For decades, on the Fourth of July, Evanston’s Central Street has transformed into a festive celebration of America. On Saturday, Evanston residents of all ages and backgrounds lined the street in folding chairs, watching as performers and floats passed by. However, the tradition’s future is at risk. 

The Evanston Fourth of July Association’s endowment fund has depleted over the last five years, with the organization struggling to raise enough money through donations, according to the association’s president, Tracy Alden.

“The bottom line is we spend twice as much as we bring in,” Alden said. “Our budget is $180,000. $65,000 of that is fireworks, and we only raise, we’ll say, $70,000, roughly half. Our fund has been shrinking, particularly since COVID, because the prices keep going up.”

Alden said the City of Evanston has been supportive of the parade but is only responsible for funding the police, fire department and public works necessary to run the event. 

Alden wrote a letter to the city in February asking for long-term financial support, but all the city has been able to do is show support in other ways, he said. 

“They want the public to understand that the city can’t pay for all this because they have their own issues,” Alden said. “They’re more than willing to spread the word and support us, but if we were to go away, the celebration would change drastically, so they want us to do well.”

If the financial situation does not improve, Alden said cuts would be necessary, potentially to the organization’s flagship events: the parade and the fireworks. 

He said the association’s board would ultimately determine where cuts are made.

“Do we cut out a parade, or do we cut out fireworks? Those would be the two main ones,” Alden said. “The parade is logistically the hardest thing that we do in getting people together, and the fireworks are the most expensive. So one or the other might happen in a year or two if things don’t improve.”

The association has made efforts to spread awareness and garner support for its mission. The parade’s program on Saturday included a letter from Alden urging Evanston residents to donate, along with a QR code on the back cover linking to a donation page.

Some Evanston residents, such as 9th Ward resident Adrienne Edwards, expressed willingness to donate to the organization.

“I would love to keep the parade and the fireworks, and I’d be willing to monetarily contribute to that,” Edwards said.  “But I can see why it’s super tough to fundraise for this whole thing.”

As Central Street filled with people on Saturday, tradition was visible everywhere. The crowd wore red, white and blue as “God Bless America” rang through the street. The event means a lot to locals, including Evanston resident Robert Ryder.

He said the parade’s discontinuation would leave a hole in the community.

“At this point in our country, patriotism and love of country are difficult,” Ryder said. “There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on, and I think this brings everybody together for the Fourth of July. It’s beautiful. It would be a real miss.”

Charlie Edwards is a student in the Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute this summer.

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