Community Corner

Donations Help Fund Area Fireworks in Tough Economy

While many towns and cities have been forced to cut back on Fourth of July fireworks displays, there are still plenty of area places to enjoy a pyrotechnic shows.

Donna Sullivan knows how important fireworks are to a local community.

As executive director of the Wonder Lake Chamber of Commerce, Sullivan has helped plan for her town’s Fourth of July celebrations since last fall. 

Wonder Lake’s fireworks display is ignited from the west side of the lake and viewable from at least 11 of the 19 parks located along the 864-acre lake, she said.

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But, like so many other communities facing budget constraints, in 2009 Wonder Lake began funding the community’s annual pyrotechnic show strictly through donations. Last year, organizers were not even sure if they would have enough money to fund the show.

“Last year was very, very scary,” Sullivan said. “But this is our community’s largest event of the year, and I think because it’s an enjoyable event that people can invite many of their family and friends to — young and old — that people stepped up to help.”

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Sullivan said the chamber has received donations in the thousands from local businesses to raise the $11,000 to pay for this year’s show, scheduled to start at dusk Sunday and viewable from Center Beach, located at the end of Hancock and East Lake Shore drives in Wonder Lake.

The town also has held street corner collections on several weekends and distributed donation jugs to businesses throughout the area to raise money for its fireworks.

Wauconda Raises $20,000 for Fireworks

To the east, organizers of Wauconda’s Fourth of July fireworks show successfully raised $20,000 to pay for this year’s colorful display over Bangs Lake on July 3, said Linda Krajniak, assistant to the village manager and director of economic development.

“We are super, super lucky to have people who are community-minded and donate to help us out,” Krajniak said. “The annual Independence Day fireworks really have been integral part of our community for so many years.”

The village of Wauconda is hosting the fireworks display, and this year the village received donations from a number of local governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, individuals and local businesses, Krajniak said.

Some Villages, Cities Still Fund Fireworks

Still, some towns and villages continue to budget for summer fireworks. The village of Huntley sponsors the annual 25-plus minute display held at Huntley Outlet Center, 11800 Factory Shops Blvd., at a cost of $10,000.

This year’s show is set for dusk Monday, July 4. 

“It’s such a nice community event, we would hate to discontinue anything like this until we had to,” said Barb Read, management assistant for the village of Huntley.

In Crystal Lake, city officials stepped up in 2009 to help pay for part of the town’s annual fireworks display over the lake when the Gala Committee, the group that previously oversaw the show, disbanded.

City officials work with members of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and Lakeside Legacy organization to plan its annual parade, festival and fireworks.

Check out Patch’s Fireworks Display Guide for the latest on area Fourth of July festivities and fireworks for this upcoming weekend.


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