The village of Lincolnshire hosted an old-fashioned hometown Fourth of July with all the markings of past celebrations and the nostalgia of a simpler time.
The Red, White and Boom 4th of July celebration this year featured two days of Independence Day activities and attractions honoring the nation’s semiquincentennial.
The festivities began on Friday afternoon in North Park with rides, live music, and attractions. Independence Day featured a morning 5K and parade, followed by a family festival in Spring Lake Park showcasing a dunk tank, games, a cardboard boat regatta, face painting, a balloon artist, petting zoo, and a Scout Troop #78 hotdog stand, evening fireworks and more.
“We want to create a Fourth of July experience that will be important for the adults and the children in our community to remember,” event coordinator Nasko Pelinkaj said. “That’s what nostalgia is all about.”
According to Pelinkaj, after the closing of the parade in the Sprague School neighborhood, local police led a pedal to the park bike brigade to Spring Lake Park, inviting area children on their bikes decorated with red, white and blue, to join them in leading the community into the afternoon activities.
Michael Denning, a Lincolnshire Community Association past president, said Red, White and Boom was created in the late 1950s by the association, which set the stage for many of the traditions of the public program before it was taken over by the village.
“With only about 6,200 residents, Lincolnshire’s dedication to community involvement and service has made this little all-American city one that everybody wants to be a part of,” Denning said.
Pia Fleuchaus, 9, of Lincolnshire, says that with the help of her parents and a few friends, she was able to set up a lemonade stand at the festival, selling lemonade at $1 a cup in an effort to raise funds for a new puppy.
Brian Voss of Long Grove said his son and a couple of his friends were determined to build a boat to participate in the cardboard boat regatta this year.
“The boys started working about three weeks before the Fourth of July,” he said. “They had a vision and enjoyed spending the time working together.”
Kary Reyes of Lincolnshire said this was the fifth year that he and his family attended Red, White and Boom.
“We like the inviting family atmosphere and old-timey feel of many of the Independence Day activities,” Reyes said.
David Blair of Lincolnshire said he has a lifelong history with Red White and Boom, and this year he was celebrating America’s 250th birthday with his granddaughter.
“This is still the best old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration with the boat races, as well as many of the original activities and a few new additions,” Blair said.
