As previously announced, the decision to reimagine the traditional downtown Fourth of July Parade by taking it out into the community in a format that would reach exponentially more people was made after considering the impact on the greater community, including the management of City services and resources and savings of overall costs.
Festivities for the Fourth of July in Aurora are unique because the morning parade that brings a few thousand viewers, is coupled with the evening events at RiverEdge and McCullough Parks that draw more than 30,000 people to enjoy the fireworks and family entertainment.
The impact on community resources and services is extremely significant over the course of the 16-hour span of time.
As the City keeps safety as the top priority by planning for the necessary heightened security measures amid regular functions of the holiday, the toll on staff members, including public safety, the streets division and emergency management, can be quite demanding.
As calls for service increase for illegal fireworks throughout the weekend and on the holiday, our police are overburdened, and coverage is at a premium for added shifts to cover multiple events in one day. Our officers support and applaud the new parade format to be even more prepared to cover the fireworks.
We’ve watched spectator and unit participation in the Fourth of July Parade decline in the years before the pandemic, especially in comparison to the Memorial Day Parade, reimagining and revising the format of the day is necessary.
Furthermore, when comparing the participation in the traditional morning parade vs. the tenfold participation during the evening’s fireworks, it is a community-dedicated and fiscally responsible decision to preserve and dedicate resources, including public safety personnel, to the latter.
We will do all this while still honoring Fourth of July festivities in what will now be a much more accessible, engaging, and cost-efficient event traveling throughout the city on the morning of Independence Day.
A more significant and equitable impact on the community can happen along the 22-mile procession route that covers all ten wards, including parts of the traditional downtown route on Downer Place in front of Aurora City Hall and the GAR Memorial Hall and Museum. The route also travels by nursing homes, neighborhoods, apartment complexes, school buildings, and community parks familiar to families in each area, providing an ability for some to participate who simply couldn’t or wouldn’t otherwise. In addition, various locations will allow families to enjoy traditional parade activities, like receiving candy and giveaways.
Thousands enjoyed it in 2020, and the community is invited to join, once again, along the route as we celebrate the birthday of the United States of America and the strength of Aurora with a fun, energized event proceeding through the City of Lights with sirens, veterans, candy, costumed characters, music and more throughout Aurora.
See the complete parade route, including a map and estimated times for key locations, at www.aurora-il.org/FourthofJuly.
—City of Aurora government