Bloomington rings in the Fourth with a bangin’ blast

Parades, explosions and blasts of colors in the sky will mark the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. \nIU students are preparing themselves for the celebration. With a variety of events from which to choose, students are spreading out across the region to enjoy the festivities.\nWhether they are going to Chicago, partying on Lake Monroe or heading home to spend the holiday with their families, IU students plan on celebrating. \nSenior Isaac Day is traveling to Chicago to hang out with friends over the holiday. \n“I’m getting crazy with some ladies,” Day said with a laugh.\nJunior Hanna Wilson is planning on leaving town to enjoy the Taste of Chicago.\n“We’re definitely going to Taste of Chicago to watch fireworks,” Wilson said. “But, we don’t have anywhere to stay yet, so hopefully that gets figured out.” \nTaste of Chicago is once again taking place in Grant Park, according to the Taste of Chicago Web site. Students who cannot afford the time or money to go to the event have found other ways to celebrate. \nSome students are heading out to Lake Monroe for the day. \nJunior Alison Brough is planning to spend the day on the lake with more than 30 other IU students and friends. \n“Most of us have jobs or are still in school,” Brough said. “So it’s great that we have somewhere close by to go. I just want to watch fireworks and play all day.” \nThere are several places around the lake to rent boats, Jet Skis and other water toys. According to their Web site, Lake Monroe Boat Rentals offers double-decker pontoon boats as well as speed boats, Jet Skis and canoes. The Fourwinds Resort and Marina also offers rentals as well as places to stay and a private beach if people want to extend their celebration, according to their Web site. \nSenior Kurt Bennett is going to Lake Monroe to ride wave runners and hang out on the beach. \n“We are going to have a barbecue and stay to watch the fireworks when we’re done on the water, “ Bennett said. \nSome students are heading home to spend a more traditional Fourth of July with their families. \nSenior Kourtney Parrott is originally from Bloomington and is planning on watching her dad and neighbor set off fireworks. \nParrott said her family usually goes to the parade in the morning, then cooks all day and watches the fireworks at night. Since the city fireworks are being changed to Tuesday night, they are planning to watch them Tuesday and then have their own celebration Wednesday night. As for the parade, Parrott is not sure if she is up for a morning celebration this year. \n“I might go to the parade,” Parrott said. “But it’s at 10 in the morning so I guess we’ll see if I get up.”