July 4th
Celebrate Independence Day!
Watch this space for information about 2026 events.
Typical Event Schedule for Saturday, July 4 events
- 9 a.m. – Parade through Deerpath neighborhood. Roads close starting at 8:30 a.m.
Check the the Parade Route Map for details. Note that the Parade Participant route has been adjusted to provide a more efficient exit; Participants will be lead from Aspen Drive back through to the Parade Route starting zones to connect with their groups. - 6:30 p.m. – Music and fun provided by DJ Top Dog from A to Z at Century Park, sponsored by Vernon Hills Park District
- 9:15 to 9:30 p.m. – Fireworks begin at Century Park
Parade Particulars
Participate: Sign up to participate in the Parade through the ONLINE FORM. Organizations who register will receive an email confirmation with their parade lineup location on July 1. You must pre-register and receive confirmation in order to be allowed to participate. Maps and other information follows.
Parade Steps Off at 9:00 a.m. at the corner of Deerpath and Atrium Drive, just south of Highway 60/Townline Road. Marching units will follow a parade route south to Sullivan Drive and then west to Aspen Drive. (Participants, please review information that follows explaining the end-of-parade pick-up location.) Demonstration areas will be marked along the route for your viewing pleasure. Details including the Parade Route Map appear below.
Traffic Stops Before: Please remember that traffic on Deerpath Drive and the parade route will be closed beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m.
Please Be Kind: Please respect other people's desire to enjoy the parade. For this reason, no squirt guns, etc. Please help children be safe – don't enter the street to pick up candy or other items tossed by parade participants. Our veterans and current service members encourage us to stand and remove caps/hats for the flag, particularly for the first color guard that leads our parade. Thank you.
Parade Participant Pick-up Point: Groups participating in the parade – especially groups with children who need to reconnect with families – are instructed to gather in the vicinity of the business park on Atrium Drive where parade participants first assembled into their zones. Parade participants will be escorted from Aspen Drive through the Park District and Victory Centre parking lots, then back to the Atrium Drive area as the reconnection point. This adjustment should allow participants to exit the parade area in a more efficient and orderly manner. Maps, zone lists and other information follows.
Pre-fireworks fun! As evening approaches, hundreds are expected to gather at Century Park where starting at 6:30 p.m. they can enjoy music, dancing and fun provided by DJ Top Dog and A to Z Entertainment, sponsored by the Vernon Hills Park District.
Fireworks! At approximately 9:15 to 9:30 p.m., the skies over Big Bear and Little Bear Lake will be set ablaze as Pyrotecnico Fireworks Inc. presents a dazzling aerial display of fireworks.
Parade Route Maps, Lineups, and Demonstration Areas
- Parade Route Map as well as Map with Demonstration Areas
- Parade Participant Lineup by Zone Pending
- Parade Lineup by Participant Pending
Policies & Guidelines:
Notice of Use of Drones: VHPD has given notice that officers may be deploying drones as part of their safety plan. Learn more by reviewing the Notice of Drones web article.
Thank You to the Parade Committee
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