An Unforgettable July 4th at Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago
- Coach Casey
- Jul 3, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2023

This past July 4th was a day to remember in Chicago as thousands gathered in Grant Park to take part in the Grant Park Music Festival’s annual Independence Day Salute. With the iconic skyline of Chicago as the backdrop, the city came alive to the sounds of fireworks, singing, and the world-renowned Grant Park Orchestra. It was an unforgettable experience that will stay with the participants for years to come.
Carlos Kalmar returned to lead the Grant Park Orchestra, with Christopher Bell directing the Grant Park Chorus.
All concerts at the Grant Park Music Festival are free, and there's also a limited amount of reserved seating in the front of the amphitheater available for pre-purchase online.
The annual “Independence Day Salute" is the highlight of the festival and incorporates a multi-media experience, with video on two screens flanking the pavilion stage.
This visual accompaniment enhances the music and creates an immersive experience for all attendees.
The program for the “Independence Day Salute” featured a mix of traditional favorites and patriotic tunes. From the beloved “Armed Forces Salute,” the triumphant “1812 Overture,” and the rousing “Stars and Stripes Forever.” There were also selections from the iconic musical “West Side Story."
Following an extraordinary evening of music was a spectacular fireworks display.
Independence Day Salute at Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago – a truly memorable way to celebrate July 4 in the heart of the Windy City.
PROGRAM
John Williams: Liberty Fanfare
Arr. Bill Holcombe: George Gershwin Medley
Glenn Miller/Joe Garland: In The Mood
André Thomas: I Hear America Singing
Irving Berlin/arr. Roy Ringwald: Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor
William Steffe/arr. Peter Wilhousky: Battle Hymn of the Republic
William Grant Still: Festive Overture
Florence Price: Dances in the Canebrakes
Leonard Bernstein: Selections from West Side Story
George Walker: Lyric for Strings
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Arr. Robert Wendel: From Sea to Shining Sea
Arr. Robert Lowden: Armed Forces Salute
Arr. Carmen Dragon: America the Beautiful
John Williams: Hymn to the Fallen
John Philip Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever