

Work being done includes repairs to the parking lots near the trolley station and Fox River; new shelters and restrooms; realigned bike trails to enhance accessibility to River Bend Trail; and a new ADA-accessible boat and kayak launch.

The work should be done sometime in early September, the post said.

For more information, email TeggeZach@kaneforest.Com.

Love Red, White And Blue? Here's Where To Celebrate The 4th Of July

Are you looking for ways to show your American spirit this Fourth of July? Luckily, events in and around Oak Park have you covered so you can rock red, white and blue in style.

Events in the western Chicago suburbs include firework displays, parades, festivals and even a 5K Independence Day run for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.

Oak Park

In Oak Park, residents can once again celebrate Independence Day when the annual parade kicks off at 10 a.M. On July 4 from Longfellow Park at Ridgeland Avenue and Adams Street.

Parade participants will march north on Ridgeland to Augusta Street, then turn east to finish near Whittier Elementary School. While some may be disappointed by the lack of fireworks, this festive celebration will allow residents and visitors to appreciate the village's beauty and history on what will hopefully be a bright, sunny summer day.

The village's fireworks were canceled in 2022 after the mass shooting that took place during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. The fireworks in Oak Park are historically funded by local businesses or private donations. In 2023, no such donor stepped up in time for the village to coordinate an event. In 2024, village officials said no entity stepped up again.

Riverside/North Riverside

In Riverside, locals looking to get active before chowing down on burgers, hot dogs or ice cream at celebrations can participate in the 44th annual Independence Day 5K run at 7:15 a.M. Runners will receive goodie bags and Dri-Balance shirts. It's $35 to participate, and runners sign up based on gender and age.

At 8:45 a.M. July 4, an Independence Day parade will start at Big Ball Park. After, a community celebration from 10 a.M. To 1 p.M. Will take place at Guthrie Park.

In North Riverside, a free-to-attend parade will begin at 10 a.M. July 4 at Ninth Avenue and 26th Street, heading east to Veterans Park. At the park, a little league game will begin.

From 6 p.M. To 9 p.M. At the Village Commons, kids' entertainment and food will be available. Hello Weekend will perform from 7 p.M. To 9 p.M., followed by fireworks provided by the Riverside Golf Club.

Brookfield

Neighbors looking to celebrate in Brookfield can attend the Fourth of July parade and march to the "Party in the Park" on July 4 in Kiwanis Park. The parade will start at 10 a.M. On the corner of Blanchan Avenue and Kemman Avenue with exciting floats, marching bands and community members processing down the street.

After the parade, the "Party in the Park" at 8820 Brookfield Ave. Will include live music from The Redmonds at 12:30 p.M. And Whiskeyfist at 3:30 p.M. Food and drinks from Beach Avenue BBQ will be available for purchase.

Berwyn

At 8 p.M. July 3, a fireworks display will take place in Berwyn at the Morton West High School football stadium. The event is hosted by the World's Largest Laundromat and is free to attend. Fireworks start after dark, but attendees might want to show up early to get a seat.

Other nearby events

At Navy Pier, a firework show will begin at 9 p.M. July 3. Firework enthusiasts can find a spot along the lake and watch the annual show for free. Navy Pier also hosts firework shows twice a week throughout the summer.

At Soldier Field, fireworks will be on display following the Chicago Fire soccer game against the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.M. Tickets for the game will vary in price.

At Blue Island, a parade through the uptown business district will begin at noon. A free firework show will begin at Waterfall Park at 9 p.M.

In Bridgeview, the Park District will host a free celebration starting at 9:15 p.M. July 3 with food trucks and a live DJ for visitors to enjoy.

Burbank hosts a "Party in the Park" the weekend prior to the Fourth of July with food, live music, games and carnival rides. This year, it'll be June 27-30. A free-to-attend fireworks display will take place at 9:45 p.M. June 29.

In Des Plaines, the community can be dazzled by a free firework show at 9:15 p.M. June 30 at Oakton College. The event will have a DJ, games and refreshments.

Elgin's Fourth of July parade will take place at 9:30 p.M. July 4 in Festival Park. The free event will include music, food, activities and fireworks starting at 9:20 p.M.

Elgin Program To Recognize New U.S. Citizens June 25

The city of Elgin will host its 24th annual New Citizen Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, June 25. Daily Herald file photo

The city of Elgin's 24th annual New Citizen Recognition Ceremony will be held at 7 p.M. Tuesday, June 25.

This event, which is open to the public, will honor individuals from the Elgin area who have recently become new U.S. Citizens.

The program will be held in the Heritage Ballroom at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, in downtown Elgin.

New citizens at this program will be congratulated on their achievement by Mayor Dave Kaptain, members of the Elgin City Council, and local state representatives and senators.

Judge Julio Cesar Valdez Espinosa will be the master of ceremonies.

The new citizens will also be presented with a certificate suitable for framing, a flag lapel pin, and a small American flag.

To help convey the significance of this accomplishment by the participants, a new citizen will speak personally about her journey to citizenship. Additionally, the Elgin Master Chorale will perform during the ceremony, and a reception with cake and string music will follow.

Eligible honorees will be people who live, work, or have taken citizenship classes in Elgin.

This program is planned by the City of Elgin New Citizen Recognition Ceremony Committee in cooperation with the city of Elgin.

Founded in 1999, the committee is made up of volunteers from the Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin Community College, The Literacy Connection, Centro de Informacion, YWCA of Elgin, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, the Elgin History Museum, and the community at large. It made possible by sponsorships by the city of Elgin, Herbs Bakery, state Sen. Cristina Castro, state Sen. Don DeWitte, state Rep. Anna Moeller, and state Rep. Dan Ugaste.

Since its inception, the program has recognized new Elgin area citizens from more than two dozen countries. Honorees this year hail from several countries, including Guatemala, Laos, Mexico, and United Kingdom (Scotland). For information, contact coordinator Jeanette Mihalec at (847) 846-3247.

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