|
|
|
While the city of Chicago’s Fourth of July celebration will be missing some spark, area plans for the holiday remain unchanged.
Economic struggles have led Chicago to cut its July 3 and 4 lakefront firework shows, leaving only a July 4 show at Navy Pier, paid for by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
Local communities’ Independence Day activities will be largely the same as last year — the Cook County area suburbs felt the pinch of the poor economy years ago.
The village of Brookfield hasn’t had fireworks on the holiday in more than a quarter-century, and the fireworks it used to sponsor at its annual Brookfest ended when that festival did six years ago.
But to celebrate Independence Day, the village will host its annual parade and celebration July 4 at Kiwanis Park.
“People just come to chill out and relax with neighbors,” said Arlene Rovner of the Brookfield Recreation Department. “It’s a real community feel.”
Starting at 10 a.m., about 70 entries will march in the parade, heading south from Grand Boulevard and Garfield Avenue to Brookfield Avenue and ending at Kiwanis Park. Nine plaques, ranging from best performance group to best youth organization, will be awarded to parade participants.
Brookfield native Mark Burdett attends the parade every year, sitting in the same spot on Brookfield Avenue with the same people and the same plans for after the parade. He considers the event a community institution.
“Red, white and blue are our flag’s colors, but our true colors come out when our veterans walk by,” Burdett said of parade watchers’ support for marching servicemen and women.
The celebration will continue at Kiwanis Park, with live entertainment by 1950s and ’60s retro band The Neverly Brothers from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. and rock/country group Kharma from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. May’s Battle of the Bands winner also will play from 5 to 6 p.m.
The Brookfield Jaycees, Kiwanis Club and Recreation Department will be selling food, beverages and ice cream.
New this year, the Military Order of the Purple Heart will display its Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall, which includes pictures of Illinois soldiers killed while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While the village of La Grange does not specifically have plans for the Fourth, the La Grange Country Club will host a fireworks display at nightfall July 3.
That evening, the Park District of La Grange will partner with Lyons Township High School’s radio station WLTL to host “Patriots in the Park” at Wiaola Park. Kicking off at 7 p.m., WLTL will be playing live music leading up to the fireworks at dusk. Eventgoers can then turn their radios to WLTL 88.1 FM for synchronized music to the fireworks display.
Veterans will lead Independence Day activities in Berwyn; the city did away with its fireworks a number of years ago as a cost-savings measure.
A flag-raising and rifle-salute procession will be carried out by the Combined Veterans of Berwyn, starting at 6 a.m. July 4 at Morton West High School and ending at American Legion Post 256, with stops in between including the public library, city hall and Serenity Park. Speakers are expected to address the crowd at Post 256.
For a full guide for area events, check out On The Go's Fourth of July Festivities Guide.
While the city of Chicago’s Fourth of July celebration will be missing some spark, area plans for the holiday remain unchanged.
Economic struggles have led Chicago to cut its July 3 and 4 lakefront firework shows, leaving only a July 4 show at Navy Pier, paid for by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
Local communities’ Independence Day activities will be largely the same as last year — the Cook County area suburbs felt the pinch of the poor economy years ago.
The village of Brookfield hasn’t had fireworks on the holiday in more than a quarter-century, and the fireworks it used to sponsor at its annual Brookfest ended when that festival did six years ago.
But to celebrate Independence Day, the village will host its annual parade and celebration July 4 at Kiwanis Park.
“People just come to chill out and relax with neighbors,” said Arlene Rovner of the Brookfield Recreation Department. “It’s a real community feel.”
Starting at 10 a.m., about 70 entries will march in the parade, heading south from Grand Boulevard and Garfield Avenue to Brookfield Avenue and ending at Kiwanis Park. Nine plaques, ranging from best performance group to best youth organization, will be awarded to parade participants.
Brookfield native Mark Burdett attends the parade every year, sitting in the same spot on Brookfield Avenue with the same people and the same plans for after the parade. He considers the event a community institution.
“Red, white and blue are our flag’s colors, but our true colors come out when our veterans walk by,” Burdett said of parade watchers’ support for marching servicemen and women.
The celebration will continue at Kiwanis Park, with live entertainment by 1950s and ’60s retro band The Neverly Brothers from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. and rock/country group Kharma from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. May’s Battle of the Bands winner also will play from 5 to 6 p.m.
The Brookfield Jaycees, Kiwanis Club and Recreation Department will be selling food, beverages and ice cream.
New this year, the Military Order of the Purple Heart will display its Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall, which includes pictures of Illinois soldiers killed while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While the village of La Grange does not specifically have plans for the Fourth, the La Grange Country Club will host a fireworks display at nightfall July 3.
That evening, the Park District of La Grange will partner with Lyons Township High School’s radio station WLTL to host “Patriots in the Park” at Wiaola Park. Kicking off at 7 p.m., WLTL will be playing live music leading up to the fireworks at dusk. Eventgoers can then turn their radios to WLTL 88.1 FM for synchronized music to the fireworks display.
Veterans will lead Independence Day activities in Berwyn; the city did away with its fireworks a number of years ago as a cost-savings measure.
A flag-raising and rifle-salute procession will be carried out by the Combined Veterans of Berwyn, starting at 6 a.m. July 4 at Morton West High School and ending at American Legion Post 256, with stops in between including the public library, city hall and Serenity Park. Speakers are expected to address the crowd at Post 256.
For a full guide for area events, check out On The Go's Fourth of July Festivities Guide.
