4th of July Festivities in Chicago and Beyond - Heron's Top Picks to Celebrate

Get those sparklers ready! It’s almost time to celebrate all things red, white and blue. From firework views to festive staycations and more, we’ve put together a list of the top spots to celebrate with your loved ones this year in Chicago and beyond.

Set Sail, Snag a Seat for the Fireworks or Book a Stay at One of Chicagoland’s Top Hotels

This 4^th of July, celebrate in an unforgettable way right on the water with City Cruises Chicago! The various cruises they are offering include the 4^th of July Signature Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan boarding at 12 p.m., 4^th of July Premier Plus Lunch Cruise on the Chicago River boarding at 12 p.m., 4^th of July Premier Lunch Cruise on Lake Michigan boarding at 12:25 p.m., 4^th of July Premier Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan boarding at 6:30 p.m., and 4^th of July Signature Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan boarding at 7 p.m. While onboard, enjoy chef-prepared menus, creative cocktails, beer, wine, and Chicago’s most incredible views from the water. Watch sparks fly on the water and enjoy a spectacular fireworks display as they fly overhead, honoring the nation’s birthday. For more information, please visit here.

Enjoy July 4^th in the Chi at Offshore Rooftop, the world’s largest rooftop deck as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records and one of Chicago’s most exciting hotspots located at Navy Pier. Boasting over 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with unmatched views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, this year-round rooftop destination offers Chicagoans and travelers alike a full-service bar and world-class kitchen, along with cozy fire pits, a gaming area, and multiple large gathering spaces for you and your friends. Having the best seats for the Navy Pier fireworks, Offshore Rooftop is a must visit spot! For more information, please visit here.

Looking for an incredible staycation during your big plans for the 4^th of July? Look no further than Sable at Navy Pier, the first hotel to break ground and make waves on one of the city’s most iconic and historic landmarks! Offering sweeping, unparalleled views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, the hotel is a destination truly unlike any other. This high-end oasis combines lush accommodations with elegance and comfort, with each room boasting floor to ceiling windows with unparalleled lake and skyline views, along with corner room upgrades, serenity beds, and spacious living room areas. Those looking to get away without getting away will be in for the ultimate treat on Navy Pier. Sable at Navy Pier is now offering their Wednesday & Saturday Firework Package for 2022 for guests to have a spectacular stay with a front row view of the Navy Pier fireworks. To book an upcoming staycation this upcoming summer season, please click here.

Visit Chicago this holiday weekend for all of the festivities, sans stress of worrying about parking! The new dual-branded Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop and Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop complex is making downtown travel seamless with the introduction of their new “Park for Twenty Two” Packages, now available at both properties. Enjoy self-parking Thursday through Sunday with your stay at a discounted rate of just $22 per night. The package boasts a savings of $23 per night on parking and to add to the convenience, includes in and out privileges. To book the package at Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop, please visit their website. To book the package at the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop, please visit their website.

Life truly is a picnic as a guest of The Forester Hotel, 200 N. Field Dr. Celebrate the 4th by enjoying the hotel’s new Picnic guestroom package. Fit for exploring the many Lake Forest Open Lands or to take when heading to one of the area’s many outdoor Summer entertainment options, guests that book the package will receive overnight accommodations in one of the hotel’s spacious guestrooms or suites, a gorgeous picnic basket filled with goodies fit for the perfect picnic including a foldable fleece travel blanket, choice of a bottle of red, white or sparkling wine, a pair of drinking glasses and a corkscrew. For a complete experience, the hotel’s chef-driven restaurant concept, Oaken Bistro, will also offer hotel guests the option to create a custom menu perfect for any occasion. Additional sundries are also available to add on to the picnic package at the hotel’s on-site, 24/7 market. For picnic-goers that are not in need of a stay, the Forester picnic basket can be reserved by email inquiry to info@theforesterhotel.com. To book the new Summer guestroom package, guests may do so online now by visiting www.theforesterhotel.com.

Spending the 4th on Navy Pier? Stop for a bite to eat and look out from the sunlit dining room to breathtaking Lake Michigan, or step out onto the 150-seat patio and into the open air to experience the awe that is Lírica, Chicago’s chic dining destination at 900 E. Grand Ave., is the first and only Latin-inspired venue on Navy Pier. Drawing inspiration from more than a dozen South American countries and encouraging guests to embrace “Comiendo con Ritmo” or “eating with rhythm”, Lírica’s menu boasts only the best in everything from fresh-cut fish to tender meats including Braised Beef Short Rib and of course, plenty of delicious starters or “primeros,” such as Latin Spiced Chicken Wings. Lírica takes guests on a culinary tour of Latin America, boasting a combination of rich and rustic flavors and a vibrant atmosphere to create a colorful experience. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, the breathtaking waterfront restaurant is developed and operated by Maverick Restaurants. Lírica also plays host to the most unforgettable of private events and weddings. www.liricarestaurant.com

Enjoy a 4^th of July weekend getaway to The Rose Hotel Chicago O’Hare with a shopping spree at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago just around the corner! Book The Rose’s Fashion Outlets of Chicago Shopping Package which includes a Fashion Outlets Savings Pass, Complimentary Coat/Bag Check at the shopping mall, 3 p.m. Late Checkout, Continental Breakfast, Free Overnight Parking, and a Complimentary Shuttle to Fashion Outlets of Chicago. End your night by watching the incredible fireworks display from Impact Field right across from the hotel! To book your stay or to learn more, please visit here.

Skip the Grilling and Grab a Bite to Eat This 4th of July – Top Restaurants, Rooftops Catering Offerings and More

Take in the downtown views during the long weekend at Ocean Prime, located on the iconic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive on the second level of the LondonHouse at 87 E. Wacker Dr. The restaurant invites guests to indulge in an impressive menu of seafood and steak, signature cocktails, and a Wine Spectator-honored wine list coupled with sweeping views, vibrant energy, and truly exceptional hospitality. The modern American restaurant and lounge from award-winning Cameron Mitchell Restaurants provides an unparalleled dining experience just steps away from the city’s top attractions. To book a reservation, please visit OpenTable

Beat the heat this holiday and reserve a private cabana experience at Kennedy Rooftop. Situated in the heart of Wicker Park, Kennedy Rooftop offers spectacular views of Chicago’s skyline, the best vibes and refreshing craft cocktails to enjoy. Snap a selfie to commemorate the 4th from the rooftop’s private Cabana, availably by reservation on OpenTable. Reservations include access to the private area, and the rooftop offers a variety of food and beverage packages to enjoy during your visit. Also new the rooftop: a selection of outdoor games to enjoy for a little friendly competition this holiday weekend. To learn more, please visit www.kennedyrooftop.com.

For those in search of the best vibes in town to keep the party going all holiday weekend long, Fulton Market Kitchen is where it’s at. Now accepting reservations for an experience on their expansive outdoor patio in the heart of the foodie mecca of the Fulton Market District in addition to their jaw-dropping main dining room, culinary excellence meets creativity at this hotspot known for incredible eats and art all in one vibrant, high style restaurant. Saturdays and Sundays, enjoy an inspired lineup of breakfast-style dishes with an artful FMK twist for weekend brunch, or plan a visit for a late-night hang with live Sound Selections from the top DJs in town. For more information on FMK‘s upcoming events or to make a reservation, visit www.fultonmarketkitchen.com.

Enjoy the city this 4^th of July from 24 stories above at AIRE Rooftop Bar, atop the Hyatt Centric the Loop Chicago at 100 W. Monroe. The open-air venue offers unparalleled, panoramic views of Chicago, and a full bar. To celebrate the summer season, AIRE has introduced a new Midwestern-inspired menu, featuring signature cocktails, slushies, and sharable plates. AIRE is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3 – 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. – 12 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. To make a reservation, please visit TOCK.

There is no better place to spend a long weekend than on a gorgeous patio in the heart of the city! Tzuco, the Mexican-French concept from Michelin Star Chef Carlos Gaytán, has recently introduced vibrant new dishes to the menu, featuring pure ingredients and extraordinary flavors that tell the story of their origin, including Charred Avocado Salad and Heirloom Tomatoes. Creating an over-the-top, floral outdoor oasis in the middle of River North, Tzuco has also debuted a new installation on their patio, featuring thousands of blooming burnt orange and magenta Bougainvillea, and beautiful Willow and Wisteria tree branches adorning the restaurant façade. Reservations are available on Resy. For more information, please visit www.tzuco.com or call (312) 374-8995.

For all your catering needs this holiday, Tijuana Flats offers fun and fresh Tex-Mex dishes at its first Illinois location, 17W615 Butterfield Road, Oakbrook Terrace. Tijuana Flats was founded on a desire to satisfy people’s craving for bold flavors and colorful experiences, piled high with big hearted, over-the-top service. With innovative combinations like Crispy Shrimp and Corn Tacos, Smokin’ Chipotle Chicken Chimichanga, Habanero and Agave Glaze Wings, and Cookie Dough Flautas, Tijuana Flats seeks to excite diners’ tastebuds. For more information or to check out the menu, visit www.tijuanaflats.com.

Decorate for the 4th with Balloon Bursts, Festive Fashions and More

Planning a backyard BBQ for the 4^th of July holiday? Kick your decorations up a notch this year with décor from Luft Balloons, Chicago’s premier balloon boutique and showroom located at 1535 N Dayton Street. From personalized balloon bouquets to customizable, large balloon bursts, Luft has something for every celebration. Orders may be placed on the Luft Balloon website and are available for pick up or delivery in the Chicago area.

Chicago’s premier lifestyle and shopping center is filled with family finds to get ready for the holiday this year. Roosevelt Collection Shops offers a variety of retail destinations to shop the day away in preparation of the 4th including H&M, Ulta Beauty, Francesca’s, Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret, The Container Store and local business that call the center home including Kido, Chicago French Press, Remix Footwear and more. For a full list of business, restaurants and entertainment destinations located within the South Loop center, please visit www.rooseveltcollectionshops.com.

Entertain a Crowd with Interactive Events and Activities

Avoid the heat and hit the indoor virtual links this year at one of Five Iron Golf’s three Chicago locations. Reshaping modern golf culture in Chicago and beyond, Five Iron Golf offers a reimagined, high-tech, inclusive golf experience complete with a full-service bar and restaurant for both golfers and non-golfers alike. To learn more or to make a reservation, please visit their website.

For an experience unlike any other, visit newly opened (opening June 25) WHIM, an immersive cocktail experience, presented by Stage 773, this holiday weekend. The over-the-top venue combines a storied history of performative art with inviting and inventive cocktails. WHIM invites guests to partake in a whimsical night out inside a world where all art forms come together – paintings, music, sculpture, street art, and live performance. For more information, please visit whimchicago.com.

Coming out swinging as Oak Brook’s newest and most entertaining spot for Summer, Game of Irons is now open just in time for the 4th of July holiday and brings 18,000 square feet of fun to the Oak Brook Promenade. Chicago’s largest indoor golf facility, Game of Irons is home to endless options to explore including 16 state-of-the-art simulator bays, offering both golf lovers and fun-seekers the best in golf ranging from hyper-realistic simulations of 200+ of the world’s best courses to play to GOLFZON Arcade, the latest technology in golf gaming. Fit for golfers of every experience level, Game of Irons is a must-visit spot to play and stay with a variety of leagues, summer camps, events in partnership with some of the industry’s top Pros and an in-house restaurant, Seven Iron Bar & Grill, serving up the best in savory shareables, salads, sandwiches and flatbreads paired perfectly with a lineup of refreshing handcrafted cocktails. To make a reservation or to learn more, visit www.gameofirons.com.

Take in a magic show over the long weekend at Chicago’s newest live theater, The Rhapsody, just opened in the heart of Rogers Park at 1328 W. Morse Avenue as Chicago’s premier destination to enjoy the biggest name in XX. Debuting with one of the most sought-after magicians in the world, experience 10-time award-winning entertainer Carisa Hendrix as the ultra-charming Miss Lucy Darling in her first full theatrical show, Lucy Darling: Indulgence. Tickets range from $35-75 for the incredibly witty, semi-improvised performance with shows set for Friday, July 1 at 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm, and Saturday, July 2 at 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm. Tickets are available at www.rhapsodytheater.com.