Labor Day Fireworks In Batavia? Mayor Schielke Says Maybe

BATAVIA, IL — Batavia officials are looking for ways to put on a “miniature” fireworks display over Labor Day weekend after being forced to cancel the city’s 4th of July show due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Mayor Jeff Schielke said in a video last week. The city had hosted an annual 4th of July fireworks show every year since 1950, Schielke said last week in a video address to residents.

The display would occur the night of Sept 6, with fireworks to be lit near the Batavia Water Treatment Plant, Schielke said, allowing residents to see them from the banks of the Fox River.

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Schielke said the Labor Day display would be smaller than the annual Independence Day show, as the city “can’t be shooting big fireworks up” over homes and other buildings in the area. That will also save the city some money, he said.

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“This year, we’re only going to spend a small portion of the fireworks money to fire off this show if we do it on Labor Day weekend, but we will be saving up the money for next year,” Schielke said.

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The mayor also suggested Batavia could host a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve to make up for the missed 4th of July show. The city has hosted several New Year’s Eve displays in the past, including one at the turn of the millennium, which people are still talking about, Schielke said.