Get a By-the-Numbers Look at Tinley's Fourth of July

While you may have been looking forward to the Fourth of July for several weeks, park district employees have been thinking about it for 11 months.

Coordinators in the have been preparing for since August 2011, they said. Bands performing tonight were previewed in October and selected in February. Music to be synced with fireworks was chosen by March.

The months of planning culminates today in what is arguably the biggest party in Tinley all year. Wondering just how many will show?

The following is a by-the-numbers look at a typical Fourth in :

15,000 spectators are expected to enjoy festivities.

108 full and part-time park district staffers will be working throughout the day.

$3,800 was spent to irrigate specific areas to minimize the chances of brush fires during the fireworks show.

1,381 beers were purchased at July 4, 2011 park district festivities.

588 Mike's Hard Lemonade or Cranberry beverages were sold.

705 runners helped kick off festivities last year during the annual . Runners routinely come from as far as West Virginia, New York, Colorado, Texas and California. 

15 minutes is the time it will take for race results to be recorded for Stars & Stripes runners. The park district is now using a new system to track them.

750 Glo Lites were paid for by attendees last year.

582 Rounds of golf were played on park district courses.

240 Brats and sandwiches were eaten.

220 Hot dogs were downed by party goers.

60 pizzas, or 480 slices, were consumed last year.

3,265 aerial shells ranging in size from 1 ¼ inches to 5 inches in diameter were fired during the 2011 show.

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Enjoy the show! Stay cool out there, Tinley Park!