Get out there and play
Let the rockets’ red glare light up your family’s July 4 weekend. We’ve rounded up fireworks displays around the city and suburbs this weekend in our calendar. Chicago Parent wishes all of its readers a safe and happy July 4. Keep your family safe by keeping kids away from all fireworks, including sparklers, and leave the beautiful displays to the professionals.
Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, which is holding this year’s fireworks display at 8 p.m. July 3 in Grant Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago.
Get out there and play some more
A weekend full of ribs? It’s OK, go get messy! From noon-10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, the Exchange Club of Naperville is hosting the 22nd Naperville Ribfest. Dig into the featured BBQ contest, which includes 17 rib vendors and food ranging from ribs and hot dogs to salads, snacks, desserts and drinks.
A family area, complete with carnival rides, inflatables, circus acts, a magic show, face painting, a petting zoo and a live performance by Jesse White Tumblers, is sure to keep family members of all ages entertained. Kids can get in the swing of things with a free baseball training camp offered by the Bulls/Sox Training Academy from 1-3 p.m. Sunday.
Naperville Ribfest is held at Knoch Park, located near downtown. Admission is , free for kids 11 and under. Food and some activities cost extra. For more information, call (630) 303-3311 or visit ribfest.net.
Outside fun
Kids and parents will have their eyes to the skies this weekend. From 3-11 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, the 29th annual Lisle Eyes to the Skies festival has lots of fun events to keep everyone entertained. The festival hosts 15 large hot air balloons. For three days, the hot air balloons take off at 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., and the spectacular Balloon Glow is at 8 p.m.
But the festival is more than just hot air. It offers fireworks, lumberjack shows, live music, a craft fair, a carnival and a children’s area.
The Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival is held at Lisle Community Park, west of Route 53, east of Yackley Avenue and south of U.S. 34, Lisle. Admission is , free for kids under 5, parking. Admission to the carnival is free but rides and games are extra. On July 4, admission is free for veterans and active military members with identification and Lisle Park District residents from noon-5 p.m. For more information, call (630) 541-6095 or visit eyestotheskies.org.
Piece of the prize
Your family’s love for Mother Earth goes beyond hugging trees. One lucky Chicago Parent reader will win a prize pack of Earth-friendly baby products from Re-Think It’s Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods. The prize pack includes a frog rattle and a shape-sorter made of organic cotton, eight ReUsable forks and spoons and two ReUsable bowls made from corn. For more information, visit re-thinkitinc.com. To win, visit our discussion board.
