KIRKLAND – The Kirkland Lions Club will host its 77th Annual Fourth of July Celebration from July 3–5 at Franklin Township Park, featuring live music, carnival rides, food vendors, games, and family-friendly contests. Festivities begin Thursday with performances by Shooter and Blooze Brothers on the large stage, and small stage acts including Lee Gardner and Back Forward Band. Friday starts with an 11 a.m. parade and continues with music from Dale Rhode Band, AudioDrive, and Forever Flannel, along with events such as musical chairs, a pie eating contest, and a tug of war. Saturday offers a community breakfast, car and tractor show, bags tournament, and performances by One Night Only, Back Country Roads, and The Beaux Band. The celebration concludes Saturday night with one of Northern Illinois’ top fireworks displays around 9:15 p.m.
Brian Reynolds with the Kirkland Lions says there are many places to enjoy the display in Kirkland.
“You can see fireworks from the football field of Hiawatha High School. That’s one of the main viewing areas.” he says. “There’s some parking by the school. There’s grass all around the school itself or there’s a great viewing area from the beer garden itself.”
The event also features daily bingo, a beer tent, and raffle ticket sales to support local vision, hearing, and community programs.
KIRKLAND LIONS CLUB 77TH ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
“Meet Your Friends in Kirkland!”
📍 Franklin Township Park – 1 Block South of Illinois Route 72
🌐 More Info: www.kirklandfourthofjuly.com
💵 CASH PREFERRED | NO PETS – SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY
THURSDAY, JULY 3RD, 2025
- 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Festival Open – Food Stand, Rides & Vendors
- 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Beer Tent Open ($5 Cover Charge)
- 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Bingo – Hosted by TBD
- 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Shooter (Large Stage)
- 5:00 pm: Lee Gardner Music (Small Stage)
- 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Carnival Wristband Night ($25)
- 6:00 pm: “Family Feud” – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 7:00 pm: Back Forward Band (Small Stage)
- 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Blooze Brothers (Large Stage)
FRIDAY, JULY 4TH, 2025
- 11:00 am: Parade (Scan QR code to pre-register)
- 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Beer Tent Open
- 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Festival Open – Food Stand, Rides & Vendors
- 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Bingo – Hosted by TBD
- 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Dale Rhode Band (Large Stage)
- 12:15 pm: Team Recognitions – Kirkland Rec League (Small Stage)
- 1:00 pm: Ethan Larson Music (Small Stage)
- 3:30 pm: Community Musical Chairs – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 4:00 pm: Road to Roam (Small Stage)
- 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Blind Eye Willis (Large Stage)
- 5:00 pm: Pie Eating Contest – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 6:00 pm: The Reed Tate Hypnosis Show (Small Stage)
- 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm: AudioDrive (Large Stage)
- 7:30 pm: Community Tug of War – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 8:15 pm: Forever Flannel – 90s Alternative Hits (Small Stage)
SATURDAY, JULY 5TH, 2025
- 7:00 am – 10:00 am: Kirkland United Methodist Church Breakfast (Free-Will Offering)
- 10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Car & Tractor Show – Franklin Township Park
- 10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Bags Tournament (32-Team Double Elimination, $20/team, Sign-up starts at 9:00 am – Rain or Shine!)
- 10:00 am – 9:00 pm: Festival Open – Food Stand, Rides & Vendors
- 10:00 am – 9:00 pm: Beer Tent Open
- 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Bingo – Hosted by TBD
- 12:00 pm: Matt Jaye Music (Small Stage)
- 1:00 pm: Generation Gap Gameshow – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 2:00 pm: Six Pack Band (Small Stage)
- 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm: One Night Only (Large Stage)
- 4:15 pm: Watermelon Eating Contest – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 4:45 pm: Blind Eye Willis & The Blue Notes (Small Stage)
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Back Country Roads (Large Stage)
- 6:00 pm: Blindfold Challenge – Kirkland Lions (Small Stage)
- 7:00 pm: The Beaux Band (Small Stage)
- Nightfall (~9:15 pm): FIREWORKS! One of Northern Illinois’ Best Displays!
🎟 Don’t Miss:
- 50/50 Raffle Tickets from Any Lions Club Member
- Last Year’s Winner Took Home $6,600!
- All Proceeds Benefit Vision/Hearing-Impaired Services and Other Local Needs.