Chicago celebrates Independence Day with fireworks over Lake Michigan, outdoor symphony concerts, all-American food at the Taste of Chicago, and free museums days. 

The news gets even better: This year, the Fourth of July falls on Monday, July 4, making for a nice long three-day weekend.

Here's your guide to celebrating the Fourth of July 2011 in Chicago.

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This weekend hosts the annual Gay Pride Parade in Chicago on Sunday, June 26, 2011, and the Chicago PrideFest Street Festival June 24 and June 25. The festival includes live entertainment and drag shows with some of Chicago's most popular female impersonators. Don't forget about the Pet Pride Parade on June 24 at 12:30 p.m.

Chicago's Gay Pride Parade has been held the last Sunday of June each year since 1970. The parade takes place in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood, usually starting on Halsted Street and proceeding north. The parade attracts over 500,000 spectators and roughly 250 entries/floats.

For more information on the parade and festival, read Our Guide to the Chicago Gay Pride Parade.

It's hard to believe this year will be the 20th anniversary of Lollapalooza. Not to age myself, but I went to the first one in New York many years ago when I was working for MTV. And now 20 years later, Lollapalooza continues its reign as one of the country's most popular music festivals.

Lollapalooza's creator Jane's Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell will celebrate the 20th anniversary with a stellar lineup this summer in Chicago, including appearances from Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, and Cee Lo Green. Get information on Lollapalooza 2011, including location, dates, tickets, and more.

Good news for Beatles fans: Beatles legend Paul McCartney will be playing at Wrigley Field on July 31. This will be his first Chicago concert since 2005.

Past concerts at Wrigley Field have included Jimmy Buffett, the Police, Rascal Flatts, Billy Joel, Elton John, and the Dave Matthews band.

Tickets for McCartney's concert go on sale Monday, June 20, at tickets.com. As of today, ticket prices were not available. Given Wrigley Field's unique venue, prices can be high, especially if tickets are purchased through a scalper. I attended the Police concert a couple years ago and got my tickets through a scalper for about $90 each.