Celebrate America’s birthday with a bang. Find your fireworks
Posted under: Since most fireworks are illegal in Illinois, many locals flock to stores in Indiana and Wisconsin in the weeks leading up to the July 4 weekend. Fireworks laws are more relaxed in those states, so there is no shortage of stores selling fireworks legally. Cross into Indiana, for example, and most of the billboards you’ll see along highways point you to the nearest fireworks store.
Explore this interactive map to find some popular fireworks stores near Chicago.
Remember that most fireworks are illegal in Illinois and specific laws vary from town to town. If you’re interested in shooting fireworks, either privately or as a professional display, be aware of Illinois’ current fireworks regulations.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the National Fire Protection Association recommend that people attend a professional fireworks display on July 4 to ensure a safe holiday. For more information visit: http://www2.illinois.gov/KeepCool/Pages/fire_safety.aspx
The Loopster’s guide to the Taste of Chicago
This Loopster's must-have: the Mustard-fried Catfish from BJ's Market & Bakery. Photo by Janelle Schroeder/ MEDILL
What’s more all-American than eating and drinking outdoors with thousands of strangers in Grant Park? The 26th Taste of Chicago comes to a close Sunday, July 3. Are you still wary of trading paper tickets for food? Can’t figure out which vendors are worth the wait? At the Loopster we’ve done the work for you. Here’s a quick guide to the food-fest from the folks most qualified to do so – professional eaters.
A dozen new vendors join the mix of stalwarts serving up classics like Chicago-style hot dogs and deep-dish pizza. The new batch of restaurants highlights the diversity of Chicago’s food scene. From Chinese to Caribbean you can travel the globe without ever leaving Grant Park.
Time Out Chicago tackles the Taste
With more than 50 vendors each serving multiple dishes it is a nearly impossible feat to eat everything on offer. The team at Time Out Chicago sampled 40 tasting portions and has the photos to prove it.
The food professionals from the Chicago Tribune dish out their can’t miss booths at the taste. Sentimental favorites are listed alongside vendors new to the Taste this year. Pressed for time? Here is a short-list of must-have eats.
The Taste in the palm of your hand
Paper maps are so 2010. Download the Taste of Chicago application (available for iPhone and Android) to have the entertainment schedule with live updates, restaurant descriptions and more.
If you decide to skip the Taste of Chicago, there are plenty of other Independence Day weekend dining deals. Fourth of July weekend dining and drinking deals
I am from abroad and I also want to have fun
Photo by Smithsonian Institution Archives
Are you living abroad in the U.S.? Is this your first Fourth of July in Chicago? Are you prepared to enjoy the celebrations but you do not know where to go or what to do? Here you will find some tips to enjoy the day as true Chicagoan!
The first thing you should know is why the Fourth of July is so important for U.S. citizens. It is Independence Day, when the US stopped being ruled by England. Since the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 (“America’s birthday,” they say) all the states decided to launch huge celebrations to commemorate this patriotic day.
This year, the majority of the 311.7 million U.S. population would be involved in this celebration. So, if you come from abroad I guess the first shock will be seeing so many people on the streets.
Apart from the initial shock, and taking into account that there is not only a unique way of celebrating, here are some tips you may follow to enjoy the day.
- Start the day with an American brunch, pancakes for example, so you will start feeling part of the community. Yes, you can!
- If the weather is good you can go to any of the beaches in Chicago or go to any of the neighborhoods that will be launching block parties. This means no cars on the streets and people dancing, playing music and having barbeques. Pilsen and Heart of Chicago are some of the main core areas for this.
- It may be a good idea if you could join a host family for that day. At the International Office of Northwestern University they offer this possibility.
- Buying a patriotic item is a must! From t-shirts to snickers, flags, nail polish ore even food with the colors of the US flag. Just involve in the patriotic feeling.
- Join a barbeque and try the Chicago hot dog (no ketchup on it) or give a try to hamburgers, corn, steaks, potato salad, watermelon, etc.
- If you want to drink some alcohol, and you are allowed to do so, try the local beers. Goose Island 312 may be a good start. If you do not like alcoholic beverages, treat yourself to a fresh lemonade.
- Do not forget about the sweet part! Have a cupcake or a pie, most of them will be customized in red, blue, white and stars.
- When the night comes, go by the lake and get ready to enjoy the Fireworks at the Navy Pier. Also you have the choice of buying tickets to see them from a boat in Lake Michigan.
- Remember that public transportation will be crazy that day so try to leave with enough time.
- And do not forget to bring your camera. This is a unique celebration that you will not be able to experience at your home country.
The show’s not over! City cancelled most fireworks, but suburbs offer alternatives
This year, Navy Pier is the only site for July 4 fireworks in the city. Chicago is certainly known for its dazzling fireworks shows, but if you’re looking for a venue that is less crowded or more kid-friendly, don’t count out the suburbs!
JULY 2
Enjoy a day of horse racing, music and fireworks at the Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights. According to the Arlington Park website, the fireworks display will last over 30 minutes. The first 20,000 attendees will receive 3-D fireworks glasses and the first 1,000 kids get a free firecracker popsicle.
JULY 3
Take your family to Gillson Park in Wilmette on Sunday July 3rd for games, rides, entertainment and a TasteFest beginning at 4 p.m. The Grand Fireworks show starts at 9:30 p.m.
Lisle’s Eyes to the Skies festival will end with fireworks displays July 1-3 in Lisle Community Park. According to the festival website, because Monday is a work/school night, the Eyes to the Skies Committee decided that the finale will be done on July 3 instead of the 4 so kids and parents could relax and enjoy the show.
JULY 4
Because of the Chicago’s budget cuts, Navy Pier is now the exclusive site for fireworks in the city. You can catch fireworks shows on Saturday July 2 at 10:15 p.m. and Monday July 4 at 9 p.m. There will be no fireworks on July 3.
Navy Pier is also offering fireworks displays all summer on Wednesdays and Saturdays through September. For a full listing of dates and times, click here.
Photo by bayasaa
Fireworks will be launched from Clark Street Beach at 9:15 p.m. and can be viewed from any part of the lakefront east of downtown Evanston. Grab some chairs and tune into 90.5 FM to hear accompanying music along with the fireworks display.
Catch the 3-D Fireworks Fest in Skokie at Niles West High School at 5701 Oakton Street. The 3-D fireworks glasses will be distributed to the first 10,000 visitors.
Morton Grove’s fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. in Harrer Park, at 6250 Dempster St, Morton Grove, IL 60053 at Fernald Avenue.
Itasca is known for hosting one of the largest fireworks displays outside of the Chicago. Hamilton Lakes Office Campus at I290 & Thorndale Ave. The show will begin between 9:45 and 10 p.m. Fireworks are set to last about 25 minutes.
The city of Naperville’s Independence Day fireworks extravaganza begins at 9:30 p.m. in Knoch Park as part of its annual Ribfest celebration. Entry into the park could end early due to capacity, so get there early!
Libertyville’s July 4 celebration will be held at Butler Lake Park. The event starts at 7:00 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk around 9:30 p.m.
Take your family and friends to Tinley Park’s free Fourth of July celebration featuring live music, children’s games and activities, food tent, beer tent, bingo, and fireworks.
For a detailed list of July 4 events in the suburbs listed by county, visit http://chicagofree.info/2011/06/27/chicago-area-fireworks-options-2011/.
Fireworks laws and safety in Chicago
Lots of people like to celebrate U.S. independence with fireworks. But for residents of Chicago and the rest of Illinois, that sort of explosive patriotism is against the law. According to state and city legislation, only smoke bombs, party poppers and other novelty items that contain very low levels of or no explosive material are available to the general public. The city also forbids sparklers in the name of public safety, according to Chicago Police Department Commander Eugene Roy.
Fireworks can go off unintentionally from heat, friction or a stray spark, Roy said. They can cause severe burns and other injuries, which is why the law leaves them up to the professionals. The Illinois Fireworks Use Act states that only licensed pyrotechnic operators who obtain permits can put on public fireworks displays.
If you’re not a professional and decide to put on a show anyway, the consequences could be costly. Anyone caught with illegal fireworks in Chicago faces a fine of $200 to $500. Additionally, possessing a firework with more than one-fourth of an ounce of an explosive mixture in it qualifies as a felony, Roy said. Getting caught with less explosive fireworks can count as a misdemeanor.
So, to make sure your Fourth of July festivities don’t land you in jail, here’s a chart to help you figure out whether it’s ok to use a firework or novelty item in Chicago:
For people who shirk fireworks laws, the consequences can include not only fines and felony charges but hospital visits. From June 23 to July 20, 2010, state hospitals treated 135 people for fireworks-related injuries, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal reports. Firecrackers were the most common culprit, and 45 percent of the injuries were burns.
To find out more about the potential dangers of fireworks, check out the 2010 Summary of Fireworks Injuries in Illinois and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 2010 Fireworks Annual Report.
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal recommends that the state’s residents stay safe by attending professional displays if they want to see fireworks, according to keepcool.illinois.gov.
