PEORIA, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s warning Thursday many summer events probably won’t happen has raised questions about some local events.
Namely, Red, White, and Boom.
Midwest 360, the main overseer of the event, is hoping it can still go on as planned, according to General Manager Mike Wild.
“The options at this point would be still having it on the Fourth — we don’t know — but if we don’t, possibly delaying it for maybe a Labor Day or fall type event,” he said.
Optimism it can still happen aside, Wild said he’ll defer to public health recommendations.
“If we have to end up canceling it, we end up canceling it,” he said.
“We’re going to be driven by the safety of the community and whatever social distancing guidelines are still in place at that time.”
In addition to Midwest 360, there are 18 law enforcement agencies, the Peoria Park District, and many local municipalities who take part in making the event happen.
Being that the event usually consists of not only the fireworks on the Fourth of July, but also entertainment the day before or after, Wild said the event may end up being just the fireworks without the peripheral entertainment, should it be postponed.
Wild says he expects to know more in the first week in May, and the first of June would be an “absolute threshold date” to make the call as to whether or not the event will happen as scheduled.
