Fox Lake cancels Venetian Night

While one major event is returning to Fox Lake this weekend, another has been canceled.

Fox Lake officials announced Venetian Night, which was introduced less than one year ago, will not be held this year.

The announcement comes just as the Fox Lake fireworks show returns to the Chain O' Lakes Saturday night.

Officials said the money just isn't in the budget for too many community events this year, and with the fireworks returning back over the Chain O' Lakes on Saturday, it didn't make sense to have two firework shows about three weeks apart.

"The economy is down right now and the budget is down," said Fox Lake Parks and Recreation Coordinator Nancy Rogers. "And, we have the fireworks for the Fourth of July that businesses donated to. We can't ask them for more money to help fund Venetian Night."

Fireworks will explode Saturday over Fox Lake and Mineola Bay at dusk once again, she said. The event is returning to the water after the not-for-profit Chain O' Lakes Fireworks organization pushed to bring fireworks back over the Chain.

The fireworks were moved over land in 2008 after the former organizer retired in 2007.

The new not-for-profit group has been working for the past year raising money from residents and businesses to help fund the fireworks show.

Simultaneously, the village-sponsored Venetian Night organizers have been looking for donations to help fund their fireworks this year, originally scheduled to take place on Aug. 1.

She said asking businesses and residents to help pay for both events was "just wrong" in the current economy.

"Not to mention, having both events will be rough on the police, fire department and the street department," she said. "So, it was just best to cancel it this year."

She said the hope is to return the Venetian Night in 2010, possibly combining it with the Fourth of July celebration by adding the boat parade to that event.

"We're thinking that we could have it during the weekend and extend the Fourth for everyone," she said. "No one wanted to cancel it, but we also wanted to support the fireworks and we just couldn't do both."