4th of July Fireworks in Southern Illinois

Fireworks displays are being trimmed down by stricter Illinois state licensing requirements. On top of that, the price of fireworks from Japanese and Chinese suppliers is soaring. But fireworks displays are still planned and people are still looking forward to pyrotechnics on the Fourth of July as many communities, big and small, celebrate Independence Day.

Jun 29-30, Jul 1. DuQuoin Freedom Fest at Keyes City Park. Craft fair, food, beer and wine tent, music, kids games. Saturday concert in the park. Sunday fireworks on at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Jun 30-Jul 1. Rend Lake Dam and Visitor's Center. Specialty food vendors, entertainment. Fireworks July 1 at 9:30 p.m. Parking $5 per car. Near Benton.

Jul 1-4. Steelville City Park and Legion Hall. Evenings after 6pm through Jul 3: Carnival, food, entertainment, antique car show, craft fair baseball games. All day on the 4th of July with Firecracker 3000 run at 9:45 am, parade at 10 am, fireworks 10 p.m. Steelville.

Jul 3. Alton. Visitors gather at the Alton riverfront as part of the Mississippi River Fireworks Festival which includes entertainment, food, and a beer tent. Grounds open at 5pm. Fireworks are set for 9pm.

Jul 3. Annual Before the 4th Street Party. Evansville.

Jul 4. Liberty Bell of the West Patriotic Celebration. On July 4, 1778, the Kaskaskia Bell was rung by George Rogers Clark after his Long Knives seized Kaskaskia from the British. Although there are no fireworks, a mid-day Independence Day celebration is held every July 4th at the Kaskaskia Bell State Historic Site on Kaskaskia Island featuring speeches, music, and French Marine reenacters. Kaskaskia.