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UnityPoint Red White & BOOM Fourth of July Is Set

UnityPoint signage
Tanya (Koonce) Williams
/
Peoria Public Radio
Plan to be there and get ready for the annual fireworks on the riverfront, no matter which side you choose.

UnityPoint Red White & BOOM promises to be another magnificent Fourth of July fireworks display.

The 33rd annual event is hosted by Midwest 360 Radio Group. It hosts the show and broadcasts the synchronized music on both riverfronts.

Mike Wild with Midwest 360 said there will be a lot of new effects in the fireworks show this year.

“You’re going to see some red, white and blue waterfall shells. There’s a magic peonies shell that changes color four times, a lot of new low-level multishot effects, and there’s a brand new gold brocade palms effect in the grand finale.” 

Wild says about nine months of planning go into creating the fireworks display. He says there are also multiple layers of public service and law enforcement agencies that work together to coordinate the show and help with such a large number of people going in and out of the riverfront areas on both sides of the river. 

Tony Howard with UnityPoint said it's a great time for family and friends to get together on the Riverfront and enjoy the fireworks. 

“My favorite part is, I am always on the East Peoria side because I think it’s the better side. But I love it when the radio stations have us yell and if East Peoria can out-yell Peoria and East Peoria always wins. And I’m sure we’ll do it again this year,” Howard said. That seems to be a friendly bone-of-contention between the residents of the two river cities.

Red White and BOOM is considered the best fireworks display in the state and in the top 2 percent of shows in the country.

The show will again last about 30 minutes and be shot off two barge-decks in the middle of the river starting about 9:30 p.m. Food vendors pre-show events start at 4 p.m. The rain date for the show is July 5.