Wednesday, January 27, 2010

July 3rd Fireworks on Navy Pier Downsized

In an effort to save some money, the city is cancelling annual July 3rd fireworks show that is held at Navy Pier. When we saw the article we were a little disappointed, but after reading it we've changed our minds.

If you've ever been to this show (or the taste of Chicago on July 3rd) you know it's a zoo! People everywhere! Unfortunately in recent years this has boiled over into gun violence. By changing this up, it sounds like the city will hopefully divert some of the crowds from converging on downtown.

The show will be scaled down and be conducted at three different spots on July 4th. One north, one south and one at Navy Pier still. While the show might not be as spectacular or as long (from 18 minutes to 15 minutes), it's still a show and something for Sloopers to do if they're around. As a result we can still enjoy some fireworks on July 4th and hopefully we'll have a little more space this year.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

The July 3rd fireworks were never at Navy Pier, but at Monroe Harbor. Did you never go to them?

Navy Pier has fireworks twice a week during summer, and also on July 4th if it's not already a Wednesday or Saturday.

Sloopy said...

Really? We went last year and sat on the lawn in front of the field museum. Maybe I drank too much, but it sure seemed like the fireworks were being set off from the same exact place on navy pier where the weekly Wed/Sat shows happen.

Carl said...

The July 4th holiday is one of the rare times where I absolutely hate living in the South Loop. Given the opportunity to travel during this time, I usually do.

Tim said...

I'm not sure where the Navy Pier fireworks are set off from, but the July 3rd fireworks are set off over Grant Park where the Taste of Chicago is held (i.e. Monroe Harbor as Anon mentioned).

Anonymous said...

I agree with Carl on this one. July 3rd has been scary the last few years. I could actually smell the trouble brewing as I watched throngs of drunk/stoned young bangers walk north up Indiana Ave. towards the park. I completely agree with this move.

FGFM said...

How about replacing it with a Sly Stone concert?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, nothing screams "happy birthday America" like a concert from a former Black Panter / drug addict.

Anonymous said...

Shutting down this massive Grant Park show is the right move. The crowds the past few years have been full of people looking for nothing but trouble. While the shootings were highly-publicized, what went un-reported were the countless incidents of pick-pocketing, harassment, fights, etc. I witnessed a young mother (likely no more than 16 years-old) direct one of the four kids she had with her to snatch three purses in the middle of the show. That type of criminal activity and outright disrespect for others is why groups of individuals need to be caged.

FGFM said...

I witnessed a young mother (likely no more than 16 years-old) direct one of the four kids she had with her to snatch three purses in the middle of the show.

You are a delusional lunatic.

FGFM said...

Yeah, nothing screams "happy birthday America" like a concert from a former Black Panter [sic] / drug addict.

Well, the joke obviously went over your head. Stone was apparently a no-show at a free concert to be given at the original bandshell at the south end of Grant Park in 1970. After a certain amount of civil unrest that was characterized as a riot, the Park District barred rock concerts until '78.

Anonymous said...

Great "joke." Everyone loves a riot in the middle of the park on July 4th. Hillarious.

BTW, weren't you living in that cess-pool Baltimore at that time?