4th on 53rd Parade
This festival has wrapped for 2026 — the 2027 dates are below.
Next edition · 2027
Returns Sunday, July 4, 2027. Parade 11 a.m.; free festival follows in Nichols Park. The organiser bills 2027 as the 35th annual parade. Confirmed on the organiser's site on Nov 8, 2026. The lineup, schedule and tips below are the record of 2026. Official announcement
Hyde Park's Fourth of July: an 11 a.m. parade west on 53rd Street where everyone marches, then a free festival in Nichols Park from noon to 3 with bands, bouncy houses, face painting and lawn games.
- Dates: July 4, 2026
- Where: Nichols Park
- Neighborhood: Hyde Park
- Cost: Free
How it was
This year's edition is over — the practical notes below are kept as the record of 2026.
What to expect
The organiser calls it the parade in which everyone marches: bike decorating in the Hyde Park Bank parking lot from 10 a.m., staging at 10:30, and an 11 a.m. start west along 53rd Street to Nichols Park with marching bands, floats, community groups and kids on decorated bikes. The free festival in Nichols Park runs noon to 3 p.m. In 2026 it had a Battle of the Bands between Kenwood Academy and King College Prep, two bouncy houses, face painting, a magician, lawn games, a music stage on the park's north patio and a community performance stage across from Murray School.
Family-friendly
Built for kids: decorated-bike parade, bouncy houses, face painting, a magician and lawn games. The organiser asks that children be accompanied by an adult for the activities.
History
A Hyde Park tradition of more than 30 years; the organiser bills the 2027 edition as the 35th annual parade.
Local tips
- Want to march? Sign up on the organiser's form, or just show up at the Hyde Park Bank lot by 10:30 a.m.
- The festival sells no food, so bring a picnic for Nichols Park.
- Rain or shine, except in active thunderstorms.
Frequently asked questions
When is 4th on 53rd Parade 2027?
4th on 53rd Parade returns Sunday, July 4, 2027 (Parade 11 a.m.; free festival follows in Nichols Park), per the organiser, checked Nov 8, 2026. The organiser bills 2027 as the 35th annual parade.
Is the 4th on 53rd free?
Yes. The parade and the Nichols Park festival are free; no food or drink is sold at the festival.
Where does the parade start and end?
It assembles in the Hyde Park Bank parking lot, steps off at 11 a.m. and heads west on 53rd Street to Nichols Park.
What if it rains?
The organiser says the parade goes rain or shine, but not during active thunderstorms.