Tempe's July 4 celebration expands to take in bigger crowds

Reported by: Christina Boomer
Email: cboomer@abc15.com
Last Update: 7/04 11:32 am

Tempe 4th of July Festival

July 4th fireworks at Tempe Town Lake. (Patrick Lancaster)

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TEMPE, AZ -- For the past eight years Judi Yates has been the event producer helping the Kiwanis Club of Tempe host a 4th of July show at Tempe Town Lake.

It’s always been a big event but she’s planning for even more people on Saturday.

“We are expecting more people because unfortunately so many cities have had to cancel due to the economy.”

Yates said they expanded the footprint for the celebration, going further west toward the Tempe Arts Center and further East under the Mill Avenue bridges.

This will be the 58th year the Kiwanis Club of Tempe has hosted the event.

Tempe 4th of July Celebration Event Details

Yates said keeping that tradition was important to the Kiwanis Club and the City of Tempe.

So even though they lost some sponsors they worked through the challenges to make sure the show could go on.

Yates said the other reason is the event serves as a fundraiser for charities in Tempe and no one wanted to see that money go away.

Last year they raised $64,000.

As Vic Cordts of the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley explained, “We are the direct recipient of the funds generated from this event”.

It is money sorely needed since, like many organizations, it’s been hard for the club to finding funding.

Cordts said it’s been a tough year trying to keep up with staffing levels which is why he hopes many of you plan to be in Tempe to celebrate our country’s independence.

“With other municipalities not doing fireworks shows hopefully everyone will come out here.”

Tempe Police said they too have added some extra police employees in anticipation of a larger crowd.

You can save $2 if you buy your tickets ahead of time at a Fry’s grocery store.

Organizers say doing that will also guarantee you’ll be able to get in.

That’s because once they have reached capacity they will close the gates and you will not be allowed inside the gated area closest to the lake.

If you have tickets you can stroll in whenever you like even if the gates are closed.

Tickets at Fry’s are $6. They’ll cost $8 at the gate.

Children 12 and under are free.

Organizers expect 50,000 people inside the gates and upwards of 100,000 outside.

Gates open at 4pm.

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