It’s more than 70 days away, but not too soon to start planning for the Unity Point Health Red White and BOOM. The Peoria and East Peoria Riverfronts will be the site of the largest Fourth of July Fireworks display in the state again this year.
Randy Rundle handles operations for one of the major sponsors of the event, Alpha Media, and hosts mornings on 106.9FM. He says it will be a grand celebration with a world-class fireworks display. Rundle: “It will be our 29th anniversary and this will be the fifth straight year that we are going to be putting $100,000 of fireworks above the Illinois River on the 4th of July and it’s going to be fantastic.”
The 4th of July fireworks event generally draws 150 to 200 thousand people. Families and friends often pick-out a spot on the Peoria or East Peoria sides of the Illinois River by early evening. East Peoria Mayor Dave Mingus says, “it’s really great to see all the kids. It’s really great to see the unity in our region and to have opportunities for the families not pay a lot of money or any money really to come down and see what’s going on and participate in the activities.”
At its peak the World Class fireworks show includes more than 3000 shells a minute. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis says its a magnificent show, “it’s not just the biggest in the region. It’s probably the biggest in the Midwest. This is a bigger show than in Chicago. It’s a really huge bonus point for us. We bring people from all over the midwest come in for this show.”
Ardis says it’s also an opportunity to partner with East Peoria. The 4th of July fireworks show starts about 9:30 and last about half and hour.
The musical acts start July 2nd, with The Blueprint Band. The Outlaws are on the Peoria Riverfront stage July 3rd. Molly Hatchet opens that show. Ticket costs are minimal. The Presley’s Outdoors Kid Zone is also free.