DuPage towns join together for LibertyFest
As communities have adjusted to the sputtering economy and looked for places to cut spending, some like Addison have gone without Fourth of July fireworks.
But contracting budgets in Addison and neighboring towns are leading to a growing collaboration and an expanding festival celebrating the nation's birthday.
LibertyFest, which started in 2009 as a partnership between Bensenville and Elmhurst to pay for a fireworks display, this year will be a four-day festival aiming to bring together the residents of four towns for a Fourth of July celebration.
“The mayors of the neighboring towns talked and decided that if each town did something and helped each other out, the event could be more of a regional draw,” said Doree Krage, assistant director of community relations for the village of Addison.
Last year, Wood Dale joined Bensenville and Elmhurst as the fireworks display grew into LibertyFest, with two days of family activities. This year, the fest will run Friday to Monday, July 1-4, with two fireworks displays.
“It was really a way to look at how all these towns with shrinking resources still put on a great party and celebrate America's birthday while still being respectful of the taxpayers,” said Diana Paluch, director of communications and marketing for the village of Bensenville.
Located in the 88-acre Redmond Park, 735 E. Jefferson St. in Bensenville, the joint celebration is a sensible way to be “able to offer more to all of our combined citizens,” Paluch said.
A number of shuttle buses will run between the festival and locations in the four towns in an attempt to ease parking in Bensenville during the festivities.
“The really cool thing is that we're having fireworks on two evenings,” Paluch said. “It's a great way to really celebrate the Fourth of July in a real old-time family way.”
Fireworks displays are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, July 3 and 4, with an Independence Day Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday along York Road.
To celebrate the holiday weekend, the festival also will feature a carnival, free ice skating at the Edge Ice Arena, 545 John St., pony rides and demonstrations from local chefs.
For the first year, the village of Addison will be formally involved with LibertyFest, a partnership Krage said seems logical.
“If we lived in a town that was really big like Naperville, where they have 100,000 people, there would only be one fireworks display,” Krage said. “Here in Addison, we only have about 30,000, so it just kind of makes sense.”
The cross-town collaboration will not end with the final days of LibertyFest, though.
“The plan is to continue this sharing of resources,” Paluch said.
While Bensenville plays host for LibertyFest, the remaining municipalities will receive support during events like Wood Dale's Prairie Fest and Addison's annual circus in August.
If you go
What: LibertyFest
When: Friday to Monday, July 1-4
Where: Redmond Park, 735 E. Jefferson St., Bensenville
Cost: Free
Info: bensenville.il.us