Photos: Why Pilsen Was The Place To Be This Fourth Of July

By Gwendolyn Purdom in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 5, 2016 5:23PM

Kids light off bottle rockets at the Murica Free Block Party.

Tuba player with Tamborazo Piñicuarence practices before performing at a block party.

MOECYRUS performing at the Murica Free Block Party.

Two men run away from a 10-gallon bucket that they ignited a banger into.

Friends and family play Volleyball in Harrison Park.

Father and his son begin to unravel a massive line of firecrackers for their blocks finally. According to the son this line lasts about 10 minutes.

Pilsen knows how to party. At least, that's the impression we got when we sent photographer Tyler LaRiviere to the neighborhood on Monday to record its Fourth of July celebrations. Amateur fireworks abounded, as did music, dancing, games and other festivities, at Cullerton Street's Murica Free Block Party and beyond. Our camera caught bottle rocket blasts, volleyball spikes, holiday grilling and plenty of fireworks-related debris (included one unlucky newspaper kiosk that appeared to have taken some hits).

Other city celebrations Monday like Navy Pier's packed in the people by the tens of thousands but as you can see from the photos, while it might not have the same numbers Pilsen does the Fourth with some serious style (and with significantly fewer chain restaurants and souvenir carts).