PEORIA, Ill. – It turns out Mother Nature is a fan of Choose Greater Peoria Red, White and Boom presented by i3 Broadband.
A rainy start to the Fourth of July holiday in Central Illinois made way to partly to mostly sunny skies throughout the afternoon and evening in time for the huge fireworks display.
Choose Greater Peoria Red, White and Boom presented by i3 Broadband is the largest fireworks display in the state of Illinois and among the top two percent in the country.
A crowd believed to total 200,000 gathered along the Peoria and East Peoria riverfronts along with many more people watching from various vantage points in both cities.
Photo: T.J. Carson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD
“The whole event went off without a hitch,” said Midwest Communications, Peoria General Manager Mike Wild. “We were very, very pleased with the choreography and the timing of the fireworks to the music, and a lot of the new effects and shells in the air were really impressive this year.”
“I don’t think it could have been better and we’ve heard nothing but rave reviews,” Wild said.
Belinda Alvis and her husband, Tim, made the three-and-a-half hour drive from Salem, Illinois to East Peoria to watch the show. Alvis grew up in Creve Coeur.
“I used to come to Creve Coeur when I was little, my grandparents lived here. But, we’ve never really come to the fireworks before,” Alvis said. “I came here to relive some of my childhood memories.”
Mary Trueblood from Washington was also in the East Peoria crowd. She was looking forward to her favorite part of the show.
“I always look forward to when they play ‘Stars and Stripes Forever,” Trueblood said. “I love it when they play that song.”
The proceedings included a flyover by a C-130H Hercules from the 182nd Airlift Wing of the Illinois National Guard. Eric Norman of the 182nd performed the National Anthem followed by the Pledge of Allegiance from East Peoria Festival of Lights Queen Janessa Bowen.
Photo: T.J. Carson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD
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