Firecracker Dance Marks 25th Year With a Bang

Despite some hints of rain earlier in the day, the Mokena Lions Club's 25th annual Firecracker Dance went off without a hitch on July 14. An estimated 1,000 attendees packed the Metra parking lot at Wolf Road and Front Street for what is often called the biggest party in town.

Mayor Joe Werner echoed that sentiment, praising the Firecracker Dance for being a good time that also supports the Lions Club's charitable efforts.

"It does a great job raising funds for their causes relative to helping people with visual impairments and hearing impairments, and it's good for the community," Werner said. "The community loves the event because it's a social atmosphere right in our downtown."

The dance, which has retained its name from the days when the Lions co-sponsored the village's Fourth of July celebration, is the club's primary fundraising event each year. The proceeds go toward things like vision and hearing tests for the community or sending children with disabilities to summer camp.

"All the money we get tonight goes to charity, by law," said Bob Bishop, chairman of this year's Firecracker Dance.  "We do not spend a penny on ourselves."

The dance was limited to attendees above the age of 21 and featured plenty of food, drinks, and dancing, thanks to the music of Southside classic rock and R&B cover band Midlife Crisis. New to the dance this year was the inclusion of an opening band, The Chico Smorgallees Jazz Ensemble, to provide easy listening music as a backdrop for the event's slower opening hours. Other highlights of the night included a beanbag tournament and a raffle for cash prizes up to $5,000.