Three neighborhood vehicle parades and fireworks will be part of the city of Yorkville’s Fourth of July celebration next month.
The fireworks on July 4 will begin at dusk and will be shot off near the corner of Route 47 and Countryside Parkway. Due to the current state guidelines for the pandemic, there will not be any organized activities at Town Square or a traditional parade as in past years, city officials announced.
Rather than a parade with floats and bands, the city will have three neighborhood vehicle parades for families and friends to enjoy from their own front yards. The day’s activities will end with the fireworks show.
Yorkville Mayor John Purcell plans to ride in all three vehicle parades.
“The Fourth of July celebration is a very American tradition,” Purcell said.
Vehicle parades will be organized in the south, central and north parts of town, each starting at different times on the morning of July 4.
The drive-by parades can be viewed safely from the front yards of homes in the different neighborhoods, the mayor added.
“The residents I have spoken to are really happy we are doing this. I have received all positive feedback on the fireworks and neighborhood parades,” Purcell said. “I feel it’s the right thing to do and the City Council and staff is fully supportive of hosting a Fourth of July celebration.”
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to decorate and enter a vehicle in a parade to show their American pride or to highlight a business, city officials said.
People that want to have a vehicle in one of the parades do not need to confirm participation, but simply arrive at the line-up location approximately 30 minutes before the parade is scheduled to begin. People will not be allowed to walk in the parade and vehicles will not be allowed to toss candy or distribute advertisements or anything else from their vehicles, officials said.
Families will be asked to follow social distancing guidelines while viewing the parades.
The parade in the south part of Yorkville will begin at 9 a.m. in the Raintree and Windett Ridge subdivisions. Participants will line-up at 8:30 a.m. at Yorkville Middle School, 920 Prairie Crossing Drive in Yorkville.
The central parade will begin at 10 a.m. in the Town Square and Heartland Circle subdivisions. Participants will line-up at 9:30 a.m. at Yorkville High School, 797 Game Farm Road in Yorkville.
The north parade will step-off at 11 a.m. in the Grande Reserve and Autumn Creek subdivisions. People interested in riding in the parade should line-up at Grande Reserve Elementary School, 3142 Grande Trail in Yorkville.
“This is a great opportunity for businesses too. Some businesses have been suffering for months,” Purcell said of the coronavirus pandemic and the associated restrictions. “People will visit the city and see what we have. It’s an opportunity to advertise the whole town.”
Specific routes of each parade are available on the city’s website at www.yorkville.il.us
Families and friends can watch the fireworks later that evening safely from their porches and backyard decks or from their vehicles in parking lots of businesses, Purcell said.
People from out-of-town can view the fireworks from their vehicles as well, he said.
Fireworks updates or cancellations will be posted on the Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/yorkvilleparksandrec or on the city’s website.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
