Two days of activities — now with fireworks but no remembrance — will mark fourth Highland Park Independence Day since shooting

Like a year ago, Highland Park leaders have agreed to split the town’s Fourth of July activities into two days, July 3-4.

Unlike a year ago, the events will include fireworks, a pool party and, for the first time since the 2022 tragedy, no formal remembrance ceremony.

The City of Highland Park and Park District of Highland Park announced the collaborative Fourth of July plans on Thursday, Feb. 19, laying out a schedule of events for the two-day affair.

As previously reported by The Record, fireworks are returning to the city’s festivities for the first time since 2021. A fireworks show will cap Independence Fest, a “relaxed and festive” community gathering from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on July 3 at The Preserve of Highland Park, 1207 Park Ave. W.

The evening event will celebrate America’s 250th birthday and include food trucks, games, attractions and live music from Dancing Queen, an ABBA tribute band.

The following morning, July 4, the Highland Park parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Highland Park, holding the same America250 theme. The City in its announcement encouraged participants to “create visually exciting entries with patriotic or historical decor that brings the America250 theme to life,” offering Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter as inspiration.

After the parade, the Hidden Creek AquaPark will host the Star-Spangled Pool Party, an inaugural event that will feature poolside games, a DJ and more.

“We are so excited to join communities across the country in celebrating the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, highlighting our community’s deeply held welcoming and affirming values as a key part of our nation’s story,” Mayor Nancy Rotering said in a statement. “We’re also looking forward to the return of our spectacular fireworks display and are grateful to everyone who shared their feedback last year as we considered the best approach for an evening display.”

Highland Park’s Fourth of July activities have continually evolved in the wake of the 2022 attack, in which more than 50 people were shot, including seven fatally: Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin Michael McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Lovi Sundheim, Nicolás Toledo and Eduardo Uvaldo.

A year later, the City and park district hosted remembrance ceremony, a community walk and a community picnic finished with a drone show.

A parade returned in 2024 to join the morning remembrance ceremony, as well as an afternoon FourthFest. In 2025, the festivities were split, with the FourthFest on one day and the parade and remembrance the next.

For this year, the city has removed the formal remembrance ceremony, citing feedback from victims and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime.

In its announcement, the City pointed out the temporary memorial at the rose garden adjacent to City Hall, writing that it “is accessible at any time for personal reflection and remembrance.”

The City did not respond to requests for more information about the remembrance ceremony.

In its release, the City said that as planning continues more information regarding the events will be shared on its website as well as the park district’s website.

For more information on support services for those impacted by the shooting, the city has a dedicated website for its resiliency division.

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