LIGHT UP THE SKY

If you haven’t made plans yet for Independence Day festivities, save the evening of July 4 for the annual Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks extravaganza. The event features food and music for families, activities for children of all ages, and spectacular pyrotechnic “oohs and aahs” by nightfall for a fireworks display that is considered one of the best on the North Shore.

Created and sponsored by Friends of the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation in 2006, the festival has brought in such musical acts as The Village People, Dennis DeYoung, and KC and the Sunshine Band. This year’s musical entertainment will be provided by ‘90s cover and party band Run Forest Run with Fletcher Rockwell providing classic rock and roll.

Rick Amos, a volunteer board member of the Friends of the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation who is integrally involved in the planning of the 4th of July festivities, says it’s a great opportunity for residents to support and get more deeply involved in the community. The festival is one of four events hosted annually by the foundation to support Lake Forest Parks and Recreation programs and activities.

“We have 15 members on the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation board, and then we also have some ambassadors within the community that help us get the word out and talk about what we’re doing,” Amos says. “We’ve been doing this festival for 17 years now and we’ve got a committee of committed folks that work on it and some vendors that assist us.”

The mission of the foundation, Amos says, is to build community within the cities of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff and to create awareness and engagement about the activities of the Parks and Recreation Department. Fundraising and hosting events is a primary activity of the foundation. Events in addition to the fireworks festival include a golf outing, the Lake Forest Musical Festival, and a Tree Lighting Festival after Thanksgiving. One hundred percent of proceeds support the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department.

The Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks raises about $50,000 of the foundation’s annual goal of $125,000, and Amos says his volunteer involvement is all about creating opportunities for residents of the North Shore to get more involved and engaged in their communities.

“What’s great about the foundation is we’re all volunteers, and we care about the community, and we all want engagement and to create community wellness,” he says. “We want to get people out of the house and come have fun and exercise and see the great amenities we have, which include the beach and the parks.”

The more people who get involved in the community and contribute in even small ways, the better off the community will be, Amos adds. Parks and Recreation is an integral part of the community and getting people out in a positive way is a great way to get residents to bond together.

The centerpiece of the Festival & Fireworks is, of course, the fireworks show. The City of Lake Forest bills it as the best on the North Shore, in part due to its length (20 minutes) and the views.

“Our fireworks vendor does a lot of these shows around the area, and they confirm ours is the best, because we have an extensive show,” Amos says. “It’s choreographed to music and the proximity of the patrons is a bit unique. You’re far enough for safety but you’re close enough to feel it.”

This proximity makes the experience more interactive. Some of the larger communities in the area can’t offer this because they have to use larger spaces for their shows, and festival goers can be half a mile to a quarter of a mile away. At the Lake Forest festival, revelers are about 1,000 to 1,500 feet away, which compared to others is very close.

“You feel like you’re part of the fireworks and in most cases, while they’re not overhead, they’re very, very close,” says Amos. “It’s not like there’s a 100,000 people there or a million like in downtown Chicago. We’ll get eight to 10 thousand people there, so it’s got this unique feel and it’s more intimate. It’s big enough but not too big, and we feel that all these things add up to it being the best show on the North Shore.”

Some people in Lake Forest compare the event to a Hallmark movie with a hometown feel where everybody is friendly, in a, “Hey how you doing, good to see you” kind of way. Amos says it’s neither overwhelming or underwhelming; just an appropriate feeling for the size of the community.

He expects a good crowd since the event is on a Tuesday this year and is keeping his fingers crossed for good weather, which always helps boost turnout. Capacity is limited to 10,000, and in the past the festival has neared a sellout, but Amos says there’s always been tickets available at the door.

In addition to music and fireworks, the festival will also feature food and drinks for purchase (or attendees can bring their own) and a play area for kids with inflatables, rides, and carnival games. It will be held on the grounds just east of Deerpath Middle School, 400 East Hastings Road, and runs from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Individual tickets for the event can be purchased via a link on the foundation’s website and the day of the festival. Early bird individual tickets are $25 for residents of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, and $30 for nonresidents. There are also VIP Passes available for both individuals and families. The event is rain or shine, and tickets are not refundable.

Sally Swarthout, Director of Parks, Recreation, Forestry, and Cemetery for the City of Lake Forest, says the Parks and Recreation Foundation Board has been instrumental over the years in helping the department reach out and engage with the community.

“They are a strong supporter of Parks and Recreation and a strong supporter of Lake Forest. All of their events are important to the community,” Swarthout says. “They bring us together and, more importantly, raise funds to offset costs for programs and services with Parks and Recreation. They have passion and vision for what they do with their mission.”

Swarthout says with the cancellation last year and the unfortunate circumstances with which it occurred, she’s excited to renew the tradition of the Festival & Fireworks.

“It’s a great event for the community and for families with kids. There’s something for everyone,” she says.

For more information about the Lake Forest Festival & Fireworks and to purchase tickets, visit lfparksandrec.com.