4TH AND STRONG

Something might finally upstage the fireworks at this year’s Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks on July 4.

Not the music headliner, Dancing Queen, though the event’s longtime coordinator, Rick Amos, describes the ABBA tribute band as “fantastic,” and even casual fans of disco will likely pop up and gyrate to songs like “Mamma Mia,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “SOS.”

Not the bouncy houses at the Tots Lot, though any kid 6 or younger who bounced and soared repeatedly inside one of the inflatable apparatuses last year started looking forward to this year’s Festival & Fireworks last July 5.

The thing that threatens to eclipse the magnificence of the fireworks is the venue itself—Deerpath Community Park. The event was staged at a nearby alternative site last summer because Deerpath Community Park was undergoing reconstruction. The City of Lake Forest’s $16 million investment in the remaking of the park included the installation of synthetic turf to its athletic fields and the addition of two buildings.

Work had begun on the site in March 2023.

“It’s a brand-new park, and we’re excited we get to showcase it and show it off at the Festival and Fireworks,” says the 60-year-old Amos, who, since 2005, has helmed the wildly popular event/fundraiser as a board member of the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation (“The Friends,” for short). “It’s a big deal. It’s a perfect opportunity for residents to check it out. It looks wonderful, with great seating.

“The city staff,” he adds, “did such a great job.”

Proceeds after the family-centric festival’s expenses will be used to support programs for Lake Forest Parks & Recreation. Some will be earmarked to fund annual scholarships made available for families that can’t afford fees to participate in a sport or an activity.

“There’s a perception that everybody who lives in Lake Forest is wealthy,” says Amos, the chairman of Amos Media Company, a diversified special interest media/publishing company. “The reality is that residents here need help financially. Our foundation enjoys putting the Festival and Fireworks together. It’s a good way to contribute to the community and to also raise money to help the city meet needs—equipment repair, for example—that weren’t able to be budgeted.”

The Friends presented a survey for local residents about 12 years ago, seeking their input on what the foundation should invest in to enhance the offerings to the community.

“We heard they wanted synthetic fields, because too many games and events at Deerpath Community Park had been impacted due to weather (and unplayable field conditions),” Amos recalls. “We listened. We sought to make a difference, like we always do. We’re an organization that promotes community and a healthy lifestyle.”

Scheduled to open for Dancing Queen is The Shagadelics, a 1970s disco tribute band. In addition to the Tots Lot at the carnival-esque happening, areas designated for Kids and Teens will attract fun-seeking youngsters. At the Kids spot, Amos notes, athletes will compete in baseball, kickball, and soccer games atop the new field turf.

“When you think of synthetic turf, you usually think of a plastic surface or one with rubber pebbles, (crumb) tire-rubber infill,” Amos says. “But ours at Deerpath Community Park is an organic wood particle infill that’s known for its durability. Athletes who play on it never have to worry about bugs and mosquitos that are everywhere at grass fields. They’ll also never have to worry about dealing with mud after heavy rains.”

The park’s new turf system comprises the most environmentally sensitive elements, with a turf product known for its recyclability.

Single tickets for the Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks are available, as are a trio of VIP packages, including Adult, Youth, and Family passes.

“One of our popular passes every year is for adults who want to enjoy the event (5-10 p.m., on July 4) as if they were at Ravinia for a concert,” Amos says, adding he expects between 7,000-10,000 attendees. “Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages will be available, along with food from vendors.”

The Festival & Fireworks is the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation’s biggest event every year, ahead of its Tree Lighting Ceremony at Market Square on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

“We’re hoping for 78 degrees and no rain on the Fourth of July, and we put (The Friends’ founder) Fred Jackson in charge of the weather,” says Amos, who grew up near Dayton, Ohio, in Sidney, majored in business administration and played football—as a free safety—for three seasons at Miami (Ohio) University, and moved to Lake Forest with his wife, Sherry, and their three children in “Fred is a pillar of our organization.

“None of this happens,” he continues, “without the efforts of Fred Jackson.”

And there’s nothing like the 20-minute fireworks segment—along with the anticipation of the splendid display during its festive, four-hour-plus run-up—at the Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks.

“Everyone loves a fireworks show,” Amos says. “They’ll all love it again this year, right up until it ends at 10 p.m. It’s always the star of our event.”

Look for it to accept co-star status this year, as the crackling spectacle above matches Deerpath Community Park’s sparkling new grounds.

Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks online ticket sales are open. For more information, visit lfparksandrec.com.