Arlington Park promises biggest fireworks show

Arlington Park hopes to draw people who usually travel to downtown Chicago for Independence Day fireworks to the racetrack on Saturday, July 2.

Since Chicago will skip its traditional July 3 fireworks this year, the show at the track will lay claim to being the best in the region, Arlington Park General Manager Tony Petrillo said Friday in a news release.

The 30-minute-plus display will be a little longer than last year and will have more pyrotechnics, said David Zenner, track spokesman. The finale and the opening will both be more dramatic, and the display will be synchronized to a mixture of patriotic and popular music. The show will encompass the entire infield area of the racecourse.

Admission to the fireworks requires a ticket to the races, which start at 4 p.m. General admission is $10, with under 17 admitted free with ticket holders. Parking is also free.

The first 20,000 who attend will get 3-D glasses, to enhance the fireworks viewing.

“Racing, Music and Fireworks” is Arlington Park's annual fireworks display, which also serves as the village of Arlington Heights' display. This year, the track hopes that people disappointed by Chicago's cancellation will take the train out from the city to the Arlington Park station stop.

“With the city of Chicago's decision to not have a major fireworks program that weekend, there is no doubt that Arlington Park will be hosting the best and largest fireworks display in the Chicago area,” said Petrillo.

There will also be live music on the band stage by I Pop throughout the day and into the evening.

For people riding Metra to the track and home again, a train will depart Arlington Park toward Ogilvie Station in Chicago at 10:32 p.m. Another train will head northwest from Arlington Park at 11:16 p.m.

Last year about 30,000 people attended the fireworks, and a sellout is possible, said Zenner. He encourages people to buy tickets online and in advance and to arrive well before the fireworks because people will arrive very early to get desirable spots.

“People can come here on July 2nd and enjoy our fireworks and still go to their own community programs on the 4th,” said Zenner.