A grand old blast, times three
Chicago will celebrate the country's birthday with fireworks shows early and often -- just like the old joke about the city's voting patterns. As usual, the annual Independence Eve Fireworks Spectacular in Grant Park will be held on July 3. About 1 million people are expected to attend.
But this year, the Mayor's Office of Special Events decided that one giant show is not enough. Instead, there will be two additional shows -- at 9:30 p.m. July 4 (in a simultaneous presentation with the Navy Pier display), and at 9 p.m. July 5.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
For the Independence Eve July Third extravaganza, music by the Grant Park Orchestra, directed by Christopher Bell, begins at 8 p.m. Selections include Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture."
The orchestra will continue playing as the bursts of color fill the sky to a specially choreographed soundtrack. The 22-minute pyrotechnic display will begin at about 9:30 p.m. Viewing is best throughout Grant Park as fireworks fill the sky over Monroe Harbor.
Festivities will be broadcast live on WPWR-Channel and WFMT-FM (98.7). The Taste of Chicago is running through July 8.
For more information, call the Mayor's Office of Special Events hotline, (312) 744-3370; www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents.