In need of plans for Independence Day? We have you covered. Click "Learn More" to see Visit Oak Park's roundup of fun celebrations happening throughout the western suburbs. 

Location: Oak Park, Brookfield, Westchester, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Riverside, North Riverside, River Forest, Schiller Park 

Oak Park Festival Theatre returns to Austin Gardens with a Shakespeare classic. Catch the theater company's production of "Romeo and Juliet" and be swept up in the epic romance and tragedy of the world's famous star-crossed lovers. The show opens July 5 and closes Aug. 17.

Location: Oak Park

Make like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and get dancing in the street at Franklin Park's street dance party July 12. The event is free and open to people of all ages so everyone can get down to live music. There will also be food vendors, kids activities and more.

Location: Franklin Park

Head to Community Park in Westchester on July 12 and 13 for the Party in the Park event. The two-day party will have five live music acts, a kids zone, food trucks and a beer tent.

Location: Westchester

Wonder Works Children’s Museum is hosting its third annual outdoor festival in celebration of the magic and science of bubbles. For two days, children and their families can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities involving bubbles in all shapes and sizes. 

Location: Oak Park 

Feeling crafty? The LaGrange Craft Fair is a celebration of creativity, boasting over 200 booths of hand-crafted wares made by artists all over the country. From textiles and jewelry to ceramics and woodworking, you're sure to find something special. The festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year too!

Location: LaGrange

Book your tickets now for a tour so fun, it should be criminal! Those on the tour will go through Oak Park and River Forest, visiting 15 houses, all of which were once occupied by major mobsters. Led by mob historian John Binder, you'll learn about the criminal careers of the former home owners, unique features of each building and rare information about the times spent inside.

Location: Oak Park, River Forest

Location: River Forest

Tour six gorgeous Westchester gardens and raise money for the Westchester Food Pantry at the sixth annual Garden Walk. This event has generated $19,400 of contributions to feed those in need. Get your tickets at the link below and don't forget to stop and smell the roses!

Location: Westchester

Enjoy a progressive dinner safari around the Zoo—sipping cocktails and enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres while visiting multiple animal habitats and learning about the amazing creatures that call Brookfield Zoo Chicago home. The safari ends with a delicious three-course meal at the Zoo’s open-air Swan Pavilion, with dessert served at the Carousel. The event benefits the education, scholarship and conservation initiatives supported by the Women’s Board. 

Location: Brookfield

Have you ever wondered what's across the bridge at Forest Home Cemetery? If so, join Oak Park River Forest Museum docents for a walking tour to learn more about the people, organizations and stories found west of the Des Plaines River. Find out about the Bill Posters Union and the Cigar Makers International Union, veterans and fraternal groups, ethnic areas, the founder of the world’s first blood bank, a well-known radio personality, and more. 

Location: Forest Park

Hey gear heads! Brookfield's Classic Car Show returns July 21 to the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard with over 100 vintage vehicles on display. Admission is free.

Location: Brookfield

Professional bike racing comes to Brookfield for the second time! You won't want to miss the speed, the energy and the party in downtown Brookfield. As part of the Chicago Grit, the Cycle Brookfield Criterium is a one-day, all day event expected to welcome upwards of 1,000 amateur and professional cyclists, and race fans from around the world!

Location: Brookfield

Get ready to experience one of Chicago's most unique sports, with a history that dates back to the late 19th century! The "No Glove Nationals" event in Forest Park is an annual tournament  celebrating the game of softball, created in Chicago and beloved by Chicagoans and Midwesterners.

Location: Forest Park

See where the Nobel Prize-winning author got his start with the "In Ernie's Footsteps: A Walking Tour of Young Hemingway's Oak Park." This 90-minute  tour explores young Hemingway’s connections to Oak Park, guided by Dr. Nancy Sindelar, author of "Influencing Hemingway: The People and Places That Shaped His Life and Work." The tour includes a copy of the book as well.

Location: Oak Park

Take a stroll with us through scenic, historic River Forest on the "West Side Stories: People and Architecture That Shaped River Forest!" walking tour.

This walk up Edgewood Place and then south on Thatcher Avenue will demonstrate why these two streets are a living outdoor museum of architecture and village history. Hear fascinating and surprising stories about people who lived here, some of the renowned architects who created these remarkable homes, and the drastic changes that some of these houses have seen.

Location: River Forest

Everyone is welcome to enjoy a free, fun and interactive day for all ages at the Four Points Westchester's community event. The flavor-packed party will have an array of food trucks, live music, drinks, free face painting and a hotel showcase! 

Location: Westchester