Bridge Serves as New Venue for July Fourth Bash

Geist Lake Coalition Board
Brian Hall, Ed Villanyi, and Scott Rodgers of the Geist Lake Coalition.

For many Geist residents, watching lakeside fireworks over the Fourth of July holiday is a tradition. But in previous years, if you didn’t own a boat or have access to a lakeside home, it was hard to see the show. This year will be different.

According to organizers, the annual Blast On The Bridge at Geist, which is the signature event held on July 4 and organized by the Geist Lake Coalition (GLC), will be bigger and better than ever. And most importantly, it will be a show for the entire community.

“Last year was actually the first year we moved the location of the fireworks to the bridge,” says GLC co-founding director Scott Rodgers, referring to the Fall Creek Bridge at the Geist Marina. “It was a great event, but the weather was so bad, not as many people came out to enjoy it as we had hoped.” In fact, last year’s holiday weather included record cold temperatures and constant rain.

This year, however, marks the debut of a new and improved show, with fireworks lit from a barge near the marina, and a wide array of activities for families to enjoy. With the bridge as the gathering point, visitors will be able to enjoy a full evening of activities, including a ski show, boat parade, music, food and beverages, and an intricate fireworks display synchronized to music.

Here is a glance at the event schedule:

  • 5:30 p.m. – Bridge closes for pedestrian traffic
  • 5:30 p.m. – Decorated boats meet at Diamond Point
  • 5:45 p.m. – Boat parade begins
  • 6:00 p.m. – Bridge party begins. Food and beverage vendors will be on site, and a local DJ will provide music.
  • 7:15 p.m. – Parade ends, boats gather for judging
  • 7:30 p.m. – Water ski show
  • 10:00 p.m. – Fireworks begin
  • 11:00 p.m. – Bridge reopens to vehicle traffic
Luke Andritsch will serve as the Boat Parade's Grand Marshal.

The theme for this year’s boat parade, sponsored by N3 Boatworks, is “A Patriotic Salute to the ‘70s.” In the lead boat, and serving as this year’s grand marshal, will be six-year-old Geist resident Luke Andritsch.

All decorated boats will complete a parade lap around the lake, and then will be judged in the marina. The first place winner will receive a traveling trophy and the choice of a boat slip or winter storage at the marina. The second place winner will receive a complimentary boat winterization package, and the third place winner will receive two teak rocking chairs, compliments of N3 Boatworks.

Parking will be available at Holy Spirit Parish at Geist Catholic Church (map), located at 10350 Glaser Way, at 6 p.m. Visitors can walk to the bridge via the causeway. Chairs and blankets can be brought into the event, but no outside food or beverages are allowed.

Ed Villanyi, GLC co-founding director, says it is exciting to be a part of the holiday party. “It’s a great unification event at the lake,” he says. “The lake is such a tremendous local resource, and events like these help bring everyone together.”

Fellow GLC co-founding director Brian Hall says this year’s event will be a crowd pleaser. “It’s so up close and personal! You just can’t get a better seat,” he says. “With the marina in the foreground and fireworks in the background, it’s spectacular. Boats will be on the lake with lights on… it really is a great community event.”

Although the fireworks display around Geist Lake has been an annual event for years, the location hasn’t always been so accessible. Before September 11, 2001, the fireworks were set off from the Geist Dam. For security reasons, the fireworks were then moved to the islands located off of Diamond Point, but only those living around the area, or boating on the water were able to see the show.

Two years ago, members of the GLC decided to explore how the Fourth of July celebration could better serve the community as a whole. “We thought of the bridge as a possible site for the show, and decided to give it a try,” says Hall. “So we made a few calls, wrote a few letters, and that’s how it all got started.”

Today the GLC not only organizes the Blast On The Bridge at Geist, but also focuses on keeping Geist Lake a safe, healthy, and enjoyable asset through various initiatives. Established in 2000, the GLC is a nonprofit coalition of neighborhoods surrounding the Geist Reservoir that is managed and operated by volunteers who are passionate about the health, safety, and enjoyment of Geist Lake and the community.

For more details about the Fourth of July celebration, visit www.geistlake.org. For more information about the GLC, visit www.geistwatershed.com.

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