The best things to do on the Fourth of July in Chicago

While fireworks are the most popular spectacle on the Fourth of July (and there are plenty of places to watch them), you've got many other things to do over the holiday weekend as well. After spending an afternoon in a Chicago park or on a sandy beach, you can watch NASCAR race cars zoom around downtown streets or sit back and listen to patriotic tunes performed by the Grant Park Orchestra. There's also the annual 4th on 53rd Parade in Hyde Park, the African Caribbean International Festival of Life and the Chicago Craft Beer Festival. So make the most of your time off and find the best things to do in Chicago on the Fourth of July with the help of our guide.

RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Fourth of July in Chicago