Come out early and get in a bit of exercise and try your luck at landing that big one and claim your prize. The day starts at 8 AM with a 1-mile “fun run” starting at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, followed by the Bob Zdenek Memorial Fishing Derby at Lake Sharon at 9 AM.
Refreshments open at 10:30 AM, followed by the Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade. The parade starts at 11:30 AM, with the fire departments leading the parade around Sabatino Park, made up of children on bikes, skaters, tractors, and floats. If you wish to be in the parade, meet at the Sleepy Hollow Pool parking lot at 11:00 AM. Registration is not required. See the Parade Map for additional lineup instructions.
Special note: because safety is always our first priority, you are not permitted to throw candy from vehicles during the parade. Parade walkers are allowed to hand out candy.
The Service Club Car Show, previously sponsored by the BGSA. The car show starts at 10 AM and runs until 2 PM. The car show asks for a $15 exhibitor donation which will go directly to the Illinois Special Olympics.
The festival features food, games, live music by The Lennys, and other entertainment throughout the afternoon. Sign up at the ticket booth for a chance to be in the pie eating contest that takes place at 2:30 PM. There are trophies for the 1st and 2nd place contestants in each of the different age groups. At 3 PM the winners (who need not be present) of the raffle will be drawn. Raffle tickets are available up to the drawing and are a great tax-deductible way to support the Service Club. Games close at 3 PM and music and refreshment wind down around 4 PM.
Setup is on July 3 at 3 PM. Volunteers are always welcome to help with setup or on the day of the event. See any club member or go to the ticket booth during the festivities.
Family Sponsor parking passes and tickets will be delivered to your house by Friday afternoon (June 30). If you do not receive your tickets or parking pass by June 30, please email us at our contact information at the bottom of this page. For Sponsor parking, please enter off of Thorobred Lane, near the firehouse.
Below is the timeline of all the July 4th events. Check out the fun from the previous year’s celebration in the Service Club Photo Gallery.
July 4 Celebration*
8:00 am – 9:00 am Fun Run starting at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School
9:00 am – 11:00 am Bob Zdenek Memorial Fishing Derby
10:00 am – 2:00 pm Car Show (The car show asks for a $15 exhibitor donation which will go directly to the Illinois Special Olympics.)
11:00 am – 3:30 pm Food & beverage sales
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Bill Ritchie Memorial Parade begins, with the fire departments leading the parade around Sabatino Park, made up of children on bikes, skaters, tractors, and floats. No throwing of water balloons or candy please.
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Entertainment, featuring The Lenny’s
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Games open
2:30 pm – Pie eating contest
3:00 pm – Raffle drawing for grand prizes
4:00 pm – Close of entertainment and concessions
*Rain date for the day event is July 5, 2026.
July 2 Fireworks
Parking opens at 7 PM and closes at 9 PM. Fireworks go off approximately 9:30 PM!
Rain date is October 24, 2026 (Halloween in the Hollow).
For more information, click here to contact the Service Club.