Fox River Grove moving fireworks show from July to September
It might be cold outside but it isn’t too early for Fox River Grove officials to start planning for next summer’s fireworks celebration, which they have moved from July to September.
A lengthy drought in 2012 threatened to spoil the fireworks show, forcing village officials to move it from the Saturday after the Fourth of July, to the Saturday after Labor Day. Fox River Grove was one of several suburban towns citing the drought as a reason for canceling or postponing its annual fireworks show.
The show had been traditionally held the Saturday after the Fourth of July, but Village President Robert Nunamaker said the village received positive feedback on the new date from residents, which is why it was brought to a vote earlier this month.
“It’s cooler and the mosquitoes are gone,” Nunamaker said, noting those factors played a part in the positive feedback from residents.
The show is held at Picnic Grove Park with people from the Cary Grove Jaycees and Fox River Grove Lions Club selling concessions. The village takes 50 percent of the proceeds to put toward the following year’s show.
Now that the show has been moved to September, Trustee Jerry Menzel says that means there’s less time for the community service groups to sell concessions during the daylight hours. He fears that could result in less money for the groups and for the village to use for next year’s show.
Menzel, who voted against the proposal, also has a problem with moving it to September because the show loses its meaning.
“It’s the time of year to celebrate the birth of the nation and September is not that time,” Menzel said. “There’s no good reason to move it, but that’s life.”
Nunamaker said the village is coming up with ways to celebrate the Fourth of July that do not involve fireworks.