Northbrook
4th of July Association

An all-volunteer community association since 1968

Northbrook 4th of July Association.

The Northbrook 4th of July Association, Inc. became an Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporation on June 20, 1968. Since that time, Independence Day festivities have been brought to you by a group of dedicated community volunteers. The Association plans and raises tens of thousands of dollars each year to bring you a day-long event filled with fun and activities for all ages.

For many years the 4th of July parades in Northbrook were small and not well attended. In 1966, a new way to celebrate was devised and Northbrook made national news because of the way we celebrated Independence day that year.

According to a newpaper article from 1966, the parade held in 1949 drew 150 spectators - the parade of 1966 had more than 10 times that number marching.

1966 was the year that 1,000 transistor radios were carried by Park District, YMCA, scouting, civic and neighborhood groups as they stepped off at 10 am on July 4th and paraded from Greenbriar School to the Village Green. The radios were tuned into a local radio station playing patriotic music. This parade without bands drew an estimated 22,000 spectators and was planned by Kenneth Thiel, who was then the North Suburban YMCA General Secretary. The parade was featured on WMAQ-TV news with Floyd Kalber, on the national NBC Huntley Brinkley Report on July 4, 1966, and on The Today Show the following morning. The parade was such a success that it was repeated in 1967.

A fireworks program began in 1956 when the Northbrook Jaycees planned and ran the fireworks program. The 11th, and last fireworks program sponsored by the Jaycees was held in 1967. In the early days the fireworks were set off at Glenbrook North High School.

In 1968, the Association planned the parade and took over the fireworks program.

Breakfast in the Park was added as part of the Bicentennial festivities in 1976. The breakfast has become a tradition for thousands of Northbrook families.

An ice cream social was held for the first time in 2006 in conjunction with Park Fest.

A different theme is chosen for the parade each year, and a community member or organization is chosen to act as grand marshal.