CHICAGO — The beloved Fourth For All celebration at Winnemac Park is returning this July 4 with a jam-packed lineup of family-friendly activities — and organizers hope to top last year’s turnout, which drew over 2,500 attendees.
Hosted by the Winnemac Park Advisory Council, the free event was launched last year as a safer, city-sanctioned alternative to the unsanctioned fireworks displays that had long defined the park’s Independence Day celebrations. The 2025 edition continues that mission, aiming to offer a fun, inclusive event that brings neighbors together without the dangers of rogue pyrotechnics.
Daylong Celebration Starts With Disc Golf, Ends With Fire Dancing
The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. on July 4 at 5100 N. Leavitt St. in Lincoln Square. The early lineup includes:
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Disc golf
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Yoga by Bloom Yoga
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Aikido demonstrations from Kiku Matsu
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Magic shows by local magician Rob Mendell
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Face painting from Fun To See Faces and Lincoln Square Neighbors Association
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STEM activities hosted by Snapology Chicago
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Lego building stations, and more
As night falls, the Full Moon Jam fire-dancing troupe returns for its spectacular sunset-to-10 p.m. performance. The group will also offer two pre-show workshops for attendees interested in fire spinning.
Food Trucks And Expanded Offerings This Year
To reduce long wait times and accommodate more families, organizers are doubling food truck offerings this year. Vendors will include:
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Kona Ice
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Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
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Cookies with Flavor
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Taco Motora
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5411 Empanadas
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Reggie’s on Wheels
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Limoni Belli Pizza Oven
Portable restrooms will also be available on-site, ensuring visitors can stay comfortable throughout the day.
“We just want to expand upon what we have already, and make it bigger and better,” said Jacob Schuster, president of the advisory council. “There’s clearly a lot of demand from the community.”
A Safer, Sanctioned Alternative To Fireworks Chaos
In previous years, Winnemac Park was known for massive, unsanctioned fireworks shows that sparked complaints from neighbors and concerns about field damage. Tensions escalated in 2022 and 2023, with Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) and the Chicago Park District fencing off areas of the park and closing nearby school lots to deter illegal firework activity.
By contrast, the Fourth For All is fully permitted by the city, and does not include any fireworks — only fire-dancing performances by trained professionals. The council says that while some neighbors may still ignite fireworks after the official event ends, their programming ends by 10 p.m.
“If people want to do fireworks after our event, we’re not involved. That’s on the police department to handle,” Schuster added.
Are you attending Winnemac’s Fourth For All? Share your best pics and community moments at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
