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No Fireworks At Navy Pier For Fourth Of July This Year — But There Will Be Music, Activities

The pier typically hosts a 15-minute fireworks display that attracts thousands of people from throughout the city.

Fireworks at Navy Pier in July 2015.
Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
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CHICAGO — There will be no Fourth of July fireworks show at Navy Pier this year.

The popular destination will still host programs for the holiday weekend, with live music, dance performances and family-friendly activities, according to a news release. But it won’t put on a fireworks show that Saturday or Sunday since Navy Pier wasn’t able to plan a large-scale celebration due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The pier typically hosts a 15-minute fireworks display that attracts thousands of people from throughout the city.

“Planning for this celebration would have needed to begin in March to procure necessary regional and federal security resources and develop a comprehensive plan to safeguard the wellbeing of the more than 100,000 guests who visit the Pier that day in anticipation of the only formal fireworks show in the city,” according to Navy Pier. “Given the short lead time following the recent announcement of Illinois and Chicago’s respective Phase 5 reopening plans, the Pier was unable to begin preparations in time to ensure a successful celebration this year.”

The spot also didn’t host a fireworks show for the Fourth of July last year due to the pandemic.

But the pier is hosting other fireworks shows this year, with one planned for July 7 and Wednesdays and Saturdays after that until Labor Day weekend.

Here’s the lineup for its Fourth of July celebrations:

July 3
2-4:30 p.m.: Fernando Jones & My Band! at the Beer Garden
3:15-3:30 p.m.: Meadows Dance Collective at Wave Wall Platform
5-7 p.m.: DJ Duane Powell at Wave Wall Platform
5:30-8 p.m.: Nathan Graham at the Beer Garden
9-11:30 p.m.: Sixteen Candles at the Beer Garden

July 4
1-2 p.m.: OSTON at the Beer Garden
3-5:30 p.m.: The Shade at the Beer Garden
6:30-9 p.m.: Creedence Revived at the Beer Garden

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