Rockford’s Fourth of July fireworks will launch from a new location this year

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The annual Fourth of July fireworks will blast off from a new location this year, and the festivities surrounding the spectacle in the sky will also have a new home.

The Rockford 4th of July Civic Committee plans to shoot fireworks off this year from the Jefferson Street bridge, a launch site that hasn’t been used in more than two decades.

“This new show will bring a touch of nostalgia to Rockfordians who remember the old school spectacle in the sky when we shot of Jefferson Street bridge over 25 years ago,” the committee said in a news release. “It will also give a refreshing new feel to the show.”

The bridge replaces the previous launch point along the east bank of the Rock River, south of the UW Health Sports Factory.

Fireworks will still be televised live and the soundtrack to the show will be provided by B103 Rockford, at 103.1 on your radio.

The festivities, including food and live music, will also move from their longtime home of Davis Park and Ingersoll Park. This year, entertainment and food trucks will be located along Water Street, inside Joe Marino Park at Water and State streets, and under the Rockford City Market pavilion.

The city plans to move forward this summer with the long-planned construction to revamp Davis Park, which spans about 7 acres along the riverfront at 320 S. Wyman St. The more than $12 million plan includes a concert stage, a new playground, skatepark, recreation path, concession stands, restrooms and pieces of public art.

This year’s fireworks show is the 61st put on by civic committee. This display and festivities are funded by donations and sponsorships without the use of tax dollars. This year’s budget is $80,000, with about $60,000 of that on the pyrotechnics. That will pay for a 30-minute soundtrack-synched fireworks show. The civic committee hires Pyrotecnico, the largest pyro company in North America, to handle the display.

You can donate to help fund the annual show by going HERE.

Ted O’Donnell, co-chairman of the committee, said this year’s blast off location should provide great viewing all across downtown and beyond.

“The change is going to be good for us, I think it’s going to be good for our community and I think it’s going to bring back some good old school feels to the city,” he said.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas