'We all needed this': After a two-year hiatus, Milwaukee's lakefront fireworks show returns
The more than 50-year-old tradition that is Milwaukee County's famous July 3 fireworks returned Sunday night after a two-year hiatus.
And for many, it was as much a relief as a celebration.
"Love the July 3rd fireworks at the lakefront," said Christine Chmielewski, who has attended the annual event with her family for about 25 years. "There's nothing like it."
The fireworks — which typically attract more than 100,000 people to the lakefront — were canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic and in 2021 because the county could not hire enough seasonal workers in a tight job market.
This year's show was co-presented by American Family Insurance, the Kelben Foundation, Inc. and Town Bank, a Wintrust Community Bank.
Even during the two years without a show, Andrew Ilecki and his family and friends still got together at their usual Juneau Park usual spot. And he still brought his iconic setup — an outdoor living room.
The difference was that the main attraction wasn't fireworks, it was a happy hour.
"It kind of turned into a tradition at this point where it's unstoppable," Ilecki said.
This year's "living room" was complete with couches, a TV with a stand and tables, as well as artwork, a clock and a light fixture hanging from a tree.
"Hanging around on the couch all day, people coming in and out and saying hi, that's got to be my favorite part," Ilecki said of his 26-year tradition.
Milwaukee resident Earnest Goggins said it felt "refreshing" to be back with about 30 of his relatives and friends at Juneau Park.
Goggins has been camping out overnight for the annual event since he was a kid. Now, he brings his own family to the celebration. And this year, he also brought his business, Island Ice Shaved Ice, along for the first time and taught his kid nieces and nephews how to operate it.
"It's just great, it's a vibe, it's fantastic," Goggins said.
In addition to the fireworks, "it's also a blessing because we get to spend time with our family," said Taraji Washington, 10, who is Goggins' niece.
Jim Kopps of Franklin has been holding down a prime fireworks spot at Juneau Park for about 45 years total, said Corri Kopps, his daughter-in-law.
She got in on the tradition when she started dating Jim's son James. They've now been married for 11 years.
On Friday, James Kopps and his brother's friend, Chris Henry, reserved their usual spot by pounding stakes into the ground, running caution tape around the perimeter and adding picnic tables and a garbage can from the park to their area.
About 40 people — mostly made up of relatives and James' friends from high school — started trickling in Sunday morning.
Cheryl Bieser grew up going to the lakefront fireworks with her parents. When she started dating David Bieser, it became a tradition for them too.
Over the past 40 years, the husband and wife have continued it with their own children and now grandchildren.
This year, the pair set up their spot — by the lake near the Milwaukee Art Museum — on Saturday, then came back Sunday morning.
After the two years off, Cheryl said, "I think we all needed this."
Contact Hannah Kirby at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.
Alison Dirr of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's lakefront fireworks return to celebrate Independence Day
