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Independence Day is just around the corner and with it comes many fun celebrations in the McHenry County area starting Friday, including parades, festivals and, of course, fireworks.

Here is what the communities have planned for the holiday weekend and the coming weeks (plans may change depending on weather conditions):

Dundee Township Fireworks, June 29, Carpentersville

Dundee’s annual fireworks display will be held on Saturday, June 29, at Meadowdale Park, Besinger Drive and Maple Avenue in Carpentersville.

Starting at 6pm, a community event with entertainment, food vendors and community partners will lead up to the fireworks display at dusk.

Celebrate Fox Lake, June 29

The celebration will be held at Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Blvd., Fox Lake and will begin with a parade at 10 a.m., followed by a car show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; food, live entertainment, drinks and activities from 5 to 10 p.m.; and a fireworks display at Nippersink Lake at 9:30 p.m.

Fireworks in Wauconda, July 3

Wauconda celebrates the holiday with fireworks, music and food on Wednesday, July 3, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Cook Park, 600 N. Main Street. Come early to find a good spot to watch the fireworks and take advantage of the on-site food vendors.

Lakeside Festival, Crystal Lake, July 4-7

One of McHenry County’s largest and longest running summer festivals returns July 4-7 on the grounds of the historic Dole Mansion and Lakeside Arts Park in Crystal Lake.

Enjoy exciting live music, delicious food, a wide selection of beer and wine, unlimited rides, kids’ activities, a bag tournament and more.

Daily admission is $10 for those 13 and older, $5 for seniors 65 and older, and free for children under 12. The festival is selling all admission and beer garden tickets cashless this year. Credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payment options are accepted. Food vendors accept cash.

The annual children’s bike parade, hosted by the Crystal Lake chapter of Women of Today, will start at 11:55 a.m. on July 6 across from Main Beach. Participants are asked to line up at 11:30 a.m.

For a complete list of Lakeside Festival’s 14 scheduled musical performances, to register for the Bags Tournament, see a complete event schedule, and purchase tickets, visit thedole.org/the-fest.

Fireworks at Emricson Park, Woodstock, July 4th

Woodstock’s annual Independence Day fireworks display will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Emricson Park, 900 South Street. Walk-ins may enter through the South Street and Jackson Street entrances. Donations will be collected to cover the cost of the fireworks.

Snacks and drinks will be sold at the stalls and paid parking will be available at the South Street entrance.

Huntley Fireworks, July 4th

Huntley will host its Independence Day fireworks display on Thursday, July 4, at approximately 9:30 p.m. at Deicke Park, 11419 Route 47. A party in the park sponsored by Huntley Community Radio will begin at 7 p.m. and the fireworks will start at dusk.

Independence Day Festival and Fireworks, Sleepy Hollow, July 4-5

Sleepy Hollow’s Fourth of July celebration begins Thursday, July 4, with a 1-mile fun run at 8 a.m. at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, followed by the Bob Zdenek Memorial Fishing Derby at 9 a.m. on Lake Sharon.

Refreshments will be available starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade around Sabatino Park at 11:30 a.m. To participate in the parade, meet at the Sleepy Hollow Pool parking lot at 11 a.m. Registration is not required.

The Service Club Car Show runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exhibitors are asked to make a $5 donation to the Illinois Special Olympics. Food, games, live music and a pie eating contest follow at 2:30 p.m. The games end at 3 p.m. and music and refreshments end around 4 p.m.

Return to the park for the fireworks display on Friday, July 5 at 7 p.m. A $20 donation is requested to help cover the cost of the fireworks.

Independence Day Parade and Picnic at Island Lake, July 4th

The Fourth of July Independence Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Island Lake Village Hall, 3720 Greenleaf Ave., and proceed to Veterans Park, where a picnic with hot dogs, crafts, games and balloon tossing will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Independence Day Celebration in Wonder Lake, July 5-7

Wonder Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration runs Friday, July 5th through Sunday, July 7th, beginning with Venetian Night at dusk on July 5th.

Food trucks, music and fun for kids begin at 11 a.m. on Hancock Drive on July 6, followed by a parade at 1 p.m. and the Wonder Dog 2024 competition immediately following the parade at the East Side Fire House. A ski show will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wonder Center Beach, followed by fireworks at dusk.

To conclude the celebration, free pontoon rides will depart from Wonder Lake Marina, 4019 E. Lake Shore Drive, on July 7 from 2-4 p.m.

Fireworks in Fox River Grove, July 6

Enjoy food trucks, dinner served by the Fox River Grove Lions Club and music by DJ Lee Powers on Saturday, July 6 at 6 p.m. at Picnic Grove Park before the fireworks display begins at nightfall.

Day in the Park, Marengo, July 13

Celebrate summer with Marengo’s annual Day in the Park from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Indian Oaks Park, 825 Indian Oaks Trail. Activities include food vendors, an arts and crafts market, touch-a-truck, car show, beer tent, sledding bull, plunge pools, petting zoo with pony rides, trackless railroad rides, games and fireworks at dusk.

Fireworks at Island Lake, July 13

There will be a fireworks display on Island Lake on Saturday, July 13th from 8:00pm to 10:30pm. The Eastway Boat Launch and Dorothy Beach will be closed for parking on the day of the fireworks.

Fiesta Days, McHenry, July 11-21

McHenry Fiesta Days, hosted by the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, runs July 11-21 and includes events at Petersen Park, Veterans Memorial Park and downtown locations. The festival is packed with events, including a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 14.

For a full list of events, including an arts and street festival, music festival, Cask and Barrel Night and parade, visit mchenryfiestadays.com.

Would you like to add an event to this list? Send us an email to [email protected].