Those wishing to catch a fireworks show this Fourth of July will have two options in Kewanee.
The Kewanee Chamber of Commerce will hold the city’s annual display at Northeast Park on Saturday, but this year that show will share the night with Cernovich’s annual fireworks display.
Mark Mikenas, executive director of the chamber, said the chamber is contractually obligated to hold the city display on the holiday itself. Cernovich’s fireworks are usually planned for a noncompetitive night — last year, they were scheduled for July 5.
Kim Cernovich said Saturday simply worked best for everyone this year, so the family decided to hold their display then.
Mikenas said Cernovich usually schedules the show on a nearby night but understands why Saturday was chosen with the holiday landing on a Saturday. “It’s unfortunate,” he said, “especially with the country’s 250th birthday,” that the two displays will overlap.
“It is what it is,” Mikenas said, adding that residents will have to decide which display to attend.
So far, Mikenas said, the competing shows haven’t affected donations, which remain at normal levels. Save‑A‑Lot in Kewanee is currently running a roundup fundraiser for the fireworks.
“That’s a big one,” he said, and he hopes people will contribute their change to the community event.
Later in July, Timeout Pub & Grub will host a Pedal Crawl, with proceeds going directly toward the fireworks fund. That event will be held on July 25.
The Cernovich family has been holding its fireworks display “forever,” Cernovich said.
It began as a small neighborhood event but grew as attendance increased, eventually moving out on Red Adams Road. The display now draws hundreds of spectators.
The chamber’s show at Northeast Park has long coincided with the Francis Park Festival, which was revived several years ago. Mikenas said he worries attendance could drop with two displays on the same night, which also could affect park district concessions.
“We’re going to keep moving forward, raising funds for our event,” he said. “All proceeds go straight to that fund.”
Both displays will take place July 4 at dusk.
