LOMBARD – Madison Meadow Park in Lombard is not filled with the familiar carnival rides, food vendor tents and musical performers that residents are used to at this time of year.

But even though the Taste of Lombard was canceled, the village's annual fireworks still will fire off on the Fourth of July.

The fireworks display will begin at 9:30 p.m., and free transportation between designated parking locations and Madison Meadow Park will be provided from 7 to 11:30 p.m.

Shuttle buses will pick up and drop off residents from Madison School, 150 W. Madison St.; Pleasant Lane School, 401 N. Main St., and Glenbard East High School, 1014 S. Main St.

The shuttle buses are provided courtesy of the village of Lombard and funded through the Hotel/Motel tax fund, and a handicap-accessible bus will be available. Exact pick-up and drop-off locations at the sites will be marked with signs.

Lombard police officers will maintain crowd control within Madison Meadow Park, and they will be stationed at certain intersections to assist in traffic control. Officers will enforce all state and local laws, particularly those related to the use of firecrackers and consumption of alcohol in the park.

The Lombard Fire Department will post a rescue ambulance and one of its fire trucks inside the park to handle injuries or fire situations. The department reminds residents that firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles are not allowed in Illinois under state regulations.

The annual Taste of Lombard festival was canceled in January after the Lombard Jaycees, which organized the event for 32 years, dissolved in October.

After the village received competing requests to host the event from two groups with ties to the Jaycees, officials decided it was best to take some time to re-evaluate the village's options.

Since that time, Lombard formed the Lombard Pride Committee to advise the Village Board on matters related to special events and community festivals. The committee will develop recommendations for a community festival to be held in future years and other matters concerning special events within the village.

The committee will meet for the first time at 7 p.m. July 9 at Village Hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave.

Its members include Ellen Bachner, Brittney Conway, Bob Difino, Jenelle Hardtke, Jeffrey Lenz, Melissa Schmitz, student member Dana Schwiewe, Dave Kundrot of the Lombard Park District and Yvonne Invergo of the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The members appointed to this committee form a diverse collection of Lombardians offering unique points of view and firsthand experience with event planning, project management, fundraising and past Lombard events from a community perspective," Lombard Village President and committee Chairman Keith Giagnorio said in a village news release. "We look forward to their successful collaboration and recommendations regarding the future of Lombard’s community events.”

---

Know more

For information on the Fourth of July fireworks, visit the village of Lombard website at villageoflombard.org/fourthofjuly.