LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – While many cities are cutting back if not completely eliminating their Fourth of July celebrations, Lake Havasu City has actually made their celebration larger. Thanks to local residents and businesses pulling together, residents and visitors who flock to this resort destination will have an even bigger show to look forward to this year, as well as an entire festival to go with. “We’re recreating the family-friendly picnic, block party feeling that we used to see years ago,” said Greg Tryon, one of the organizers behind the event. “It will be a lot of fun with music, games and contests all for free,” he said. Also included in the fun will be the typical summer-time contests. Organizers have planned three-legged races, watermelon eating contests, egg tosses and other games to fill the day. There will be plenty of food on hand as well. “We’re looking at doing 50 cent hot dogs and pizza, 25 cent sodas and sno-cones. It’s all geared for a low-cost afternoon,” Tryon said. Local restaurants will also be on hand with even more choices, and Wal-Mart is providing free bottled water. A pair of bands are set to take the stage and rock Independence Day. The band Fifth Element will take the stage from 4:30-6:00 pm, followed by local favorite Chuck E. Bumps from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. “They have an amazing set planned. They’re doing a full Las Vegas style show with singers, dancers and everything. The full works,” Tryon said, The fireworks show will begin at 9 pm, launched from Spectator Point, just a few hundred yards across the water from Rotary Park. “The festival goers will have front row seats to an amazing fireworks display, put on by Lantis out of Phoenix,” Tryon said. The show will be set to music aired on KNTR AM 980 and FM 97.1 and played over the Kokomo Party Barge in Thompson Bay. Event organizers stress one of the great aspects of the event was how the community pulled together to make it happen. “With the city coffers feeling the effects of the economy, they didn’t have the ability to pay for fireworks this year. Residents pulled together and came up with the idea of the Freedom Festival and now as a result, the event will be even bigger than it would have been,” Tryon said. The initial drive came from the Lake Havasu Professional Firefighters Association, and several other groups and local residents joined the effort. Shortly after, donations quickly started coming in. “Within a few weeks we were approaching our goal, it really was great to see,” said Tryon. The Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau offered a onetime only allocation of $5,000 for the fireworks, hoping their dollars would leverage others. “The offer was drafted so when certain fundraising milestones were achieved by the group, they would receive more money from the CVB in the hope that it would encourage others to get involved financially as well,” said CVB Board Chairman Dick Gilbert. “It’s going to be a great event for residents and visitors who come to enjoy the festival, and watch the fireworks over the water,” he said. Other important donations came from businesses like Mohave State Bank, which brought in just under $5,000 as well. They collected money from customers and employees, and the bank’s CEO and President both matched those donations personally. “It’s an example of how everyone really came together to make something special,” Tryon said. The Freedom Festival starts at 4:00 pm Saturday, July 4. | 
