Midwest 360 is bursting with pride to announce the Peoria area will be celebrating our Nation’s birth with UnityPoint Health – Red White and Boom Brought Home by Adam Merrick Real Estate again in 2019.

UnityPoint Health – RED, WHITE and BOOM, Brought Home by Adam Merrick Real Estate, 2019 is a “pyromusical”… a blend of fireworks fired from a barge in the middle of the Illinois River synchronized to a patriotic musical soundtrack broadcast on Midwest 360 stations! Spectators are encouraged to bring portable radios tuned to one of the Midwest 360 stations to enjoy the added dimension of music that matches the fireworks!

What is now UnityPoint Health – Red White and Boom began 33 years ago as Skyconcert 1987 with music synchronized to KZ93, the station that is now 93.3 The Drive. The fireworks display took a huge leap forward in 2007 when UnityPoint Health began as the title sponsor and all Midwest 360 stations began promoting the event and airing the synchronized music soundtrack.

PEORIA

As you make your way to UnityPoint Health Red, White & BOOM, be sure to listen for frequent traffic updates on 1470 and 100.3 WMBD, 93.3 The Drive, 104.9 the Wolf, Mix 106.9, G 102.3, 95.9 The Sports Nut, and  Superhits WIRL to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Whenever possible, updates will be available on the official Traffic One website.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4-8 p.m. – Kids Zone powered by Peoria Rentals and Food Vendors on Water Street

9:30 p.m. – Fireworks display

REMINDER: No personal grills are allowed, and fireworks of ANY kind are prohibited. This includes sparklers.

EAST PEORIA

As you make your way to UnityPoint Health Red, White & BOOM, be sure to listen for frequent traffic updates on 1470 and 100.3 WMBD, 93.3 The Drive, 104.9 the Wolf, Mix 106.9, G 102.3, 95.9 The Sports Nut, and Superhits WIRL to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Whenever possible, updates will be available on the official Traffic One website.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

5-8 p.m. – Wildlife Prairie Park exhibits

5-10 p.m. – Mix 106.9 live radio broadcast.

9:25 p.m. – Pledge of Allegiance led by Jerelyn Joos, 2017 East Peoria Festival of Lights Queen

9:30 p.m. – Fireworks display

REMINDER: No personal grills are allowed, and fireworks of ANY kind are prohibited. This includes sparklers.

Food available from 5-8 p.m.

Grilled pork chops and hot dogs, soda and water 

Additional information

To prevent damage to RiverFront Park’s irrigation system, tents and gazebos cannot be staked to the ground. All tents are to be removed by 8:45 p.m.

No grills or alcohol are permitted in RiverFront Park.

Recycling bins will be located next to garbage cans throughout the park. Please put only recyclables (soda cans, plastic bottles, clean cardboard, clean paper, etc.) in the recycling bins.

Bass Pro Shops will close its store at 6 p.m. July 4, and its large parking lot will be available for fireworks viewing via Riverside Drive.

No fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, are allowed in RiverFront Park. These items will be confiscated. In addition, alcohol and grills, both gas and charcoal, are not allowed in the park.

PARKING

In honor of the Independence Day holiday, CityLink will not offer service on Thursday, July 4.  On July 3, the last line-up will depart from the Transit Center at 7:30 p.m.  All buses will return to the garage after reaching the end of the outbound route.  The CityLink Administrative offices will be closed on July 4, and will reopen on Friday, July 5. The Transit Center lobby will also be closed on July 4.  Regular service resumes and the Transit Center lobby will be open on July 5.

Burlington Trailways and Peoria Charter Coach will be offering their bus service from the Transit Center on July 4th; however, the Transit Center building will be closed, and the Trailways Ticket office will not be open.  Please call 1-800-992-4618 for questions regarding Burlington Trailways service, and 1-800-448-0572 for questions regarding Peoria Charter Coach service.

Peoria Parking 

In Peoria, police will block Water Street to vehicular traffic between State Street and Hamilton beginning at 6:15 am until 11 pm or whenever the fireworks crowd clears out. Access to Water Street will be open at Liberty Street ONLY for parking at the Peoria Riverfront Museum garage. There will be no parking in the riverfront lots during the event.

Note: The general public should find a place to park west of Washington Street. Street parking is available downtown with no meter charge. Note: There may be areas downtown where street parking is prohibited due to construction so watch for the signs.

The city parking garages are open and free. The Twin Towers lot and the Washington Parking Deck at Washington and Fulton are paid lots.

Handicapped parking is available at the city lot across from the CAT parking garage at the foot of Hamilton and Water. Police will direct only those vehicles marked with proper handicapped identification.

The Bob Michel Bridge will be closed to all traffic at approximately 9pm. The bridge will remain closed through the fireworks. The bridge will be reopened

There will absolutely be no stopping, parking or standing on I-74 at the Murray Baker Bridge during the fireworks.

I-74 eastbound (downtown) exit ramp at Washington will be closed during the fireworks.

Directions to Peoria Riverfront

From I-74 West: Go across the Murray Baker Bridge to the Adams/Jefferson exit, the first exit off the bridge. Use Jefferson Street south into downtown. Traffic can also use the Riverfront Drive flyover ramp in East Peoria to the Bob Michel Bridge. Use Kumpf Street on the Peoria side to Adams or Monroe.

From I-74 East: Use the Glen Oak exit and stay in the two left lanes for Fayette or use the two right lanes and take Hamilton or Main Street into downtown. The Washington exit will also be open, but parking for the event is generally west of Washington. Use the Washington exit to Hamilton.

Leaving the Fireworks Peoria

PLAN YOUR ROUTE OUT: Downtown streets and ramps may be opened and closed as situations warrant. The entrance ramps to westbound I-74 are open at Washington, Glen Oak (the tunnel by OSF) and Knoxville. The entrance ramps to eastbound I-74 are open at Knoxville, Glen Oak (at UnityPoint Health) and on Fayette just past Jefferson. Peoria Police will be directing as the downtown streets fill up quickly with traffic and pedestrians. Use caution!

CityLink will provide Park and Ride service to the downtown July 4th activities. Buses will run a continuous shuttle from “Evergreen Square” starting at 5:00 p.m. dropping passengers at the CityLink Transit Center. The last bus will leave for the Fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Buses will return passengers back to Evergreen Square after the Fireworks and the streets reopen. The last bus will leave the CityLink Transit Center at 11:00 p.m. returning to Evergreen Square. Cost is $1.00 each way.

EAST PEORIA

In East Peoria, parking is available in a the Riverfront Park lot across from the park’s entrance and the Riverside Center (Wal-Mart Super Center and Lowes) parking lots. No RV or trailer parking will be allowed in the Riverfront Park parking lot. In addition, no parking of any kind will be allowed on Conference Drive near the Embassy Suites Hotel.

All Interstate 74 ramps leading to Riverside Drive and eastbound Interstate 74 exit ramp to North Main Street (Route 116), as well as the Bob Michel Bridge, will be closed at 9:15 p.m.

The fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. Additionally, Bass Pro Drive will be closed directly behind Wal-Mart starting at 6 p.m. The parking area at Bass Pro Shops will be accessible by Riverside Drive. Bass Pro Drive will remain closed until after the fireworks display is over and all pedestrians have left the park area.

No parking will be allowed on the Interstate 74 east and west flyover ramps.

IMPORTANT: The East Peoria Police Department requests that people be considerate and not use multiple parking spots for lawn chairs and other accessories in the Riverside Center parking lots. Parking lots must be used for vehicles, not chairs.

Handicapped parking areas:

• Located in the parking lot adjacent to RiverFront Park (next to Shogun Japanese Restaurant).
• Available on a first come, first served basis.
• Vehicles must display the proper handicapped license plate or mirror tag.

Directions to East Peoria Riverfront

From I-74 East or West: Use the Route 116/Main Street or Riverfront Drive exits.

Leaving the Fireworks in East Peoria

“When thousands of people come to a party, there will be traffic slow-downs. Patience and humor are encouraged.” – City of East Peoria

THE ROUTE OUT IS BASED ON WHERE YOU ARE PARKED

For those parked in the Riverside Center shopping complex, the roadway between Lowe’s and Wal-Mart Supercenter will be the official traffic dividing line. Those parked on the Wal-Mart side will be directed one way, and those parked on the Lowe’s side will exit another way.

Everyone on the Wal-Mart or Pet Smart side will exit onto the dividing roadway heading toward River Road (the road toward the front of Wal-Mart, Arby’s, etc.) The River Road traffic will then be directed to eastbound West Washington Street or to the flyover to access Interstate 74 east and west. (Note: the Bob Michel Bridge will remain closed for approximately one to two hours after the fireworks.) No left turns will be allowed onto West Camp Street from River Road.

Everyone on the Lowe’s side will exit onto Riverside Drive, which will become one way with all traffic heading out to West Camp Street. All traffic MUST turn left (east) onto West Camp Street. Access will not be allowed to I-74 from West Camp Street. Motorists will be directed to the intersection of Main and Camp streets to access the interstate.

Clock Tower Drive and Spinder Drive, both in The Levee District, will be closed to southbound traffic from Camp Street at approximately 9:15 p.m.

North Main Street (Route 116) between Camp and Washington streets will be closed after the fireworks for approximately one to two hours. Southbound North Main Street (Route 116) and eastbound West Camp Street traffic will be able to reach South Main via East Camp to westbound East Washington. Northbound South Main Street and eastbound West Washington Street traffic will be able to reach northbound North Main Street via eastbound East Washington Street to westbound East Camp Street.

I-74 west and east will be accessible on East Washington Street and North Main Street. The I-74 west ramp on East Camp Street will also be open.

Those who park in the lot in the Town Center II shopping center will have to exit traveling east on the Springfield Road extension. The westbound Springfield Road extension at Taylor Street will be closed just prior to the fireworks until approximately 11:30 p.m. 

All Levee District parking will have to exit at intersection of Altorfer and Washington Street, and will only be able to travel east on West Washington.

East Peoria Police are advising motorists to expect post-fireworks traffic delays of up to three hours.

PATIENCE IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!