(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Buckingham Fountain entered its 97th year of service, when the water began to flow on Saturday.
Buckingham Fountain operational custodian Chicago Park District has called this day “Switching on Summer” for the past 10 years now.
With the June 20 summer solstice still more than a month off, we ask Chicagoans at Buckingham Fountain what signifies the beginning of summer in the city to them.
“To me when the weather gets nice, you see all the people start coming out. And you know, we all kind of get out of our hibernation in the winter and start walking around, and the river lights up and all that kind of stuff,” one visitor said.
Many Chicagoans are dressed for summer, but most carry a backup hoody or jacket.
Buckingham Fountain is now back in action, but is it summer yet? Some we asked were quick to say yes, while most felt we still had a ways to go.
The fountain will then be open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. through October.
Beginning at dusk each day, there will be lights and music to accompany the water display every hour on the hour for 20 minutes.
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