Thousands in the Chicago suburbs took in the sounds and spectacular sights of one massive fireworks show on the Fourth of July.
The village of Itasca, in DuPage County, hosted "the state's largest fireworks show," based on the show's total dollar value, according to village officials.
The live pyrotechnics show took place at Hamilton Lakes, west of Chicago O'Hare International Airport at the intersection of I-390 and Park Boulevard. According to organizers, the 2024 fireworks show marked the event's 27th year.
Prior to the show, Mayor Jeff Pruyn the village started planning in the fall and approved the budget for the show earlier this year. It's believed to be the largest fireworks show in the entire state.
"We spent $110,000, so it's about 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of fireworks that go 800 feet up in the air," he explained. "It's about 1,000 feet wide, is the area where they go off."
The family friendly event helps boost the local economy in DuPage County. The mayor said the number of visitors more than double the village's population.
"The hotels are full these nights," Pruyn said. "We also get about 20 to 30,000 people come in from all around the suburbs."
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