Parades, music, fireworks set for Elgin’s July 4 celebration

Elgin is working hard to bring the Americana during its annual Fourth of July celebration Thursday.

Amanda Harris, the city’s director of cultural arts and special events, said last year’s day of events was Elgin’s biggest ever, drawing more than 25,000 attendees.

“People come from tons of communities to watch our parade and fireworks, which is such a compliment,” she said. “And we try to make it bigger and better each year. I’m really excited about all the little Elgin-flavored touches we’ve added.”

The day starts with a pet parade along Douglas Avenue that steps off at 8:30 a.m. near Ann Street. It’s the first time back for the event in at least a dozen years, Harris said. The parade will feature about 30 pets and also will serve as a donation event for Anderson Humane.

“We have two chickens and a snake, which is so exciting,” Harris said. “And we’ll have a couple more surprises.”

A very good dog named Dolan was chosen as “The First Official Supreme Chancellor of the Elgin Midwest 4th of July Pet Parade Grand Marshal” via a social media contest.

The main event parade starts at 9 a.m. and will feature more than 70 entries and about a dozen performing groups, including returning favorites the Jesse White Tumblers and Crystal Lake Strikers drum line.

New entries to the parade include The Actors Gymnasium, a circus school and theater company, and a group from Nightmare on Chicago Street.

“The parade is one of my favorite things,” Harris said. “It’s just joy and happiness and so much fun.”

The two-hour long parade starts at Slade and Douglas avenues and ends at Douglas and Division Street, near City Hall. Seating is available along Douglas in the public right of way from Slade to the end of the parade route. A map of the route is available at elginil.gov/1740/Fourth-of-July.

The celebration picks back up at 5 p.m. at Festival Park with live music, food trucks and a beer garden. Activities include old-time table games, a photo opp where you can be featured in a Mount Rushmore replica and the city’s first pie-eating contest, sponsored by longtime Elgin eatery Paul’s Family Restaurant. The contest starts at about 8 p.m.

“We wanted to add things that bring that traditional Americana,” Harris said.

The musical lineup includes Second Hand Soul from 5 to 6 p.m., iPop from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and American Vinyl All Star Band from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Fireworks will start at about 9:20 p.m. and last for 15-20 minutes with a live soundtrack by the headlining band.