Despite the economic situation in the state, Fourth of July celebrations and spirits didn’t appear to be affected greatly, especially those at Tempe Town Lake.
With 40 minutes of mostly-free fireworks, it’s hard to complain.
With other fireworks shows being cancelled, such as the show at Mesa Community College, more people were expected at the CBS 5 July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival this year, which was produced by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe.
Besides the fireworks, $8 admission at the gate bought a chance to see Kianna Martinez, a 19-year-old from Gilbert who won Tempe’s Star-Spangled Banner Idol and performed the national anthem in front of more than 50,000 people.
The event had a 50,000 capacity, with 150,000 people expected to be situated in areas surrounding the Lake and Tempe Beach Park, said Ashley White, a public relations assistant for the City of Tempe Parks and Recreation. “We’ve expanded the area that we [had] the festival in,” she said.
She said that the show was worth the cost, since fireworks could be seen in the sky and in the lake’s reflection.
“We have two shows going on for the price of one really,” White said.
She said that some costs were cut with the help of sponsors, who lowered prices.
“[The economy has] definitely affected our festival but not in ways the public will notice,” White said.
Beth West, a political science senior, attended the Tempe Town Lake Festival.
“They were better than last year — quantity and volume,” West said. “There were ones that they shot up light off the bridge that were swirly.”
She said that she didn’t really think the economy had an effect, at least on Tempe Town Lake.
“Actually because if I think the economy had a detrimental effect on it, people wouldn’t have showed up as much as they did for the fireworks,” West said.
Mike Poulton, a second-year law student, decided to go elsewhere for fireworks, since he lives in Ahwatukee.
He said he usually goes to Chandler for fireworks.
“[It’s] close and not too busy … easy to get to and usually doesn’t have the big crowd you get in Tempe,” Poulton said.
However, he decided to go to Ahwatukee’s show this year.
“I think it’ll be more of an intimate atmosphere,” Poulton said beforehand.
He said that he knows the economy affected many fireworks shows, but some private donors stepped in.
“I know that a lot of the smaller shows haven’t got funding,” Poulton said.
He said he has a great appreciation for fireworks, since he used to be a pyrotechnician and helped put on shows with his father.
“Every year for a long time … we worked on the local fireworks display,” Poulton said.
Reach the reporter at
reweaver@asu.edu
