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player ready...A fireworks display was a proper start to the Fourth of July weekend for thousands of people gathered in RiverEdge Park Friday night in Aurora, many of whom were looking to celebrate not only Independence Day but also the waning of the pandemic.
“It’s a marvel how we are able to come together for the Fourth of July as a community and country,” said Guadalupe Ordaz-Nielsen, who was especially in a celebratory mood as she approached RiverEdge Park with her 9-year-old son Donald in tow.
Aurora – like many cities across the nation – canceled Independence Day events including the annual fireworks show and parade last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Ordaz-Nielsen is an intensive care nurse at a Chicago hospital and was on the front line during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
“As an ICU nurse who took care of COVID-19 patients, I am thrilled to see the crowds,” Ordaz-Nielsen said.
There is more optimism this year in great part due to the vaccine, she said.
“People can actually come together with their families and as a community to move the country forward in a better place,” she said.
The ICU nurse shared her celebratory mood with a red, white and blue ribbon in her hair. However, the cost of the pandemic is never far from her mind.
“I think of the people who died and those who suffered. The pandemic hit everyone really hard. My parents got COVID-19 and we had family and friends who died. My best friend and my son’s godmother died from COVID,” she said.
DJ Suave Smooth provided the musical entertainment as crowds filled RiverEdge Park Friday night. An estimated 20,000 people filled downtown Aurora for Friday night’s fireworks show, city officials said. The new pedestrian bridge over the Fox River near RiverEdge Park was also illuminated for the Fourth of July weekend.
Diana Ordoaez, of Aurora, stood up among the crowd to dance to the music at RiverEdge. She was with her two children ages 8 and 10, her sister and friends.
“This year is special,” Ordoaez said.
For many it is the beginning of the end of the pandemic.
“I am excited to be back to somewhat of a normal life,” Carol Gamage said.
Going to a fireworks show has always been part of her family’s Independence Day celebration, the lifelong Auroran said.
The last year was difficult due to the pandemic, Gamage said.
“It’s a good feeling to be with people and not have to worry about being six feet apart from one another,” she said.
Andrea Jevne came to the fireworks show with her two children, Zoey, 9 and Bryson, 4.
“This summer hopefully will be completely different for our family,” the North Aurora mother said of the waning pandemic.
“I’ll be thinking about our country,” Zoey said, naming the wars and conflicts across the generations. As for the memory of the pandemic, “Last year we were all cooped up and we couldn’t go anywhere. Now we don’t have to wear masks and we can go out to places,” she said.
Stephanie Schwer and Artasia Riley were feeling a mix of emotions about being able to participate in the revelry for the Fourth of July.
“I feel about as excited as a kid to see everybody’s smiling faces without masks,” Schwer. “Everyone should feel proud that we came through the pandemic together as a country.”
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The lifelong Aurorans did feel somewhat reluctant when they saw crowds entering RiverEdge Park.
“I was hesitant to gather with such a big crowd at first but then was overcome with excitement about being here and the strides we have made,” Schwer said.
Riley said the nation made it through the pandemic together.
“I hope the pandemic has brought that out of us together as a nation. Hopefully we can come together as a family and enjoy seeing one another’s smiling faces,” Riley said. “It has been so long.”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.