PLEASE NOTE: This event has already occurred.
Please remember that events may be canceled or rescheduled last minute due to unpredictable weather or other factors. We encourage you to reach out to event organizers before heading out to an event to verify it is still happening.
Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/04/2024
All Day
Location
Memorial Stadium
Categories
Weather update: The Champaign County Freedom Celebration parade has been CANCELED for 2024.
The Champaign County Freedom Celebration announced the community will hold the usual lineup of Fourth of July fun in Champaign-Urbana this summer. The day begins with a 5K run/walk and youth run, during which you will already see people setting up prime viewing spots for the parade that begins later that morning.
The parade, which lasts several hours, features all of the parade favorites like fire trucks, community floats, and usually some inflatables. Yes, there is candy, too! Bring your blanket or lawn chairs and grab a spot long the route.
The parade begins near First and Kirby in Champaign and heads east on Florida. If you’re new to C-U, Kirby and Florida are actually the same street — before turning north on Lincoln.
Sensory-friendly parade viewing
New this year, they are offering a sensory friendly zone with no sirens and no music during the parade route starting on Lincoln Ave at Oregon St and ending at the end of the parade. If you or your child is sensitive to loud noises, they will make accommodations in this zone.
SCHEDULE
Parade CANCELED – evening entertainment to go on as scheduled
8:30 a.m. – Youth run along Kirby Avenue ($5)
9:05 a.m. – 5K race, starts and finishes between the State Farm Center and Memorial Stadium
11:05 a.m. – Parade begins. Parade route begins at First/Kirby, east on Florida to Lincoln to California.
6 p.m. – Evening Entertainment (starting earlier, at 6pm this year)
Dusk – Fireworks!
Fireworks at dusk
Later in the evening, we can look forward to the fireworks display set to music at dusk.
Come check out the live performance by Crazy Johnny & the 11th Hour Band, grab a bite to eat from numerous food vendors, let the kids get their face painted and play on inflatables and then sit back and enjoy the wonderful firework performance.
More information
“New this year”, The evening’s festivities begin at 6 p.m. with musical entertainment on the main stage which will be located along Kirby Ave between First & Oak Streets. There will also be children’s activities (bounce house/inflatables). Parking is available in the State Farm Center and Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) parking lots. Following the music, at around 9:10 p.m., there will be some announcements & presentations. After the announcements, there will be the singing of our National Anthem, an invocation, and then the retiring of our nations flag by a color guard. Immediately following, the always entertaining fireworks display. Drones are not permitted; the area is a no-fly zone for drones.
The theme for this year’s celebration (spanning morning through evening) is “America Celebrates.”
The annual Fourth of July celebration was first held in 1949. For more information, visit the website or follow on Facebook.
