July Fourth falls on a Monday this year, meaning you have a long weekend to celebrate America’s independence.
Chicago-area bars and restaurants are making the most of it by offering plenty of patriotic food and drink specials, along with live music, views of the city’s fireworks displays, and classic summer barbecue.
Dress in red, white and blue, put on some sunscreen and head to one of these 21 spots to party like it’s 1776.
Come at 8 p.m. Monday for free music trivia and games of pool while taking advantage of drink specials including $4 Old Style and $8 Copernicus cocktails, made with Crown Royal, Pimms, lemon juice and ginger beer. 2683 N. Halsted St., 773-348-9800, aliveone.com
The restaurant’s River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market and Oak Brook locations extend their weekend brunch to Monday, offering dishes including baked French toast. Locations vary, beatrixrestaurants.com
Get a taste of Christmas in July from July 4-17 with the White Winter Cosmo made with Reyka vodka, Cointreau, St. Germain, white cranberry juice and lime juice and topped with frozen cranberries. Sip one in the restaurant for $9.90, or pick up a $15 cocktail kit that includes a shaker and all the ingredients for two drinks so you can make your own at home. 15537 S. La Grange Road, Orland Park; 708-873-5170; bonefishgrill.com
The 45-piece Lake County Symphony Orchestra performs a free American Salute concert in the Long Grove brewery’s beer garden at 7 p.m. Monday. Bring picnic blankets and chairs to watch the show while having some beer and bites from a food truck. A special Red, Blue & Flight featuring Red Headed Stepchild strawberry blonde and Constantia Blue blueberry golden ale is available Friday through Monday. 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove; 847-821-6140; buffalocreekbrewing.com
Supply your barbecue by picking up a six-pack of burger buns ($10) and a raspberry streusel pound cake or blueberry kuchen (both $25) Saturday and Sunday. Orders must be placed by Thursday. 1733 Central St., Evanston; 847-869-4396; hewnbread.com
Summery, boozy sno-balls from Ina Mae Tavern will be part of the bar's July Fourth festivities. (Sydney Waters)
Stop by the bar’s sno-ball window from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to get a $10 boozy frozen cocktail. Kids get a free red, white and blue sno-ball with any purchase, which you can enjoy on the Wicker Park bar’s dog-friendly patio. 1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com
Happy hour specials normally available from 4-6 p.m. Mondays are extended all day July Fourth, so you can enjoy $8 glasses of sangria and $7 tapas starting at 11 a.m. 500 N. Clark St., 312-820-7771, jaleo.com
Through Monday, the nostalgic diner chain will offer a strawberry-blueberry shake topped with an ice cream sandwich and sugar cookie with red, white and blue sprinkles and a cupcake with a mini-American flag. For some extra decadence, spike the drink with Baileys Irish Cream. Locations vary, jojosshakebar.com
Visit Saturday and Sunday for a $29 bundle featuring a Lagunitas IPA and a double wood-grilled burger topped with Gruyere, caramelized onions, frisee and aioli served with frites. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, lesudchicago.com
Head to flight school with a “Top Gun”-themed bash from noon to 4 p.m. Monday, featuring Sam Adams samples and giveaways, $5 Sam Adams pints, $6 Tito’s mules, $3 Chicago dogs, $20 Truly buckets and a $15 “Flight of Three” featuring your choice of three shots of Skrewball, Fireball, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark or Malort. You can also show off how much you know about America with free trivia at 7 p.m. awarding gift cards and prizes from Truly. 1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com
Lure's picnic basket for two is anchored by two lobster rolls and sushi. (Lure Fishbar)
Pick up a deluxe picnic basket ($125) for two this weekend and feast on lobster rolls, coleslaw, two sushi rolls, chips and cookies while taking in the great outdoors. Add on a bottle of wine for $50. If you’ve got other plans this weekend, don’t fret — the picnic deal will be available for the rest of the summer. 616 N. Rush St., lurefishbar.com
Celebrate all weekend long with New Amsterdam Red Berry vodka lemonades, cucumber mules and Topo Chico hard seltzers for $4 and a $14 wood-grilled smoked Polish sausage that features caramelized onions, Dijon mustard and waffle fries. 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
Get a festive pairing with a Red, White and Bluetiful matcha drink made with vanilla almond milk, blueberry and beet powder ($8.95) and a funfetti waffle topped with strawberries, banana, whipped cream, and patriotic sprinkles ($9.95). 1017 W. Lake St., 312-785-9597, matchacitachi.com
Doors open at 11 a.m. Monday for a party featuring red, white and blue frozen cocktails, $5 bomb pop shots, $4 Sam Adams pints, $7 kids corn dogs with fries, and a $14 fried chicken platter including fries and coleslaw. 4128 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-799-8881, theramblerchicago.com
Don’t have a grill? Stop in at this Bucktown bar 7 p.m. Monday for a free hot dog, condiments and chips while supplies last. 1910 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-698-7715, remedybarchicago.com
The Italian restaurant adds barbecue favorites, including beef brisket and pulled pork sliders, to its Sunday brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling; 847-777-6878; saranellos.com
Party on North Avenue Beach starting with a Mediterranean-inspired weekend brunch also available Monday. For extra luxury, reserve a sun bed, daybed or cabana and order a few rounds of large-format cocktails. 1603 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, 312-635-8058, shoreclubchi.com
The Lincoln Park and Streeterville bakeries offer festive treats Friday through Monday, including iced sugar cookies ($3.85), chocolate iced brownies ($5.25) and a six-inch three layer red, white and blue vanilla cake ($42). 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174; 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632; sweetmandybs.com
The chain offers a special baby back ribs taco through Tuesday, featuring Dr Pepper barbecue sauce, napa slaw, cherry jalapeno salsa and crispy jalapenos in a corn tortilla for $5.95. Locations vary, velvettaco.com
Get a view of fireworks displays throughout the city from the 22nd floor bar’s west terrace by booking a table for two for $190 from 6-9 p.m. or 9 p.m. to midnight Monday, with reservations including a barbecue buffet, open bar and welcome cocktail. 133 E. Cermak Road, 312-528-0191, vurooftop.com
West Town Bakery's holiday cupcakes for July Fourth. (The Fifty/ Restaurant Group)
Place an order by Friday to pick up a pack of nine vanilla or chocolate cake balls covered in red, white and blue sprinkles ($23) or a six-pack of red velvet, vanilla and chocolate swirl cupcakes with themed frosting ($18). Locations vary, westtownbakery.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
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