From the Saturday, Sept. 27, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …
By Dave Wischnowsky
The WISCH LIST
In many ways, the Great Chicago Fire has come to define the very city that it destroyed by spawning an enduring bovine legend, providing a clean slate upon which to build even grander metropolis, and more recently even providing the nickname for a Major League Soccer team.
Never in the 143 years since it was first sparked on Oct. 8, 1871, has the Great Chicago Fire gotten full-blown star treatment, however. But come next weekend it will with the inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival.
Billed by the city as “celebrating Chicago’s epic resurgence and strength after the Great Fire of 1871, and the true grit of its people that propelled us forward to build anew,” this intriguing event is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, along the Chicago River between State and Columbus.
Free and open to the public, the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District are hoping that the fest staged by Chicago’s Redmoon Theater and grand marshaled by Jesse Spencer and Taylor Kinney, stars of NBC’s hit TV show “Chicago Fire,” will become an annual tourist draw – and revenue generator. And if you’re now getting fired up about the idea of checking out the festival for yourself, here’s what you need to know.
What to see
Highlights of the “Grand Spectacle” along the river will include fiery cauldrons lowered from the bridges, hundreds of kayakers pulling flaming buoys and prairie gardens, and a trio of floating sculptures resembling pre-1871 homes that will be set ablaze, each revealing “a dramatic, symbolic interior core.” The finale will feature a fireworks display set to music along with a tribute to Chicago’s neighborhoods.
A pre-show bazaar along the Chicago riverwalk kicks off the day at 3 p.m., featuring crafts, food and entertainment from Redmoon Theater’s neighborhood partners.
Where to watch
The City of Chicago says that great places to watch the spectacle include all public, outdoor areas around the site from either side of the river, but recommends bringing a picnic blanket or chairs and heading to one of three areas: The riverwalk between State and Columbus on the south side of the Chicago River, Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan Ave.), or the other public plazas along the north side of the river.
If you don’t want to sit, great places to stand are the bridges on State, Wabash, Michigan or Columbus. Specific ADA seating and viewing areas will also be provided at various locations. For more information, visit chicagofirefestival.com.
Where to park
If you drive up, my suggestion would be to park inside the underground Millennium Park Garage, which has entrances at 25 N. Michigan Ave. and 5 S. Columbus Dr. If not there, then choose from any number of self-park garages in the Loop, all within easy walking distance of the river.
Know your fire facts
Calling the 1871 inferno “great” is no understatement. Burning from Sunday, Oct. 8, to Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Great Chicago Fire killed as many as 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles of the city and left more than 100,000 people homeless.
But the cow was likely a scapegoat. The fire indeed is believed to have started inside Mrs. Catherine O’Leary’s barn at 137 DeKoven St., but probably not because her cow kicked over a lantern, as first reported by Chicago newspapers. In fact, as soon as November 1871, Chicago authorities essentially absolved the cow in their official report, although it was too late to salvage the O’Leary’s reputation and snuff out the legend.
Which still burns strong today.