CHICAGO (AP) — Communities across Illinois are celebrating Independence Day with parades, ice cream socials, fishing derbies and fireworks.
In the central Illinois town of Lincoln, an old-fashioned children’s walking parade was to be followed by a water balloon fight. Lincoln is said to be the only town in the nation named for Abraham Lincoln before he was president.
In Quincy, a fishing tournament, face painting for children and music from a park band will precede a fireworks show at the Illinois Veterans Home.
In Joliet, the fireworks display has been a tradition for 68 years. The show’s sponsored by the business community and local residents.
Earlier in the day, candidates in the governor’s race — incumbent Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican Bruce Rauner — marched in parades in the Chicago suburbs.
