Small town 4th is to be held on the 3rd.

[azbackpackr]

Anyone who wants to experience an old-fashioned small town 4th of July, show up in Eagar/Springerville on July 3rd. (Due to certain religious factions, they never celebrate the 4th of July on a Sunday, so it will be on Sat. No comment...)

The main idea I want to get across here is that TEP, that is Tucson Electric Power's Springerville Generating Station, a big coal-fired power plant, pays for the fireworks, and it has won awards in the past. This year they are going to get the latest high tech wonders. The "Grand Finale" of any fireworks show I ever saw in Tucson or San Diego is not as awesome as what is going on the whole time at our fireworks. It really is something to see. Hope it isn't pouring rain! And if you are really into fireworks, if you get there early or want to walk closer, you can see them shooting them off. The reason I like that is because I like the BOOM. My favorite part of the fireworks is the BOOM that goes through your whole body when you are close by...

The day starts with a pancake breakfast at the Eagar Fire Dept. and Ramsey Park on 1st Ave. and Butler Street, early in the morning, with all the firefighters doing the cooking. Then the parade, which might be at 9 a.m. but I am not sure and can't seem to find out. It is quite a small townish parade, but it has a lot of participation and a lot of people watching it, so it is fun.

There is a rodeo and a barbecue and a dance and a raffle. I can't remember if they are raffling off a gun or a car or what. I did buy a ticket, though. The rodeo has gotten too expensive, $10, so I quit going to it. Seen one cowboy fall off his pumpkin, seen 'em all...

[SkyIslandHiker]

Just found out that Tubac also celebrates the 4th on the 3rd this year. I'm thinking of organizing a road hike to the summit of Mt. Hopkins to watch the fireworks on Saturday evening. The Tubac fireworks display is one of the better ones around Tucson.

Bill

[azbackpackr]

See, I want to be as close as I can get to them. I like the BOOM, and also the feeling that they are going to fall down on top of you, and you have to crane your neck or lay on your back to see them.

Last year for my job I drove a Suburban-load of dude ranch guests to the top of 10,000+ foot Green's Peak to watch the Sunrise Lake fireworks. Well, from there they look to be about the size of a dime, and you can't hear them at all. It was about 40 degrees up there, and none of the guests understood how cold it was going to be. I sat in the car where it was warm, and waited for it to be over, didn't even watch it for 5 minutes. Fireworks, to me, is deadly boring at a distance. I've been invited to the mayor's house (she's my hiking pal) for a party and also to watch them from her deck, but it is at least 2 miles away, so I will go to her party, and then leave and go to the airport.

One time when my son who is now a Marine was in high school ROTC at Flowing Wells, he and his pal put on their BDUs and face paint and climbed (crawled up on all fours) A mountain through the brush and watched the pyrotechy people shooting off the fireworks. There are police helicopters looking for people who do that. They didn't get caught. Crazy kids.

[joebartels]

I like the BOOM

are you tigre or bunny?

[fotogirl53]

Flagstaff and Mormon Lake have cancelled fireworks on the 4th. Understandable, given the forest situation.

[joebartels]

Wow, I thought the Mormon Lake area got pounded yesterday by a small cell. Either not enough or too late I guess.

[BobP]

azbackpackr wrote:
I like the BOOM
are you tigre or bunny?

Did you actually think anyone would respond to your "L'Trimm" reference? Thats so 1980's ;) . Lady Tigra and Bunny D.

[joebartels]

Did you actually think anyone would respond to your

you did, I rest my case

[BobP]

@joe bartels
I don't count because I'm almost as twisted as you

[sirena]

@joe bartels
I once had that pumpkin song in my head for two whole days on Oracle Ridge. The memory still makes me shudder.

For the uninitiated- be prepared for some awesome 80's choreography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaeNelsAOGo

[Sredfield]

I saw the fireworks at the Capital Mall in DC a couple times; you hear--and feel--the BOOM there. One tour guide commented that the concussion from the fireworks add to the wear and tear on the masonry buildings around the mall, especially the capital building.

[big_load]

I saw the fireworks at the Capital Mall in DC a couple times

They have outstanding fireworks. NYC often does, too. My favorites are still the small, local displays that don't have hours of traffic tie-ups afterward.

[Sredfield]

I saw the fireworks at the Capital Mall in DC a couple times

. . . that don't have hours of traffic tie-ups afterward.

That reminds me that the first year I was there, the NPS estimated a crowd of 450,000. The Metro does pretty good, we were on one of the first trains out of town and were seeing TV coverage of the empty mall 45 minutes after we left.

[joebartels]

@sirena

I think that's the first time I've seen that video plz: I know Jeff hates 'em with a passion and I've out grown it but it used to be my life after high school

[azbackpackr]

Ok, well, I missed the 80's on the Mainland US. I lived in Hawaii then, which is like living in a foreign country, especially when it comes to music. Beamer Brothers, Country Comfort, Olomana, Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau--all Hawaiian or Hapa-haole bands, slack key guitar, etc. I taught myself to play slack key, can still play and sing some too. Me ke aloha ku homeo kahalu'u...

People just sit on the beach with guitars, and do stuff like this, an everyday thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQiEJkS0 ... re=related
https://www.youtube.com/user/sirduke58#p ... 4eJrA4wZ9g

And nowadays I still listen to Clapton, Jerry Garcia, John Cippolina, Jimmy Thackery--I still go for that lead guitar man...love that lead guitar. I don't care about singing, dancing, drums or bass, but I sure do love that lead guitar man...so sweet to hear those riffs...

[rwstorm]

Fireworks in Eager on the 3rd. Hmmm, I could see them twice then, as I will be watching them in Socorro on the 4th. The last 5 years I have enjoyed the show up close and personal in Alamogordo. I agree with you Liz, they aren't worth a s**t unless you are right under them, close enough to be showered by streamers!

[PaleoRob]

Parade on the 3rd, fireworks and tractor pull here on the 4th.

[azbackpackr]

I had to work yesterday at the dude ranch, so I went to only the pancake breakfast and the incredible fireworks! They must have had every high-tech one available. They had shapes of boxes, stars, smilie faces, Saturns, etc. They had numerous kinds of ones that streamer down in a long shower. Almost all of the other ones changed color several times, and also had some other color in the middle.

Plus, they shoot off at least 10 of them at once, the whole time. Except for the grand finale, which was so awesome that horns were honking, people were shouting all over Round Valley!

We found that sitting along 4th avenue (Eagar) by the defunct golf course was a pretty good spot, easier to get out of than going up to the airport mesa.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Eagar has an airport?
WOW, even Apache Junction doesn't have one of those yet! ;)

Please ignore my sarcasim as we actually are very envious of you living up there in that high, cool and green prestine hiking and backpacking country. We just love to :STP: ....

[azbackpackr]

Actually no, Eagar has no airport. Springerville has one, though!