Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest has paid for the GALA July 4th Fireworks Show for 15 years, our annual gift to the community. Year after year, the crowd roars with approval when each firework bursts in the night air. Fireworks are an assault on our senses that we look forward to with anticipation, but what goes into planning the annual show? The more you know about the GALA Fireworks Show, the more we hope you’ll enjoy this year’s Independence Day festivities.
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How Long Does it Take to Plan the GALA Fireworks Show?
We begin planning several years ahead by working with a pyrotechnics company to secure the fireworks for future shows. The pyrotechnics company purchases the fireworks from China which are brought here to the U.S., eventually making their way to Oak Park. The GALA Committee then spends dozens of hours planning the logistics for a smooth event. The Committee includes representatives from Community Bank, the Park District of Oak Park, OPRF High School, the Oak Park Police Department and the Oak Park Fire Department. Together we welcome more than 25,000 spectators annually, making it Oak Park’s largest event!
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How Many Fireworks Do You Launch During the Fireworks Show?
A total of 1,381 firework shells will be launched during the GALA Fireworks Show. This includes 756 firework shells for the grand finale! Shells come with names like Gold Shimmering Chrysanthemum, Blue Tiger Tail, Dragon Egg and Twilight Twinkler. These fireworks climb as high as 280 feet into the air.
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How Do You Make the Fireworks Different Colors?
The bright colors visible when fireworks explode come from pellets of chemicals that generate certain colors when burned. The specific color depends on the chemical. For example, fireworks manufacturers use strontium to produce an intense red, while calcium burns orange, sodium burns yellow, barium burns green and copper burns blue.
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How Do You Make Different Shapes Like Circles, Hearts and Stars?
To produce shapes, technicians pack the fuel and colorant chemicals inside a tube in different formations. A central core of fuel, surrounded by a ring of pellets, will produce circular fireworks, while a double-layer of pellets will create a double-ring in the sky. For complex formations like a heart or star, the colorant pellets are glued to a piece of paper in a desired shape. When the fuel burns, it ignites the paper, sending the colorants flying in the same pattern.
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Where’s the Best Spot to View the Fireworks?
The fireworks are launched from the athletic field at OPRF High School, so the viewing stands provide the best vantage point to take in the festivities. In addition to a great view, those near the stands can enjoy the music that accompanies the fireworks. Sure, we play traditional songs like Sousa’s “The Star and Stripes Forever”, but we also include songs by Ray Charles, Simon and Garfunkel, Everclear and Kid Rock.
We’ll see you there July 4!
COURTESY OF COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK RIVER FOREST