Where to watch the Chicago fireworks?

July 1, 2009 4:24 PM

Awesome / unique locations to see the July 3rd fireworks in Chicago?

I've never seen Chicago's July "independence eve" fireworks and will be hosting out of town family that probably won't be too anxious for the crowds and exciting L line ride home. Is there any place with a decent view that is easy to get to (and leave from)?

Are the fireworks visible at all from Montrose Harbor?
Are there any parking garages downtown with decent views?
The Hancock observatory is open, but how crowded is it?

posted by ztdavis to Travel & Transportation around Chicago, IL (6 answers total)

Last year, we watched the fireworks from the Northwestern campus. There's free parking in a garage right there, as long as you arrive reasonably early. I think we got there around 6 or 7 and ate takeout dinner while we were waiting, but I'm not sure. You can bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and stake out a place on the peninsula to the east of the B mark in the link.

It was a great spot because you could see the fireworks all the way down to Navy Pier. They were also setting some off right overhead, so that was an unexpected treat.
posted by WowLookStars at 4:30 PM on July 1, 2009

If you go to the Roosevelt stop on the red line and walk east, you can hang out in the museum campus area. Go way out near the planetarium. Great views there.

It'll still be crowded, but not insane like around Monroe harbor. Plus, getting on an L train home will get you a better spot, as you'll be on the train before the crowds really mob it. Assuming you're heading north, of course.

Northwestern campus? That's really far. Yeah, you'll see 'em but that's really far away.

I'd guess you can see them at Montrose, but again, that's fairly far away. Nice part of the park though.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 6:04 PM on July 1, 2009

I tried to watch from the lakeshore around Diversey last year, and was pretty disappointed at how far away they were. You couldn't even hear them going off at all. But I will say, the one cool part about watching from the lakeshore is all the boats pour out of the harbors to go see the show, so the whole lake is lit up like a Christmas tree.
posted by gueneverey at 6:20 PM on July 1, 2009

If you know someone who can get you into the Metropolitan Club at the Sears Tower, that's the way to go.
posted by tenaciousd at 9:22 PM on July 1, 2009

I've watched from the museum campus several times and it is great, but transit it always super crowded coming home.
posted by mai at 9:52 PM on July 1, 2009

Though it's too late now...I've gone the route tenaciousd suggested a number of times, that's really the best way to go. Great food, flat fee (plus booze), limited crowds, they keep the kids all together (away from grown ups/non-parents), there's plenty of room, and they really go out of their way for you. The other alternatives would be to find a friend who has an office in a building that faces the lake. That's also another amazing way to see the fireworks.

I think the Northwestern campus option would be better to catch Navy Pier fireworks, but I have to say, I don't think you'd see much of the city of Chicago's actual display; it might be some other city's fireworks display. The Northwestern Law campus is another matter - if you can get into that parking garage across the street from the W, you'd be golden.
posted by MeetMegan at 10:14 AM on July 5, 2009