The Perfect Holiday

By: College Times staff

Posted: 7/2/09

High temps, high gas prices and low cash flow aren't exactly the perfect ingredients for perfection. But there are options this holiday. Let us guide the way to, uh, perfection - or some attempt at it anyway.

THE PERFECT CELEBRATION
CBS Tempe July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival Produced by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe

In the era of economic cutbacks and slashed Fourth of July celebrations, one celebration is going as big as ever - the Tempe July 4th Town Lake Festival.

The main attraction, the
45-minute fireworks display begins at 9 p.m. Bands will play on the main stage beginning with the festival's opening at 4 p.m. Bands slated to play include Calumet, the Joey Arroyo Band, Lil' Debbie & Blue Plate Special and Telescope.

In addition, there will be a splash playground and inflatable village for kids. Adults can suck down some tasty suds in the festival's numerous beer gardens. Non-alcoholic drink options and food will be available, too.

Officials expect crowds in downtown Tempe - both inside the festival and in the surrounding downtown area - to swell beyond 100,000, especially considering several other Valley cities have cancelled their fireworks displays.

Organizers recommend that those coming to the festival arrive early and be mentally prepared for traffic after the event's conclusion. They also suggest considering taking mass transit, such as light rail, or parking at Tempe Marketplace and taking Tempe's Orbit shuttles. Tempe residents are also encouraged to take the neighborhood Orbit shuttles to the event.

CBS Tempe July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival Produced by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe, Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, tempe4th.com, Saturday, July 4, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., $5-$8

THE PERFECT DAY TRIP

Hike, bike & beer: Flagstaff

Perhaps the heat just isn't your thing. Well, then, use the extended holiday to get out of here.

Temperatures in Arizona's highest "big" city - Flagstaff - rarely top the 80s in July, and nighttime lows are in the 40s and 50s.

When most people think of Flagstaff they think of mountain hiking; but if heading into the woods isn't your thing, but you still want to be outside, check out the city's urban trail system.

The city's network of paved and gravel trails are stunningly beautiful; many of them navigate through greenbelts in the city center; keeping you away from the traffic, but allowing you to jump from hotel to bar to dinner without breathing in the fumes of passing vehicles.

While there, explore some of the city's amazing drinking and dining establishments. Mia's, a lower downtown bar specializing in a variety of exquisite beers, is always a sure-fire hit for pre-dinner drinks. For dinner, try Dara Thai, one of the best Thai restaurants in the state. Not only is the food amazing, it's incredibly affordable.

For unique side trips, visit the Lowell Observatory, where the once-a-planet, then-not-a-planet Pluto was discovered, or take a side trip to the Sunset Crater National Monument to see a lava river completely frozen in time. The observatory features regular viewing through one of its high-powered telescopes. Moon viewing is particularly impressive.
For more information, visit flagstaffarizona.org

FIRE IN THE SKY

Below are just some of the many different types of fireworks you might see this weekend.
Within each type of fireworks, numerous color combinations are possible.
BROCADE: Firework shell containing long burning stars that fall a substantial distance from the shell burst, sometimes changing color as it falls.

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHELL: Firework shell that bursts and emits its stars in a circle (or spherical burst) and the brightness intensifies as the circle grows in size creating a simulation of a flower.

COCONUT: Firework shell containing large comets that burst then fall, creating a pattern of coconut palm tree branches.

COMET: A pressed or solid pyrotechnic material that produces a stream of sparks or fire (tail effect) as it is elevated.

DAHLIA: Firework shell that bursts into a spherical shape, similar to a Peony, but usually with fewer, brighter stars.

MULTI BREAK SHELL: An aerial shell comprising of more than one section producing a separate effect in sequence and ignited by the bursting of the preceding section.

PATTERN SHELL: Firework shell containing stars assembled in a pattern, including but not limited to rings, double rings, hearts, stars, Saturn, hearts and Mickey Mouse.

PEONY: Firework shell that bursts in a spherical shape but does not leave a trail of falling stars.

SALUTE: Fireworks shell that produces a loud report with a brilliant flash of light.

STROBE: Stars that burn, creating an "on-off-on-off" light effect like a strobe light.

SHOWTIME
A list of the scheduled Fourth of July celebrations in the Phoenix area this weekend:

Carefree Fireworks Extravaganza, Includes a cowboy-style barbecue cookout and beverages, plus live music and dance in the Opera House. Fireworks begins at dusk. Carefree Resort and Villas, 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree. 480.488.5300, carefree-resort.com, Thursday, July 2, 4 p.m. $5 per car

Fireworks Extravaganza: Barbecue, live music, kid-stuff and fireworks display. Young Country and EastonAshe perform. Reservations required. Harold's Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 480.488.1906, haroldscorral.com, Friday, July 3, 6 p.m., free

Light Up the Sky: Games and contests, food and fireworks. Maryvale Baseball Park, 3600 N. 51st Avenue, Phoenix. 602.262.6575, Friday, July 3, 7 p.m., free

Red, White and Bloom: Fireworks display at The Ahwatukee Country Club. Ahwatukee Country Club, 12432 S. 48th Street, Phoenix, 480.893.9772, Wednesday, July 3, 9 p.m., free

Fabulous Phoenix Fourth: Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. Attractions include a giant misting area, inflatable rides, a kid's world stage and a fireworks display. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602.262.6412, Saturday, July 4, 6 p.m., free

7UP Fireworks Spectacular: Kids carnival, bike parade, water slide, rock-climbing wall and dunk tank. Live music begins at 6:30 p.m. The fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler, chandleraz.gov, Saturday, July 4, 4 p.m., $5 per car.

Scottsdale Fourth of July Parade: Bubblegum blowing contests and a parade featuring all sorts of madness including dogs, horses, bikes and rollerblades. Word up. Mescal Park, 11015 N. 68th Street, Scottsdale, 480.312.2771, Saturday, July 4, 7:30 a.m., free

Fourth of July Celebration: Well, there's a rope-a-dope wagon and tricycle decorating contest and we all know how off the hook that shiz is. Doubling the awesome is free watermelon slices until 6 p.m. Awwww, yeah! Music begins at 7 p.m. Then we get that party rockin' with some firework action at 9 p.m. Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood, Apache Junction, 480.982.1110, Saturday, July 4, 4 p.m., free.

Fourth of July All-American Festival: Fireworks + F-16s. Double the fun. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria, 623.773.7110, Saturday, July 4, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., $5 for 13 and older.

Fourth of July Celebration: Rookie League baseball between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs. Slides, obstacle courses and more for the kids. Plus fireworks. Surprise Recreation Campus, 15850 N. Bullard Ave, Surprise. 623.266.4500, Saturday, July 4,
6 p.m., free