Itasca fireworks are among largest in state

While the fireworks and entertainment always wow the crowds at Itasca's annual Independence Day celebration, the numbers behind them are pretty dazzling, too.

Itasca puts on the second-largest fireworks show in Illinois, drawing about 50,000 spectators to the Hamilton Lakes property each year. The show returns to the same site starting at 4 p.m. Saturday.

"It's going to be enormous, bigger than last year," said Village Manager David Williams, discussing the projected crowd size.

Village officials anticipate larger crowds because this year the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday.

The fireworks display, which lasts about 20 minutes, will be preceded by a performance from Smash Mouth. The band became famous about 10 years ago with their summertime hits "All Star" and "The the Morning Comes" and, later, gained more fame with their remake of The Monkees' "I'm a Believer."

The entire event costs more than $250,000, with the village paying $60,000 with revenue from hotel taxes. Itasca also pays roughly $30,000 in overtime for police and public works staff to be on duty.

"You certainly have to make it a safe event and that's one of our biggest concerns," said Williams, "We get very, very few complaints and many, many compliments."

Hamilton Partners, which hosts the event on its grounds, foots the rest of the bill for the event (about $70,000) that is not paid for through additional sponsorships and parking fees.

In addition to fireworks and that Smash Mouth show, food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Organizers say the event will happen rain or shine, because it would be impossible to replicate the following evening. But Williams and Rick Staback of Hamilton Partners both hope the weather holds out for an event they say gets bigger each year thanks to word-of-mouth.

"This event has seen steady growth and I think we'll continue to grow," Staback said. "The growth is coming from people bringing their friends out."