Ginned Up With Fireworks and Gin Blossoms

And if that wasn't enough entertainment, the Gin Blossoms played in downtown Alton. A crowd of thousands clogged the street between Hayner Library and Mac's Timeout as beer flowed and music played.

The festivities started earlier in the afternoon with family activities along the riverfront that included bounce houses for children and summer event eats that included corn dogs and funnel cakes. The Midwest Air Force Band, based out of Peoria, Illinois, warmed up the crowd from the amphitheater stage immediately before the fireworks began.  Downtown Alton restaurants and bars started early as well with food and drinks and by closing time huge crowds had formed with downtown streets being blocked off to normal traffic.

The fireworks were launched from the Lincoln-Shields shore instead of the Illinois side of the Mississippi River and eight-inch fireworks compared to the previous six-inch fireworks were used. 

Central States Fireworks once again handled the show and Bill Bojarzin coordinated that effort.

He said the group worked about eight hours on July 2 to prepare then on July 3 put in another 12 hours to prepare and finish the show. Central States has the job at Glazebrook Park in Godfrey on the evening of July 4.

“We have done this since 1998,” Bojarzin sid. “Our largest fireworks go 800 feet and spread out about 500 feet in the air.”

Bojarzin said the company emphasizes safety and said they have never had any close calls, shooting the fireworks off from a ground bunker for protection.