One summer long ago, Thomas Jefferson toiled for weeks to draft a document that would become the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty: The Declaration of Independence.
Signed July 4, 1776, it both summarized the convictions of the American people and made the case for breaking ties with their mother country, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation.
Two-hundred and thirty-four years later, Americans rate the Declaration the most influential document in American history, according to The National Archives and Record Administration. Give the document, and the meaning behind its exalted words, their due this weekend with one of these East Valley Fourth of July celebrations.
CHANDLER
Chandler's Fourth of July 7UP Fireworks Spectacular
What: Live music, a kiddie carnival, a bike parade, a 35-foot water slide, a rock-climbing wall, food and drink vendors, and fireworks
When: 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler
Cost: Free admission; $5 to park
Information: (480) 782-2735 or www.chandleraz.gov
GILBERT
Gilbert's Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration
What: Family activities and food and beverage concessions precede a fireworks show at sundown
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Big League Dreams, 4536 E. Elliot Road
Cost: Free admission; $5 to park
Information: www.gilbertpromotionalcorporation.com
Gilbert's 90th Birthday Bash
What: Ring in the town's birthday with games, family activities, races and free birthday cake and ice cream (while supplies last)
When: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday
Where: Gilbert Rodeo Park, 1777 S. Val Vista Drive
Cost: Free, but donations of nonperishable food items are requested for United Food Bank.
Information: www.gilbertpromotionalcorporation.com
Gilbert's Birthday Celebration
What: Residents who turn 90 in 2010 will be recognized.
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Town Hall, 50 E. Civic Center Drive
Cost: Free
Information: (480) 503-6767
QUEEN CREEK
Fourth of July Fireworks Show and Independence Day Celebration
What: Activities for kids, such as inflatables, water slides, hay rides and pony rides, along with food, craft and info vendors; fireworks.
When: 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
Where: Schnepf Farms, 24810 Rittenhouse Road.
Cost: $10 per car, $10 ride wristbands, $1-$4 per ride
Information: (480) 888-1709, www.schnepffarms.com or www.queencreekchamber.org
MESA
Southwest Ambulance Arizona Celebration of Freedom
What: Mesa's new downtown festival features live on-stage entertainment and music, replicas of national monuments and famous historical character re-enactors, a Fallen Soldier Memorial, a county fair-style fun zone, a water playground, arts and crafts booths, beer gardens, photos with the Phoenix Pinup Dolls, and fireworks.
When: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: along Main Street in downtown Mesa
Cost: Free admission and parking
Information: (480) 644-2069 or www.azcelebrationoffreedom.org
TEMPE
CBS 5 July Fourth Tempe Town Lake Festival
What: Fireworks over Tempe Town Lake are preceeded by a full evening of live music, an all-ages splash playground and a family zone with an inflatable village, face painting, rides and kids' entertainment.
When: Gates open at 4 p.m. Sunday for first-come, first-serve lawn seating.
Where: Tempe Beach Park, Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway.
Cost: $6 in advance at Fry's Food Stores; $8 at the gate; free for children 12 and younger and active military personnel with a current military ID.
Information: (480) 350-5189 or http://tempe4th.com
Accuracy posted at 11:37 am on Fri, Jul 2, 2010.
Mesa Fireworks 2010 – July 4th Firework Shows also in the Mesa Area
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AT LIVING WORD BIBLE CHURCH
Sunday, July 4, 2010, on the anniversary of the birth of our beloved nation. Celebration starts at 5:00pm. Are you looking for places to watch Fourth of July fireworks?
Event is free to attend and all are welcome. You will enjoy...
• Delicious BBQ
• Exciting Variety Show
• Spectacular Fireworks!
At the LIVING WORD BIBLE CHURCH, 3520 East Brown Road, Mesa, AZ 85213 (Northwest Corner of Brown Road and Val Vista Drive)
Butters posted at 8:48 am on Sun, Jul 4, 2010.
I would like to congratulate and say Thank You to Southwest Ambulance and the rest of the organizers of Mesa's Celebration of Freedom. It was an awesome event and the fireworks show on Saturday night was THE BEST one I have ever seen in my many, many years of attending 4th or July events.
imexyz posted at 2:27 am on Mon, Jul 5, 2010.
Once again Gilbert's fireworks was a dismal failure! If you were like me and my family along with hundreds of other family. We watched what was maybe 50 to 60 fireworks explode during the course 15 to 20 minutes top at the rate of one per minute or so? I understand this was put together by GPC. I heard more than a few say this "sucks" as they left before the fireworks ended.
I wonder how much of the money Gilbert gave them was used on the fireworks and how much skimmed to fund the prize money for the rodeo? [sad]
AZMomma posted at 4:22 am on Fri, Jul 9, 2010.
Attn Trib:
It is now 9 July...PULL THE STORY