The annual Morton Grove Days kicks off July 3 and lasts four days this year with fireworks, a parade, food concessions and a variety of entertainment at Harrer Park.
North American Midway Entertainment of Hoffman Estates, the event’s contractor for the last few years, will provide the 2024 carnival on all four days, said Tom Friel, assistant to the village administrator for Morton Grove.
On every day except the Fourth of July, the carnival opens at 2 p.m., Friel said. On the Fourth, the annual parade begins at 2:30 p.m. and the carnival will open after the parade ends, he said.
The parade runs westbound on Dempster Street, starting at Frontage Road near the Edens Expressway and ending at Ferris Avenue, Friel said.
“Our parade itself has a great sprinkling of ethnicities through it, such as Hispanic dancers and the Jesse White Tumblers,” he said. “There is nothing really specific to single out any kind of group, but you’ll see smatterings all over, not only in the food but in the entries in the parade.”
Other entertainment will vary each day in the entertainment pavilion, he said. Opening day will feature the bands The Album Covers at 5:30 p.m., Just the 80’s at 7:15 p.m. and Buckle at 9 p.m.
The Fourth of July features the groups Rosehill Revival at 5:30 p.m., Sealed With a Kiss at 7:15 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
July 5 music will be provided by the bands The Jammers at 5 p.m., Totem Frogs at 6:30 p.m. and 7th Heaven at 9 p.m. On July 6, Face the Music will play at 7 p.m. and Hi Infidelity at 9 p.m.
“We do like to vary the mix,” Friel said of the music line-up. “This year it seems like a good mix of oldies for old guys like me, as well as we go through the ’80s. We also have an Allman Brothers cover band.”
Fireworks are scheduled for dark, but generally begin between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m., he said. Because Chicago is not presenting fireworks on the Fourth of July this year, Friel said, Morton Grove might experience a “trickle effect” of folks who otherwise would have attended the fireworks in Chicago.
“There’s usually plenty of spots in the grass,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything we can’t accommodate in terms of numbers.”
Food will be provided by two main vendors, Village Inn Pizzeria Sports Bar and Grill of Skokie and Lee Concessions of Forest Park, Friel said. Village Inn provides a variety of “typical outdoor food and easy-to-carry stuff,” he said.
Lee, which has worked with Morton Grove Days for the last few years, serves “captivating kinds of chicken and Asian types of dishes,” Friel said.
Meanwhile, Culver’s of Morton Grove will anchor the frozen custard stand in the food court, he said.
“Throughout the carnival vendors will be serving typical refreshments, such as popcorn and other walking-around food,” Friel said.
New to this year’s event is Morton Grove Days Market from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 6. The market will bring “talented artists, packaged handcrafted sauces, gourmet goods, makers and businesses” to the community event, according to the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce.
As in past years, Friel said, attendees should find plenty of on-street parking in the area surrounding the park, 6250 Dempster. Reserved parking is limited to entertainers, restaurant workers and other participants, he said.
As always, the Morton Grove Days Commission, a 501(c)(3) organization of volunteers, will present the event, Friel said.
Johnny Rockets Fireworks will present the annual Fourth of July display for $30,000, Friel said.
Morton Grove Days is funded entirely through donations, he said. A long list of sponsors are included on the event commission’s website, Friel said. The event typically makes a profit and uses extra funds to re-invest in the community, he said.
“The last thing they bought for the community was they installed lighting in the entertainment pavilion area. They also installed permanent light poles in the last couple years and a speaker system in the area where the carnival is normally run.”
