Woodstock annual fireworks show caps off long Fourth of July weekend

WOODSTOCK – Jen Nichols probably could have guessed one year ago she would spend her Independence Day sitting somewhere atop the sledding hill in Emricson Park, as she did Tuesday night.

Although, Nichols, 29, probably couldn’t have guessed the company of about a dozen people that sat around her on blankets, talking and laughing with each other while Nichols bent together glowstick wristbands for everyone before Woodstock’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show.

Most of the people celebrating Independence Day with Nichols have only known her since the group met playing intramural basketball in December. Since then, the group of Woodstock women have become close friends.

“It’s like we’ve known each other forever,” said Melissa Maxcy, a 34-year-old Woodstock resident that now plays intramural volleyball with the same group. “No matter where we go, we’ll always talk. We’re the best of friends.”

Woodstock was one of the few local communities putting on an Independence Day fireworks show Tuesday. Huntley also celebrated Tuesday night with a fireworks show set to the music broadcasting on 101.5 FM at Deicke Park. Spring Grove also hosted a show at Horse Fair Park.

The Woodstock fireworks show – which Nichols deemed the “best show, fireworks and setting” – capped off the celebrations across McHenry County that included numerous fireworks shows and festivities throughout the long weekend.

Nichols’ group, which included several children, combined the Woodstock fireworks event into a birthday celebration for fellow intramural teammate Renee Walker, who turned 43. Walker also is the Woodstock High School varsity girls swim coach.

“We did a whole picnic and made a whole event out of it” said Nichols, who is the Woodstock varsity girls basketball coach.

Hundreds of people camped out across the park more than an hour before the fireworks show started about 9 p.m., waving American flag pennants and coming together for cookouts. Dozens of children rushed around playing tag and eating ice cream atop the spacious hill.

Dozens of vehicles were parked along Route 14, where some people opted to watch the fireworks show from the hoods of their cars.

Teri Paul, 49, has lived in Palatine for the past 10 years, but growing up in Woodstock has always left her with a special memory of the Fourth of July fireworks show in town. She sat on the far edge of the hill with Woodstock resident Dean Schneiderman, 48, waiting for the sky to darken and the show to begin.

“When we were young, we would hang out here (in Woodstock) and watch the show,” Paul said. “It’s nice.”