A look at local Fourth-of-July-related events:
Shabbona Fourth of July events
• Lions’ Fourth of July barbecue: 4:30-7 p.m. July 4 at the base of the Shabbona Water Tower. Cost is $8 for a single pork chop dinner and $10 for a two-chop dinner. Drive-thru pick-up will be available.
• Shabbona fireworks: Dusk Sunday July 4 at Shabbona Lake State Park. www.shabbonafireworks.com.
DeKalb Park District 75th anniversary celebrations
The public is invited to take part in the following celebrations and special offers
• July 4: Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks display at Hopkins Park
• July 5: Hopkins Pool $2-admission swimming, all day
• July 6: Family Bike Parade, registration at 4:30 p.m., parade at 5 p.m., with a bike-decorating contest for children. A $25-park district gift certificate will be awarded to one winner in three age categories – younger than 8, 8-12, 13 and older– for the best decorated bikes. Birthday cake will be served following the parade.
• July 7: $5 for nine holes of golf at Buena Vista and River Heights golf courses; rounds must be completed by 5 p.m.
• July 8: 50-cent hot dogs, at ball field concessions.
• July 9: Free popcorn at Movie in the Park. A slide show before the movie will feature photo-contest entries.
Kirkland Fourth of July celebrations
• 2 p.m. FFA Tractor Show
• 5-10 p.m. Open for the Day - Lunch Stand, Flea Market, Rides
• 5 p.m.-midnight: Beer Tent Open - Special: Pork Chop Sandwiches & Brats
• 6 p.m. Meyer's Kennel Dog Training & Agility Demo
• 6-10 p.m. Bingo Open
• 7 p.m. Kyler The Magic Man
• 8 p.m. Live music
Saturday
• 7- 10:30 a.m. Methodist Church Breakfast - Served at the Church
• 8 a.m. Car Show Registration
• Noon. Open for the Day - Bingo, Rides, Flea Market, Lunch Stand Caleb Blake - Juggler
• 1 p.m. Puppet Show
• 1: p.m.-midnight. 0Beer Tent - Special: Pork Chop Sandwiches & Brats
• 2 p.m. DeKalb Co. Sheriff's K-9 Demonstration, Fire Department Water Fights
• 2:30 p.m. Car Show Awards
• 3 p.m. Bellydancing
• 4 p.m. Kyler The Magic Man
• 4-7 p.m. Kirkland/Hiawatha All School Open House - Elem. Gym
• 5 p.m. BMX Bike Stunt Show, live music
• 6 p.m. Storytime with Emily & Alice
• 7 p.m. Fatal Vision Demonstration
• 8 p.m. Live music
Sunday
• 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. Pancake Breakfast
• 11 a.m. Parade
• Noon. Pork Chop Dinner
• Noon-9 p.m. Beer Tent - Special: Pork Chop Sandwiches & Brats
• 1 p.m. Live music
• 2 p.m. Getting excited about science
• 2-8 p.m. Kirkland/Hiawatha All School Open House - Elem. Gym
• 3 p.m. Ventriloquist/Storyteller/Songstress
• 4 p.m. Live music, variety pedal pulls
• 6 p.m. Live music
• 8 p.m. Juggler
• 9:30 p.m. Fireworks
• 10:30 p.m. Raffle Drawing - Following Fireworks
Leland Independence Day celebrations
The public is invited to stop by and enjoy the fun, food and music, sponsored by The Leland Town and Country Association:
• Leland’s Steak Fry Dinner: 5-7 p.m. July 2 at the Lion’s Club Pavilion. Dinner includes a 14-ounce rib-eye, cooked to taste, a baked potato, tossed salad, sweet corn and a drink, for the advance-purchase price of $15 – call Bevin Wold, 815-495-9221, for tickets.; at-the-door price is $18. The child’s meal includes a hot dog, sweet corn and lemonade for $5. Leland Boy Scouts also will sell Lemon Shake-Ups.
• Karaoke: 7-11 p.m. July 2, hosted by Shannon Loy.
• Weekend-long 50/50 raffle: Call Bevin Wold at 815-495-9221 or Debbie Kincannon at 815-495-9649 for tickets and details or visit www.lelandil.org.
• Leland Game Day: starting at 2 p.m. July 3, behind the Leland school. Enjoy an afternoon of bags, horseshoes and croquet tournaments, plus a free Moon Jump for children. The Leland Music Boosters will serve Fay’s BBQ at 4 p.m., followed by an evening of listening and dancing to big band music, featuring Talk of the Town, from 6-8 p.m. Refreshments will be available.
• Leland Parade: 10 a.m. July 4, throughout the town, featuring vintage cars and trucks, horses, fire equipment and candy for everyone along the parade route.
• Outhouse Race: Noon July 4, down Railroad Street, followed by a pulled-pork dinner and afternoon music performed by Colonel Boyd’s Dixieland Band.
• Fireworks: Starting at 9 p.m. July 4
Updated schedules and times will be posted on the website, www.lelandil.org or call Deb Kincannon at 815-495-9649, Mary Spring at 815-495-9344, or Paul Sprain at 815-826-0769.
Sandwich Park District Fourth of July events
• Freedom Run 5K Race and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk: This 27th annual event on July 4 will begin at James Knights Park, 1001 N. Latham St. The 1-mile fun run/walk will step off at 8 a.m. and 5K race at 8:30 a.m. These events are open to all who are physically fit and sufficiently trained. Both events run over flat city streets. Registration forms are available at the David A. Francis Center, in Knights Park or online at www.sandwichparkdistrict.org. A commemorative T-shirt is provided for the first 150 runners.
• Tot Trot: 7:45 a.m. July 4 start for children ages 5 and younger at Knights Park Basketball Court. Event is free. No pre-registration required.
• Fireworks display: July 4 at Sandwich Fairgrounds, 1401 Suydam Road. Food and drink will be available at the fairgrounds before the display. Admission to the fairgrounds is $5 per car.
First Congregational United Church of Christ in DeKalb public barbecue lunch
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. July 4 at the church, 615 N. First St. The lunch will include the choice of two pieces of meat – chicken or pork chops – with coleslaw, baked beans, and applesauce, for $10. Eat inside or out, or pick up the meal in church drive-thru. Proceeds go to outreach and the congregation’s pledge to help others. The youth group will hold a bake sale during the barbecue to raise scholarship funds for a girls’ school in Tanzania.
