Arlington Park plans bigger fireworks show

Arlington Park will light up the sky with fireworks on July 4 in a display that will spread so far across the infield officials are enforcing crowd control measures to ensure safety.

"The fireworks will be moving across a wider fall zone, with higher altitude and a broader range," says Arlington Park Manager Tony Petrillo. "They literally will be flying across the width of the infield and from the front to the back of the racecourse.

"The people sitting in the grandstand will have the best view of the expanded display."

The park will detonate more than 40,000 shells, with a quarter of those included in the grand finale.

Included in the mix will be a low-level display - choreographed and sequenced to produce different patterns - seen only by those in the grandstand and from the marquee tents to the picnic tables.

All of the aerial show will be choreographed to music. Selections range from patriotic to pops, and this year will include a tribute to Chicago sports teams' theme songs.

As part of the crowd control measures, Petrillo says that pedestrians will not be able to walk in the infield or sit on its berms during the display, which begins at dusk and is expected to last nearly 45 minutes.

He adds that everyone entering the parking lots and the park itself will have to display a ticket. Petrillo urges patrons to purchase tickets online to get express entry.

"There will be limited tickets available for purchase for customers walking in or drive-up patrons," Petrillo says, "but there will be different lines for those with tickets in hand."

Gates to Arlington Park will open at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the first post at 3 p.m. Early fans will be treated to live music on the Miller Lite stage, family entertainment throughout the afternoon, as well as a full card of horse racing.

As in years past, a racing ticket will serve as entrance into the fireworks show. The tickets are the same, Petrillo says.

Specialized parking procedures will also be in play. Arlington officials expect the east parking lot, with its entrance on Wilke Road, to be full by 4 p.m., while lots along Euclid Avenue will fill up later, probably between 8:30-9 p.m.

With the larger fall zone, the track will not allow fans to tailgate in the parking lot.

After 3 p.m., parking at Trackside and Ditka's restaurants will be open only to restaurant and off-track betting customers, Petrillo adds.

Officials will be checking for tickets at all parking lot entrances, including from the Arlington Park Metra station, he adds.

Last year's fireworks display drew nearly 35,000 people, and this year track officials are predicting even more families to turn out.

"With the weather we've had, and people hunkered down in their homes so long, we're expecting a big turnout," Petrillo says. "We expect open, general admission seating to fill up quickly."

If you go

What: Arlington Park July 4 fireworks display

When: Shortly after dusk

Where: Arlington Park, Euclid and Wilke, Arlington Heights

Cost: $18 adults, $4 children

Information: www.arlingtonpark.com