Evanston resident Terri Shepard spots Black children waiting for a bus in her neighborhood early every morning — rain, snow or sunshine — in Evanston’s Fifth Ward. At 3 p.m. every weekday afternoon, ...

Photo by Caroline Zeng / Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute As the marching band faded and the floats disappeared, a new sound took over: the steady hum of engines from the cleanup crew. Central ...

Banks’ sign onto her carriage-like parade vehicle before the 2025 Evanston Fourth of July parade. Photo by Stella Bleiweis / North by Northwestern A father beckoned to his two young children, both ...

Evelyn Kraber is a student in the summer 2025 Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute.

Substitute teacher Gabriel Garcia sports gray “Mexicans Ain’t Going Anywhere” shirt at parade to protest ongoing discrimination and represent cultural heritage. Photo by Juliana Agudelo Ariza / North ...

Gus Kohl arrived two hours early for Evanston’s Fourth of July parade. The 13-year-old set up his freezer and chair at a nearly empty Independence Park on Central Street, and he was ready. His goal ...

A golden retriever accompanies its owner during the Evanston Fourth of July parade. Many dogs attended the event in costume, wearing bandanas, onesies, or tutus. Photo by Hailey Lloyd / ...

Maya Segal is a student in the summer 2025 Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute.

The Rotary International’s parade float, a U-Haul trailer filled with nearly every national flag where Rotary operates, drives down the Evanston streets during the 4th of July parade last Friday.

U.S. flags border the streets, hang from scaffolding and wave in the hands of participants at Evanston’s 2025 Fourth of July parade. The flags often represent American pride and unity, but can also be ...