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Independence Day has a special place in the Midwest, and especially so in Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding townships. The farming communities have long been a source of patriotic pride, churning out soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and coasties to serve our country. The hardworking men and women of the Midwest have kept a lot of American products, well, American. And during the Fourth of July celebrations, it's apparent that people here love their freedom and way of life. One of the wonderful perks of living in the area is having the choice of visiting a number of cities, towns, and villages for a hometown holiday feel worthy of a feature movie. From fireworks to fresh produce, tea parties, peace parties, service member celebrations, parades, music, and home cooking, east central Illinois is a magnificent place to experience something new or traditional this holiday.

Here are just a few highlights that occur on or around Independence Day. Enjoy your holiday, and be safe!

-Eat to the Beat at West Side Park (July 3, 12 p.m.) featuring Nathaniel Seer (acoustic). Come to the West Side Park Bandshell with a sack lunch and sit in the shade under the gazebo.

-The Champaign Park District's historic theatre, the Virginia, will feature
Ice Cream and Independence: A Live Radio Show (4 p.m.-7 p.m., 7 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday, July 3, $16 adult, $14 student/senior, $8 child) - celebrating Abraham Lincoln and featuring pre-show Civil War Re-Enactors and displays, the Concert Band of Illinois, Civil War Band instruments, and free Cold Stone ice cream.

-Tired of the war? Go to West Side Park on the Fourth of July to eat some free vegan/vegetarian food, which is actually served every Saturday by Food Not Bombs. West Side Park is located at the corner of State and University.

-Tired of taxes and the economy? Go back to West Side Park the day on the 5th of July for an all-volunteer resurgence of the Tax Tea Party that we last saw on April 15. Bring your patriot gear, signs, and tea, and visit between noon and 2 p.m.

-Always a small town staple with big festivities (and get away from that Champaign fireworks traffic!), Rantoul's Fourth of July celebration starts at 8 a.m. with a 5K Freedom Run/Walk at the aquatics center. At 10 a.m. the Freedom Parade starts, going from Maplewood Drive to Route 136 to Fredrick Street and ends at Wabash Avenue. At high noon go to Wabash Park for "Day in the Park" and enjoy baseball games, bandstand entertainment, and food. At 7 p.m., go back to the aquatics center for a live concert and food, and pick your seat for the fireworks display, which will get underway as soon as the darkness settles in.

-Beautiful little Paxton is celebrating Ford County's Sesquicentennial at Pell's Park. Admission is free, and there will be a lot to do for the family. Eat in the shade under the pavilions, and let the kids run wild at the playground. Take a walk through the scenic downtown area, and experience a throwback to an era that is disappearing in the modern world.

-For only $1, go to the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve just north of I-74 in Mahomet for "Light Up the Lake." Boating opens at 1 p.m., food concessions and children's events start at 3 p.m. Music in Motion has performances at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The park service will pay tribute to service men and women, after which they "light up the lake." Donations will be accepted.

-Monticello has a wonderful accent to the holiday.take the train from the Monticello Wabash Depot in the historic downtown district and ride it into the park for the fireworks show! Concessions will be served to the hungry. The cost is $10 for adults and seniors, $8 for kids, and tots under two are free. Please take note that train tickets go fast, and reservations are usually the only way to get on board.

-Guess what? There's something on the fourth for the punk rockers, too. Head to 700 W. Illinois St., Urbana, and watch the likes of Atrocity Solution, We Must Dismantle This!, Burninators, Van Buren Boys, and Kid Tim. The music kicks off at 9 p.m. and ends well after midnight. The show is billed as an Independence Day all-ages punk show. You should have time to play with the bottle rockets and have some great food before you blow your eardrums. Explosives and punk rock go hand in hand.

-And last, but certainly one of the best venues, come to Parkland's very own Dodds Field for a Fourth of July celebration! There's tons o' parking at Parkland, but here's a little hint: the traffic can be brutal getting out. The Prospectus News staff recommends that you a) carpool, b) park in the adjacent neighborhoods (respectfully, of course), or c) ride your bikes! There are no restrictions on ages, and the show is free. Vending and bathrooms are provided, as is entertainment. Come a little early - before 7 p.m. - and get a good spot on the lawn with a nice blanket or folding chair. And you've been warned about the traffic getting out of there. But we think it's worth it!