Chicago 4th July 2023

Fireworks, Live Stream, TV Coverage, Events, Parties, Hotels

The big Independence Day celebrations for July 4th in Chicago are typically down at Navy Pier and is back again for 2023!

Summer fireworks in Chicago are not actually all that unusual as they hold regular displays throughout the season on Wednesday and Saturday (see the full schedule below) but there's no doubt that the 4th July weekend is the big one and they pull out all of the stops with one of the most spectacular displays in the whole country - if you're in the US for the Independence Day holiday and looking for a good party then you could certainly do a lot worse than head to Chicago.

Location

Navy Pier hold their firework displays on Wednesdays and Saturdays along with the day long celebration, Live on the Lake which will also be on for the 4th July with Fireworks on the Lake front. You can see the full schedule of events in the run up to Independence day and beyond here: Navy Pier Summer Schedule

Other areas close to Chicago include:

Auroro are having their 4th July Spectacular fireworks display at 9.30pm on 4th July along with live music.

Barrington normally hold a fireworks display along with a concert and parade over the weekend.

It's important to double check with individual venues just in case of last minute cancellations or changes.

Start Time

The Fireworks at Navy Pier usually start at 9pm.

Best Viewing Spots

There are good viewing points on the pier itself, although an excellent alternative option is to take to the Navy Pier Ferris wheel and watch from an elevated position.

Millenium park also affords good views of the fireworks, or if you prefer to avoid the worst of the crowds head to the lakefront area.

Note: if you're a big fan of fireworks displays then be sure to check out the Chicago new years eve fireworks

4th July Fireworks

If you don't want to head into central Chicago on the 4th July then there are normally a number of parades and fireworks displays in the wider area. These mostly start at 9pm, although some are scheduled to start at dusk so please check for individual details before you confirm your plans:

Aurora Independence Day Fireworks (3rd July)
Batavia July 4th Sky Concert Fireworks
Crystal Lake (Main Beach on 2nd July 8-9pm)
City of East Chicago (3rd July 9.30pm)
Elk Grove Salute to the Red, White and Blue (6 - 10pm Elk Grove Florin Road)
Glencoe Lakefront Park
Highland Park (Drone Show and Entertainment at Wolters Field)
Joliet Memorial Stadium
Lake Zurich at Paulus Park
Naperville Knoch Park
Orland Park Concert & Fireworks
Thonton Hubbard Park
Zion Shiloh Park (Thursday 29th June)

4th July Fireworks Cruises

There are also several companies offering cruises on Lake Michigan for the 4th July, where you can combine an evening of fine dining, music and entertainment with watching the fireworks from possibly the very best vantage point of all - there are a selection of the best cruises available here:

Chicago 4th July cruises

TV & Live Streaming

The focus of the main TV stations on the 4th July tends to be on big displays in New York and Washington DC, but it is possible the local channels may pick up the Chicago event and show the fireworks online - we'll be checking the schedules and will post any links we find here.

Last year the Chicago Summer Blast was televised live by local channel WGN-TV, which also streamed the whole fireworks display via their official website, so we would hope to see the same again for this year's display:

Chicago 4th July fireworks live stream

There is also typically coverage of the fireworks on NBC Chicago:

NBC Chicago live stream

One of the best viewing options though is to check out some of the local webcam views - there are several in prominent positions across the city, including some city skyline views that will give an excellent panoramic view of the fireworks:

Chicago webcams

Hotels & Accommodation

If you're in Chicago for the 4th July party then it is advisable to book your accommodation as early as you can. You can search for hotels, check availability and make reservations for local hotels here.

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