Tomorrow is July 4th and I am happy to shout that this holiday is about more than just hot dogs and hamburgers off a subpar grill in your neighbor's yard. Whether you like to keep it chill while you hug your trembling dog and devour festive sweets, or you want to turn it up to a thousand with frozen margs and DJs, or combine two of America's favorite things, baseball and beer, then we have you covered. Check out our list of not-to-miss events throughout the city below.
Cody’s Fourth of July and Cubs Game Day Specials
Friday, July 4; open at noon
Chicagoans are invited to enjoy an epic Fourth of July party at Cody’s Public House in West Lakeview. The festivities will kick off beginning at 12pm with drink specials including $5 Sam Adams drafts, $6 Freedom Bombs, $6 Mamitas seltzers and $8 Garrison Brothers Bourbon. There will be a Mamitas sampling and Windy City Smokeout ticket raffle from 2 to 4pm along with a Surfside sampling.
Cody’s will broadcast the Cubs vs Cardinals game at 1:20pm. Cubs game day specials include $5 Old Style tall boys, $7 Malort and $7 Cubby Bombs. Games are broadcast on 16 65-inch TVs throughout the space including six outside. Cody’s beer garden offers darts and bean bags. For reservations, email events@codyschicago.com.
Sweet Mandy B’s Celebrates the Fourth with Festive Red, White & Blue Treats
Friday, July 4 open 9am to 4pm
Chicagoans can celebrate Independence Day with something sweet from Sweet Mandy B’s, where both the Lincoln Park and Streeterville locations will be serving up patriotic treats.
Guests can indulge in a star-spangled lineup of desserts, including Confetti Cookies, Sweetie Pie Cookies, Iced Sugar Cookies, Confetti Rice Krispies, festive Yellow and Chocolate Cupcakes topped with vanilla frosting and the beloved Chocolate Iced Brownies (Lincoln Park only). Perfect for Fourth of July gatherings, Sweet Mandy B’s is also offering a six-inch, three-layer Red, White and Blue Watercolor Vanilla Cake, a showstopping centerpiece that serves 8–12 guests.
Fourth of July Patio Happy Hour at Central Park Bar
Friday, July 4, open at 4pm
Chicagoans are invited to celebrate the Fourth of July in style at Central Park Bar in Avondale. Beginning at 4pm, guests can enjoy a half-price happy hour on the patio until 7pm, featuring refreshing new seasonal cocktails like the Frozen Spicy Mango Margarita (Ghost Spicy Blanco Tequila, Triple Sec, mango, lime) and the Summer Sucker (La Luna Cupreata Mezcal, Fruitful Liqueurs, Crème de Pêches, lemon, agave).
Weather permitting, the festivities extend to the bar’s expansive 3,500-square-foot Backyard Bar, complete with a covered outdoor bar, bumper pool, picnic tables, porch swings, and a fire pit, offering the perfect setting to toast Independence Day outdoors.
Fourth of July All-You-Can-Eat Grill Out Bash at Aura on the Lake
Friday, July 4
Starting at $30 per person
Aura on the Lake, the newly launched beachfront dining destination at Kathy Osterman Beach in Edgewater, invites Chicagoans to celebrate Independence Day with a lively, lakefront All-You-Can-Eat Grill Out Bash on Friday, July 4. Aura’s beach club will serve up an unlimited buffet of grilled favorites including burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, and classic summer sides, perfect for a festive day by the water. Two reservation windows are available, noon to 4pm and 4 to 8 pm
Ticket Options:
Lounge Chair Reservation – $30 per person
Includes a reserved beach lounge chair and full access to the all-you-can-eat buffet for the selected time slot.
Private Cabana – Starting at $300
Ideal for groups of 6 to 12. Each cabana includes private seating and buffet access for the group, with the option to add additional guests beyond the six-person minimum.
Fourth of July Nightcap at The Getaway
Friday, July 4 open at 8pm
The Getaway in Lincoln Square will open late on the Fourth of July at 8pm for a holiday nightcap. Specials will include $8 Beer and Shot Combos all evening and guests can also enjoy refreshing summer sips al fresco on the patio. New summer cocktails at The Getaway include the Lavender Honeybee with Sweet Gwendoline gin, Krupnik honey liqueur, lemon juice, and lavender syrup, and the Crème, Get The Money with Peach and Orange Ketel One, Crème de Violette, Cointreau, simple syrup, lemon juice, and ginger beer.
