CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The festivities are plentiful this Independence Day weekend.  Family fun kicks off July 4th at the Champaign County Freedom Celebration and keep rolling through the weekend with more fireworks Friday and Saturday, plus diesel train rides are back at the Monticello Railway Museum.

|HOLIDAY WEEKEND WEATHER: A potentially soggy Fourth gives way to sunshine Friday through Sunday

From fireworks to freight trains, we’re here to help you plan your activities with our weekend top picks.

Champaign County Freedom Celebration: Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The day-long festivities begin with a youth run at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 5K at 9:05 a.m., and then a parade. Arrive early to secure a prime viewing spot; the parade starts near First and Kirby in Champaign. Additionally, a sensory-friendly area will be available on Lincoln Ave. from Oregon St. to the parade’s end, where sirens and music will be absent. The fireworks are set to start at dusk.

Allerton Park Concert Series: Friday, July 5, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. Explore the blues at Allerton Park’s Reds, Whites, & the Blues concert on the Gatehouse Lawn. While admission is complimentary, a suggested donation of $10 per family is welcomed at the entrance. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.

Tuscola Sparks in the Park Event + Fireworks: Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Tuscola Ervin Park. Make your way to Tuscola for the Annual Sparks in the Park celebration on July 8th. The event will feature live music, a 5K run, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, a variety of food trucks, entertaining activities for children, a car show, and a spectacular fireworks display.

Diesel Train Rides: Saturdays and Sundays through October 6. 2024, at the Monticello Railway Museum. Passengers have the option to board the train either at the Nelson Crossing Depot, which is the main museum site, or at the Wabash Depot located in downtown Monticello. The journey takes approximately one hour, but passengers have the flexibility to stay at either depot and catch a subsequent train to return to their starting point. While most trains are operated by vintage diesel locomotives, the steam locomotive No. 401 is slated to run one weekend each month throughout the season.

Discover more things to do in the Chambana area by browsing the Chambana Today events page.