Celebrate Independence Day in Highland Park

The city and Park District of Highland Park have organized parades, a carnival and a “Float and Watch” fireworks event to celebrate the Fourth of July this Monday.

Community members will also join the Highland Park festivities Monday evening, as local high school students battle in the sixth annual Late Nite HP Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands.

Families can start their Fourth bright and early with the Children’s Bike and Pet Parade, which begins at the corner of Laurel and St. John’s avenues at 9:30 a.m. Highland Park’s youth -- with patriotically-decorated bikes and pets in tow -- will pave the way for , which begins at 10 a.m.

This year, the main parade will commemorate the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce’s 100th anniversary. Fourth Fest will be held at Sunset Woods Park directly after the procession. All ages can enjoy games, rides, live entertainment and food vendors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Battle of the Bands, a co-production by the city’s initiative and local production company Bitter Jester, is the first scheduled activity of the evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concert will feature five high school bands that were selected from preliminary battles during the month of June. 

Nicolas DeGrazia, Creative Director of Bitter Jester and co-emcee of the event, said the battle has grown since its first year. What started as an exclusively Highland Park event has expanded to include seven schools and six different communities this year.

“We’re bringing an influx of new people into the city to have a good time,” DeGrazia said. “They’ll be introduced to downtown Highland Park and stick around for the fireworks after.”

The winning band, chosen by the audience and a decibel meter, will take home a check for $400 from the city. The runner-up will receive $200. 

Although there will only be two winners, DeGrazia said the real prize for the bands will be performing on a professional stage in front of thousands of people.

“For a high school band, it’s so exciting,” DeGrazia said. “They’re rock stars for a night.”

The holiday will come to a close with fireworks over Wolters Field at dusk. 

For a new way to experience an old July Fourth tradition, families can “Float and Watch” at Hidden Creek AquaPark. The pool will be open from 8:15 p.m. until 10:45 p.m. and entrance will cost $5 per person. All proceeds will go toward local scholarship program S.M.I.L.E.