This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Our First Oak Fest Fireworks Experience

I couldn't believe it, but there it was: the fact that we've been living in Oak Forest for the past two years, and my wife and I hadn't yet attended Oak Fest. That changed this year!

I couldn’t believe it, but there it was: the fact that we’ve been living in Oak Forest for the past two years, this being our third summer, and my wife and I hadn’t yet attended Oak Fest. What made it more embarrassing is that we only live a few blocks away.

Well, not this year, we said. This year, we’re going to go and discover what it’s like.

So, we did. Around 8 o’clock, when the sun was on its way down, a couple of friends came over to our house and parked in our driveway. We slung a couple of camping chairs around our shoulders and walked down on Laramie and then took a right on 157th. We passed several houses that were hosting their own Independence Day parties. The atmosphere was noisy and alive with community. A line of cars were parked on the street. Teenagers roved around in packs. Toddlers waddled down the sidewalks under the watchful eye of their parents. There were sporadic pops of fireworks being setoff. This was the first time that we felt that we were really part of the community that is Oak Forest.

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It’s kind of tough to be part of the community if you’re not involved in the schools (we don’t have kids) or join the park district (we’re lazy). We found a spot for ourselves and our friends, hunkering down in our chairs, waiting for the setting sun to disappear behind the horizon. Our spot was along the asphalt path between Oak Fest and the water retention pond where they set off the fireworks.

In the hour that we waited for the fireworks to set off, I watched as an entire community of people walked back and forth on the path. It was a veritable parade of people from all walks of life, dressed all sorts of ways. (Indeed, someone walked by us wearing a Winnie the Pooh costume. Good thing it wasn’t a blazing hot July evening!) Some were chatting on cell phones; others were clutching funnel cakes or blooming onions. Most walked, some ran, even others biked or skateboarded. Some were quiet and respectful, others were loud and obnoxious.

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The action slowed down a bit, but didn’t stop entirely when the fireworks went off. (Are we so blasé about fireworks now that it doesn’t cause us to stop and pay attention?  I am a very captive audience when a container of mixed gunpowder and chemicals rockets into the sky and explodes in pretty colors.) But, despite the human traffic, the half-hour show was spectacular, leading my friend who has been to several firework shows in the outlying cities, such as Orland and Tinley, to say that this was the best one he had ever seen. He wants to come back next year.

When the show ended, we packed up our chairs and joined a steady stream of humanity exiting the park and onto 157th Street that was illuminated almost entirely by a long line of red brake lights and very patient drivers. For the first time in my life, I was glad that I lived within walking distance of such a popular event that I didn’t need to worry about driving or being stuck in traffic!

When we arrived to our house, our first Fourth of July Oak Fest fireworks show was under our belt. And we couldn’t be gladder. It may have taken us a couple of years, but we’re finally getting out and exploring the diverse community that is Oak Forest.

Next year, we may even actually go on the carnival rides!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?