Highland Park starts discussion on 2027 Fourth of July — five years post tragedy

Highland Park officials are already looking ahead to the city’s 2027 Fourth of July observance, which will mark five years since the parade shooting.

At the Monday, Oct. 26 Committee of the Whole meeting, city leaders weighed whether to bring back a remembrance ceremony honoring those impacted by the 2022 shooting alongside traditional festivities, such as fireworks and the annual parade.

Councilmembers Jon Center and Yumi Ross were absent, and the council decided to hold off on any decisions until their input was provided.

Since 2022

In the years since the shooting, the Fourth activities have regularly changed. Following a community walk in 2023, the city brought back a parade for the last three years. The City held a drone show in 2023, and and fireworks returned in 2026; though, they were rained out and rescheduled for National Night Out in August.

Through 2025, the City held a remembrance ceremony for the seven victims of the tragedy, but the City decided not to have a formal remembrance ceremony in 2026. Instead, community members were encouraged to spend time in personal remembrance and provided flowers at the temporary memorial located at 1707 St. Johns Ave., adjacent to City Hall. A mosaic was created with the participation of community members who attended the 2025 remembrance and was mounted at City Hall this year. 

That decision was made as “more individualized approach, allowing individuals to come to the memorial at their own time, at their own pace and remember in a way that was meaningful for them,” Assistant City Manager Emily Taub said. 

City officials at the Oct. 26 meeting expressed a desire to remain sensitive to those who want a formal ceremony and those who do not.

Yay or Nay: Remembrance

If there is a remembrance ceremony in 2027, it would mark five years since the attack, a milestone City staff anticipates will bring “increased interest” for a commemoration.  

The ceremony would likely be held at a secondary location at St. Johns Avenue and First Street, on the Fourth of July at 9 a.m., as the rose garden will be under construction for the permanent memorial, said Taub, who estimates the permanent memorial to be complete by late September/early October.  

In previous years, the ceremonies reportedly were “well received.” Though not always heavily attended, staff said, those who were in attendance found the experience “very meaningful.” 

Mayor Nancy Rotering said that those impacted by the shooting may want to focus more on community service next year, she said, and less on somber group remembrances. 

To that end, Rotering suggested having the month of July be a month of service in remembrance, as people can do “acts of service” in the name of those who were killed. 

To councilmember Andrés Tapia, a ceremony might not be necessary, as the final place of remembrance will be unveiled in the fifth year, he said, which will be “meaningful” and “permanent.”

Councilmember Annette Lidawer agreed with Tapia and is looking forward to the “special” and “large” remembrance on the day the memorial breaks ground and is open. Lidawer, though, added that giving people the option to have a “small” ceremony might be good. 

“A majority of people don’t want a ceremony,” Lidawer said. “But for the people who do, I think we should offer them that homage.” 

Councilmember Barisa Bruckman agreed with Lidawer saying that “something small” should be done for the fifth anniversary; she was not in favor of a formal ceremony. 

Rotering suggested potentially doing something small on July 3 without the sounds of the parade on the Fourth, as hearing drummers earlier in the day on the Fourth may be traumatizing to some. Councilmember Anthony Blumberg and Tapia supported that suggestion.

To Lidawer, however, something on July 3, in addition to the events on the Fourth, is “too much.” She would prefer having the events be packed in one day. If the sounds might be traumatizing to some, she suggested having the remembrance in the Atrium in City Hall where they “can’t hear anything,” she said. 

Yay or Nay: Fireworks

Fireworks, if approved by the council, would happen on July 3 to conclude festitives.

Rotering, Lidawer, Tapia and Bruckman were all in favor of fireworks, whereas Blumberg was opposed.

Lidawer thought having fireworks is the City’s way to “reclaim” what is needed, which would be to enjoy Independence Day again and said having fireworks on the fifth anniversary was “crucial.” 

Tapia echoed Lidawer’s statements and added that the 1,000 attendees at the National Night Out event this year is quite a “statement,” that shows people will come if they have fireworks, he said. 

On the other hand, citing concerns of those who are “troubled” by the fireworks, and the “environmental concerns” it comes with, Blumberg was opposed, saying that people can celebrate with “alternate forms of celebration.” 

Yay or Nay: Parade 

The parade would happen on the Fourth at 10:30 a.m., if approved. 

Assistant City Manager Erin Jason explained that this year the parade had 83% more people than it did in 2025; however, that number remains significantly lower than what the City has “traditionally” had. 

Jason mentioned that the parade is a tradition the City is proud to keep moving forward. 

Rotering, Tapia, Lidawer and Bruckman were in favor of the parade, while Rotering and Blumberg wanted to know if there was some way to shorten the route. 

Tapia said that each year the City has taken a step forward with the parade, and they should continue doing so. 

Likewise, Lidawer feels that having the parade is a way for the City to show that they have “overcome” this tragedy and recommended adding more music to fill in space. 

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