Portales will celebrate Independence Day with a star-spangled public fireworks show at the City Softball Complex on Industrial Drive in Portales at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4.
Chamber Executive Director Karl Terry said this year’s start time will be moved back a half hour to 9:30 p.m. to allow for a darker sky and a better show. Changes have been made to the format of the show, dropping the choreographed music in order to try and lengthen the show.
Terry said, while the show begins at 9:30 p.m. people are welcome to bring their picnics out to the park earlier in the evening. The parking lot directly to the east of the softball complex is a prime viewing area and there are other areas closer to the Senior Citizens Center that are open as well as the west side of the softball fields along the old soccer fields.
“We definitely urge folks to come on into the park area for the best experience,” said Terry. “Parking will not be allowed along Industrial Drive but we have lots of room.”
Terry said there will be a sound system set up on the south side of the front parking lot at the complex. The Chamber staff will be passing out glow sticks for the kids while they last. They will also be making announcements as needed from that location. Just look for the “welcome” feather flag.
The Portales Police Department is leading the safety plan for the event in cooperation with other agencies. They will have a command center set up at the walking path trailhead south of the fireworks site. There will also be fire department vehicles at various locations around the site if help is needed.
Portales Police Chief Pat Gallegos reminds folks that in order for everyone to stay safe and have a good time a few rules need to be followed. Those include:
- No alcohol is allowed in city parks
- Pets should be on a leash or left at home
- No personal fireworks will be allowed in surrounding parks during the event
- Stay inside the mowed designated viewing and parking areas to avoid snakes, cactus and other hazards
- Obey all road closures and traffic control officers
- No one allowed on walking trails entire day of event
- Promptly report any dangerous or hazardous activities to an officer on duty
The east side of the fireworks safety perimeter comes to Industrial Drive from the softball complex parking lot to the walking trails parking lot. Official personnel only will be allowed in the immediate area of the pond. No vehicle traffic will be allowed on the access road along the south side of the softball fields because of the fireworks perimeter and the walking trails also fall within the perimeter.
According to Terry, the public can monitor the Roosevelt County Chamber Facebook page for weather and safety updates as the event approaches.
The chamber takes on the community effort to raise funds for the show each year this year’s show will be slightly bigger than last year.
“We’ve almost made it to our goal of $15,000,” said Terry. “We’re hoping by fireworks time we’ll have received enough donations to clear that goal. One of the things that makes this such a community effort is the way that businesses, individuals and clubs step up to fund the purchase of the fireworks show. We’ve had individual donations as small as $5 up to business donations in our Five-Star donor level (over $1,000).
To make a donation call the Chamber at 356-8541 or donate online at portales.com under the July 4
th Fireworks item in the calendar.
