WAYS TO PLAY
Independence Day Celebration
2026 Yankee Doodle Dash 5K
Start the Independence Day Celebration with our annual tradition, and dash the streets of Wilmette in our dandy 5K!
Event Details:
- Date: Friday, July 3
- Race Start: 8 am
- Start/Finish: Gillson Park
- $40 per participant
- REGISTER HERE!
*Registration CLOSES at 11:59 pm on 6/30! Space is LIMITED! Register ahead of time, we anticipate this event to sell out and there is NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION.
Special Appreciation
- We’d like to thank our Stars & Stripes Sponsor, de Giulio Kitchen Design for sponsoring our dashing event shirts!
- Special thanks to our Spangled Sponsor, State Farm Agent Nathan Sulack for sponsoring our dandy participant medals!
Star Spangled Splash!
Join us for an afternoon packed with FREE family fun, festive activities and summer excitement for all ages! Challenge your friends at carnival games, show off your patriotic spirit with face painting, jump into the bounce house fun and don’t miss our exciting confetti “fireworks show”, plus so much more!
Keep the celebration going at the Centennial Pools, open 2–6 pm. Residents enjoy FREE pool admission all day, while non-residents may attend for the daily admission fee.
Event Details:
- Date: Friday, July 3
- Time: 1-3 pm
- Location: Centennial Park
- Fee: FREE family activities in the park
- Public Swim: 2-6 pm, FREE for residents / daily fee applies for non-residents
- More info coming in Spring!
Fun & Fireworks
Enjoy an evening packed with Independence Day Celebration at Gillson Park! We’ll have food vendors, live music, performers and a fireworks show to kick off your 4th a day early. Bags are subject to search. No sparklers allowed. No alcohol allowed. Gillson Main Beach will require a season or daily pass all day & evening. South Beach will open to general public starting at 8 pm for visitors to enjoy the Fireworks show.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, July 3
- Time: 5-10 pm
- Location: Gillson Park
- More info coming in Spring!
Our Independence Day Celebration is extra-special this year! Celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial a day early with Wilmette Park District and keep an eye out for our special 250 decal to mark the occasion!
Download PDF 
Save This Page as a PDF