North Aurora joins with neighbor for holiday fireworks

North Aurora is chipping in for Aurora's July 3 fireworks display, since it won't have one of its own.

And its neighbor to the north, Batavia, is asking people to step up to shake the donation containers at its July 4 show, especially since it expects to receive more visitors from North Aurora.

North Aurora is supplying police officers for crowd control and paying for a skydiving team for the Aurora event, which is held on the grounds of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and Aurora Central Catholic High School, near Randall and Sullivan roads.

Its contribution is worth about $4,000.

To transport people, two shuttle buses will run from the parking lot at the Woodman's supermarket at Hansen Boulevard and Orchard Road in North Aurora to the party site.

There's entertainment from 6 to 9:30 p.m., followed by fireworks and then cartoons will be shown at 10 p.m.

The North Aurora village board canceled its Fourth of July show to save money, especially since fireworks have risen in cost this year. It also canceled one of two fireworks shows it usually has during North Aurora Days in August, but increased the budget for the remaining show.

In Batavia, Mayor Jeff Schielke got right to the point.

"Roger, we need to find a way to tap the financial resources of all these visitors that show up on our doorstep on the Fourth of July," Schielke said Monday night to Roger Breisch, the resident who runs the city's privately-supported show.

Breisch agreed, but noted that last year he had trouble rounding up enough people to man nearby parking lots asking for donations. In years past, the fireworks committee collected between $5,000 and $6,000 that way, but last year brought in only $1,500.

The committee is willing to pay local nonprofit groups for each volunteer from the group that works the event.

The show, held at Batavia High School, costs about $30,000. The committee raises money through fees for a citywide garage sale, business sponsorships and donation containers placed at businesses. Breisch expects to dip into reserves to cover this year's show.

"If they (out-of-towners) are going to come watch our fireworks, it doesn't hurt for them to chip in to pay for our show," Schielke said.

The only towns nearby having fireworks shows July 4 are St. Charles, Warrenville and Naperville. The Kane County Cougars baseball team in Geneva will shoot off fireworks after its game that night.

People interested in helping can sign up at bataviafireworks.org, or call (630) 482-3517.