Chicago
Savings: $1 million
Chicago traditionally launched its fireworks extravaganza the night before Independence Day as a crescendo to the week-long Taste of Chicago food and music festival, attracting more than 1 million people.
To control that kind of crowd, the city spent a whopping $1 million in security and operational costs. This year, to break up the mobs and reduce the costs, Chicago will stage three separate but simultaneous fireworks shows along Lake Michigan.
NEXT: Palm Bay, Fla.
Last updated July 02 2010: 3:14 PM ET
