I once knew a boy who had a hand that didn’t look much like my hand. His hand was disfigured, with a toe or two where a finger or two had previously lived. This poor kid’s hand wasn’t mangled as a result of a birth defect or an industrial accident, though to assign this damage to one of those culprits would have been reasonable. Instead, this classmate had to learn to reuse his retooled hand after one particularly explosive encounter over one particularly memorable Fourth of July weekend. While the details of what exactly happened when and how I cannot remember, an accident with a firework left a permanent, unfortunate mark on my young friend. I assume the firework in question wasn’t a sparkler, which was the preferred firework of my youth, a tepid threshold of danger that my parents sternly enforced. The household ban on fireworks combined with the knowledge of my friend painted a very clear image in my mind that would best be spelled out in this manner: Fireworks+ Me = Toes for fingers.
If you could see Lake Geneva today, as I see it now, this is a town and a community bracing for the impact of throngs upon throngs of discerning, wise, beautiful vacation loving Illinoisans. The streets are being cleaned, the lawns being trimmed, the flowers watered, and the street signs spit-shined. All of this preparation in anticipation of one long, glorious weekend where we honor our country, yes, but also wherein we pledge allegiance to a still nascent summer. The preparations are underway, and by my eye, Lake Geneva has never looked better. Williams Bay, you’ve looked a bit better, you know, before you purposefully planted weeds along your lakefront… Fontana, two thumbs up for understanding aesthetics the way you do. There is a buzz in the area right now, an exciting feeling deep in the soul of those who understand how much promise this young summer holds.
While the City of Chicago has neglected those of you who love to see things explode, the Village of Fontana has picked up your tattered dreams of celebratory explosions and pieced them back together again. The village fireworks launch from the Fontana lakefront this Monday, July 4th, at dusk. If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in the midst of our Lake Geneva weekend, there are ample viewing areas for this potent display. The Fontana lakefront is the place to be, unless you’re able to get out on a boat to watch. Most of the South Shore of Geneva from Fontana through Black Point will have viewing opportunities, as will the North Shore of Fontana to Conference Point. The very southern tip of Cedar Point would be another pleasant spot to take in the airborne festivities.
The Grand Geneva also has fireworks planned for Sunday night, July 3rd. That display should be visible from a boat positioned at the East end of Geneva, or for those who need the smell of the burnt propellant to truly feel connected, there are plenty of viewing areas at the Grand Geneva itself. They have other festivities too, should you be so inclined. Williams Bay has a Pancake Breakfast planned at Edgewater Park for Saturday, July 2nd, if you’re in need of a starchy start to your day. I personally prefer to add most of my body weight through gratuitous consumption of starches, but a pancake lover I am not. So I won’t be there. Which should be nice for people who hate me, as they can enjoy the pancake breakfast in peace knowing that I will not be in attendance.
This is the sort of weekend that Lake Geneva thrives on, and it should be obvious to you that a weekend not spent at Geneva is a weekend that should be ashamed of itself. If you haven’t been to the lake in a month, or a year, or ten years, or more, take the short drive up this weekend to experience what it is we have to offer. If you do this, please do me a huge favor. Do not spend the afternoon downtown and leave. Get out on the water, if possible. Or take a walk down the shorepath. Sit on a park bench by the water and observe the lake itself, not just the town. Better yet, come visit me at my lakefront open house on Saturday (Oak Shores 12-3 pm), an open house that you’ll be able to read about in depth on Friday. If you do these things, and avoid close encounters with large fireworks, this weekend will be a resounding success.
Photo courtesy Ideal Impressions Photography.