It's official – Chicago has sprung into summer as the iconic Buckingham Fountain made its grand comeback this past Saturday. Marking the occasion with a splash, a lucky eight-year-old baseball enthusiast, Tiago Uribe, was handed the honor of flipping the switch, hustling away from his own game to kick off the warm season at Grant Park, a tradition cherished alongside the Chicago Park District's "Night Out in the Parks" series. Yolanda Salinas, Uribe's mom, divulged to the Chicago Sun-Times her son's enthusiasm: "He was excited. The first thing that he talked about when he woke up this morning was turning on the switch. He didn’t even want to go to his baseball game."
The switch-on ceremony, a decade-long tradition held by ComEd, was embellished with the presence of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Park District General Supt. Rosa Escareño, who detailed the "Night Out" initiative, where more than 600 cultural events are set to bring life to 235 parks in the coming months, WLS reported. In a unique turnout, Silueta Azul, accompanied by Silueta Pink, added a touch of color to the event with his "lucha libre" persona, revealing his six-year streak of fountain viewings.
With a history stretching back to 1926, Buckingham Fountain isn't just a centerpiece for seasonal celebrations; it's a testament to Chicago's engineering heritage. The original three 2,300-volt motors still power the majestic fountain, shooting water as high as 150 feet in the air and captivating millions of visitors yearly. As the Sun-Times highlighted, park district engineer Eric Kelmar pointed out these vintage motors' enduring strength.
Even as folks splashed by the fountain's mist, excitement bubbled over what lies ahead for the city's summertime buzz. While Uribe hinted at a possible dip in the fountain, his favorite summer activity remains taking the plunge into pools. This water spectacle is set to delight visitors daily until mid-October, weather permitting, ensuring that whether leaping into pools or watching the fountain's majestic dance, Chicagoans have their summer leisure cut out for them, WLS made it clear. Buckingham Fountain, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is once again a beacon of summer's arrival in the city.
