Phyllis Zornig, 93, waved a small American flag from a vintage car as it rolled down Central Street on July 4. She's lived in Evanston for 60 years. Behind her, 76 bands, dance groups, and community organizations marched past folding chairs that had been taped off the night before.

The scene looked like it always does. But the Evanston Fourth of July Association, which has organized the city's holiday celebrations since 1922, is running out of money. Association president Tracy Alden warned that either the parade or the fireworks could be eliminated within a year or two if the financial picture doesn't improve.

"The bottom line is we spend twice as much as we bring in," Alden told the Daily Northwestern. "Our budget is $180,000. $65,000 of that is fireworks, and we only raise, we'll say, $70,000, roughly half. Our fund has been shrinking, particularly since COVID, because the prices keep going up."

The association's endowment has depleted over the last five years. Alden wrote a letter to the city in February 2026 asking for long-term financial support. The city declined to provide direct funding but said it would support the association in other ways. Evanston covers police, fire, and public works costs for the event but does not fund the parade or fireworks themselves.

Alden said the parade is the most logistically complex event the group runs, while the fireworks are the most expensive. The association's board will ultimately decide where cuts fall.

The Daily Northwestern first reported the funding shortfall in late May, noting that celebrations beyond 2027 were uncertain. The July 4 parade went forward as planned, with entries marching down Central Street starting at 2 p.m. to mark the nation's 250th anniversary. The city cut the parade short at 3:45 p.m. when lightning was detected 10 miles away, though the 9:30 p.m. lakefront fireworks continued as scheduled.

Saturday's parade program included a letter from Alden urging residents to donate, with a QR code on the back cover linking to a donation page.

Residents along the route said the tradition matters. Robert Ryder, an Evanston resident, said losing the parade would leave a hole in the community. Adrienne Edwards, a 9th Ward resident, said she'd be willing to donate to keep both events going but acknowledged the difficulty of fundraising for the whole operation.

Hours before the parade started, children colored the pavement with chalk while dogs in patriotic bandanas trotted between blankets. In the 6th Ward, Fredrika Harper stood beside a papier-mache Statue of Liberty she and her husband spent two weeks building. Chris Milkovich, dressed as a Founding Father, told the Daily Northwestern he felt they had to celebrate big for America's 250th.

No deadline has been set for the board's decision. Alden's estimate: a year or two before something has to go.