While other communities are extinguishing their fireworks displays to save money, Oak Park plans to celebrate Independence Day with a bang.
The village’s annual fireworks display will begin at dusk, about 9:15 p.m., on July 4th at the Oak Park and River Forest High School football stadium, just west of East Avenue on Lake Street. The free show is open to the public, with an average attendance of about 25,000, according to sponsor Community Bank of Oak Park-River Forest.
If severe weather disrupts the festivities, the show will be rescheduled for Tuesday, July 5.
A local nonprofit called the Great American Light Show Association presents the show each year, a tradition since 1976, paid for by citizen contributions, with the grand finale underwritten by Wednesday Journal. Indiana-based Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions will fire things up for the second straight year.
Oak Park’s annual Fourth of July Parade is set for Monday at 10 a.m., running up Ridgeland Avenue from Longfellow Park (at Ridgeland and Adams) north to Whittier Elementary School, 715 N. Harvey.
