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Chicago cancels fireworks for July 3, 2010

by Melanie Nayer (RSS feed) on Jan 28th 2010 at 5:00PM

Looks like the people of Chi-town will have to come up with their own fireworks extravaganza this year. Breaking news from the Chicago Tribune reports that Chicago's traditional July 3 Grant Park fireworks display is canceled.

"I would say we're doing it to be fiscally responsible, because we have to be," said Megan McDonald, director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. "We're also doing it to more effectively manage what happens at the Taste of Chicago, as well as citywide on an already busy holiday weekend. I think it is always challenging to manage a million, 2 million people in a very small space."

The fireworks display - part of the Taste of Chicago - is just one of the many celebrations Chicago plans to put on hold in 2010 (the famous South Side Irish Parade, Venetian Night and the Outdoor Film Festival were also cut). Canceling these celebrations, said McDonald, will save the city between $1 million and $2 million.

Not all is lost for Chicago residents wanting to celebrate their Independence Day with a little flare. The Mayor's office announced it will stage three smaller fireworks displays spread out along the lakefront - the North Side fireworks will be held around Montrose Beach; the South Side fireworks in the vicinity of 63rd Street Beach; and the third display will take place at Navy Pier. Each fireworks show will be 15 minutes.

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Filed under: Festivals and Events, North America, United States

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Frank Norton Jan 31st 2010 9:44PM

Since more and more postings peddling their own business rather sticking to the topic on hand I wrote AOL a letter to scrutinize the comments such as love connections, insurances, clothing, etc and charge all those for the advertisement.

jimjamher Jan 30th 2010 6:58AM

It's about time...It's true. too many people in such a small area. I'm almost positive the ganster a-holes who tried to do a drive-by durring the display last year is the nail in the coffin to why Chicago lost the bid to the 2016 olympics to Rio. 2016 would have been interesting in Chicago, but God help whoever decides to actually go to Rio in 2016 to see the olympics! Hope you'r packing more than a pistol there! Navy Pier has done a fireworks show the same day for the past few years and even though was 10 min shorter than the city's, you can see the same show every wed and sat night all summer long without the big crowd. No major loss to the city, and I bet the tourists wouldn't even notice the transition.

laughin@greed Jan 30th 2010 7:32AM

how about cuttingsome bonuses and travel and big meals that mr mayor dont need you have money to hold the olympics but vant even entertain your tax payer for 1 night get real

MegaTone511 Jan 30th 2010 1:19PM

Briliant......

Soxbest Jan 30th 2010 8:16AM

It`s ashame but i agree. The Lakefront has as many people during the 3rd`s celebration as almost every city in this country except LA,Houston,Philly and NYC.

To have 3 firework shows that extend the entire length of the Chicago Lakefront will be Great. 1 on the Northside, 1 on the Southside and 1 downtown at Navy Pier. Great Idea.

The ONLY thing I will really Miss is the Outdoor film festival. Nothing like Seeing a Movie on a HUGE screen outdoors with Chicago`s skyline, The Lake, Beautiful Grant Park, Awesome Millenium Park, all the boats etc etc. all around. Not too mention they show movies everyweek outdoors at over 100 Parks. I Hope they bring it back.

den Jan 30th 2010 8:27AM

It is fitting that chicago is cutting back on celebration of our freedom from tyranny since one of their own citizen is trying to bring tyranny back to our land.

kathleen Jan 30th 2010 8:40AM

They should also cut the week night fireworks that only serve few people that are downtown on the week nights. That money could be used for services for the poor and elderly. As well as all fireworks for sports celebrations.....the fans are in the suburbs, too!!!

bob Jan 30th 2010 8:44AM

Way to go Chicago.
Keep raising the sales tax and cutting back on the entertainment.
How many millions of bux will be lost on transportation, food, lodging, etc
so the city can same one to two million on fireworks.
Penny wise and pound foolish me thinks.

Walt Jan 30th 2010 9:28AM

Once again a "sanctuary" city cuts something for the citizens. While they spend hundreds of millions on illegals.

Jenny Jan 30th 2010 9:34AM

I live in Chicago, this is a desperate move for the Mayor. They must be just about out of money. They can put on Taste of Chicago because they charge the food and beverage vendors to the hilt! The fireworks and security have to come out of the city's coffers. The industry that will get hit yet again is the hospitality industry, including the restaurants. Let's face it, if you're coming to the US, Chicago, even in the summer, is no longer the destination of choice.

Chris Jan 30th 2010 9:53AM

Mayor Daley...WTF are you doing to my hometown???

Amy Jan 30th 2010 8:48PM

It's so sad...too bad New York would never scale back any of their decadance. I grew up in Chicago and we NEVER went downtown to see the fireworks, we had our own fireworks on the block. Venetian night was something the boaters did on Lake Michigan for themselves whoever saw this got the treat. I didn't know it had turned into a money making tourist event. And the Southside Irish Parade was a community thing...it became so popular the city had to start spending money. Police etc...I love Chicago but politically it's a mess.

DAN Jan 30th 2010 10:26AM

HEY, BUT IT LEAVES MORE MONEY FOR THE BUREAUCRATS, POLITICAL APPOINTEES, AND THEIR FAT UNION PENSIONS! CAN'T CUT SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THAT! GOTTA KEEP THE GRAFT $$ READILY AVAILABLE.

tom Jan 30th 2010 11:00AM

I thought they were talking about ending the tradition of having dead people vote for Democrats.

Terry Jan 30th 2010 11:03AM

Sounds like the Mayor and the city council spent so much money promoting the Olympics (that no residents wanted anyway), that now they are punishing the people of Chicago by cutting simple things like fireworks. Come on, a million or 2, the mayor and cronies spend that on lunch and gambling weekends. Sounds like once again, the citizens are ones to bear the "pain" of bad govt. decisions.

Terry Jan 30th 2010 11:06AM

Thank you for your letter to AOL. It's bad enough that people can't even stick to the topic of the article, but to use the message board for advertising makes me sick and tired of having to skip over those stupid personal ads. I hope AOL takes some action, but seriously doubt they will.

Terri Jan 30th 2010 11:14AM

While, most will say this is a great way for the city to save money and the police will not have to worry about the thugs and gang bangers crashing the fireworks, think of all the other revenue that will be lost when there are no patrons to stimulate Chicago's economy. Taxi cabs, Vendors, Boat tours, the nearby Museums, Bike rentals, the Chicago Police getting Overtime Pay, Summer Jobs to clean the mess, Tourism, the list goes on and on. Yes, the Annual Grant Park Fireworks became bigger and more hectic over the years, but the money the city and local vendors made, certainly surpassed what the city spent for the event. I guess we will never see City Hall lead by example and take personal cuts in pay, vacation, cost of living, office and personal expenses. Instead, as always, the citizens of Chicago will pay the price. What ashame.