Highland Park Cancels 4th Of July Events, Postpones Fireworks

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — City and park district officials issued a joint statement Friday announcing the cancelation of Highland Park's traditional 4th of July events, including the Independence Day parade and FourthFest family event.

Instead of July 4, a fireworks display is tentatively planned for Labor Day weekend, "pandemic conditions permitting," according to the statement. Organizers of the Bitter Jester Music Festival aim to host the music competition on a new schedule, with concerts in July and August leading up to the scheduled September display.

The news comes one day after officials in Chicago announced plans for large summer events, including the city's first outdoor concert festival since the pandemic, which is due to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test as a condition of entry. Cook County officials also loosened restrictions on live events, exempting vaccinated attendees from capacity limits in private venues.

Mayor Nancy Rotering said in the statement that city officials made decisions throughout the pandemic based on guidance from county and state officials, which has been based on trends in regional and state coronavirus data.

“We know that it is difficult to ask our community to sacrifice another year without the traditions that bring us together, but this is ultimately a question of public health," Rotering said. "By celebrating safely this year as recommended by CDC guidelines, we will ensure that we will all be able to come together next summer.”

Several other north suburban communities, including Evanston, Glencoe and Northbrook, have already announced cancellations or postponements of July festivities.

Park District Board President Barney Ruttenberg said it was a difficult decision to cancel the events, but the safety of the community was the top priority.

“Given the current and possible COVID-related restrictions," Ruttenberg said, "at this time it does not appear that it would be safe to bring large groups of people together.”

The current stage of J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois reopening plan is Phase 4, which allows for outdoor spectator events with 15 people per 1,000 square feet.

State officials have said Illinois could within weeks move to the next phase of reopening, "Bridge to Phase 5," should the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 continue to falls — in line with the recent decline in the average number of new cases. The Bridge phase permits 30 people per 1,000 square feet.

The state has already met the vaccination thresholds required by state officials for further reopening. If positive trends continue, the state could reach Phase 5, which eliminated capacity restrictions, by the end of May.

According to the joint statement from the city and park district, city staff will organize a "virtual Independence Day parade, encouraging residents and businesses to submit celebratory photos and videos at cityhpil.com/july4."

Meanwhile, the park district plans a series of small family-oriented events over the holiday weekend including a "virtual" fun run, a walk and bike benefit event, a family boot camp competition, a drive-in movie night and discounts on golf.

The park district is hosting 4th of July fireworks of a sort: officials announced plans for an evening event at Hidden Creek AquaPark where attendees will float in pools and watch a video of a fireworks show broadcast on a large television.