GILROY
– Gilroy’s Independence Day celebration culminates Friday night
as crowds see
”
the rockets’ red glare
”
for themselves at the annual fireworks display sponsored by the
City of Gilroy at the Gilroy High School baseball field.
GILROY – Gilroy’s Independence Day celebration culminates Friday night as crowds see “the rockets’ red glare” for themselves at the annual fireworks display sponsored by the City of Gilroy at the Gilroy High School baseball field.
“It’s a great way to end a very patriotic day,” said John Garcia, recreation supervisor for the city’s Community Services Department. “The community really comes out, and the area is just jam packed. For just a 20-minute program, thousands of people get to see it.”
The display will begin around 9 p.m. depending on how dark it is.
The total cost is $6,200, which includes the fireworks and pyrotechnicians who set off the “bombardment shells.” The show will feature 358 bursts – and 148 of them will be set off during the grand finale.
The city receives a donation from the Gilroy Rotary to help fund the show.
“You can say it’s a lot of money, but you have to think about the amount of people who watch and the time they wait to see the fireworks. Some cities put on $50,000 and $60,000 shows,” he said.
Garcia, who has lived in Gilroy for 26 years, said the event has been going on for as long as he can remember. For him it’s about fun – bringing the community together, hearing the children laugh and having the best seats in the house.
“If you get right up to the school, you’ll get the best show, you’re right under them. But a lot of people like to stay in their homes and surrounding areas. You can see them from almost anywhere in the city – as long as there isn’t a tree in the way,” he said.
Locals are used to sprawling out around the baseball field or choosing the “bleacher seats” up on the levy.
“It’s really nice that we have a facility (GHS) that lets the city use the area to set off the fireworks,” Garcia said.
He and a crew of eight to 10 people will spend several hours Saturday clearing the field of fallen debris.
For those who want to keep the spirit going, Bonfante Gardens Family Theme Park will hold an all-you-can-eat picnic buffet on Friday from noon to 1 p.m. and on Saturday, July 5, from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Meal prices are in addition to park admission, $9.99 for ages 10 and up, $7.99 for ages 3 to 9. Tickets are limited to the first 1,000 people per picnic time. There will also be a watermelon-eating contest in three age categories: 3 to 6, 7 to 12 and 13 and older. The contest begins at 1:30 on Friday and Saturday. Details: 840-7100.
At 10 a.m. Friday morning, the Morgan Hill Fourth of July parade will travel along Monterey Road, Main, Peak and West Dunne avenues. The celebration will continue from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Family Fun Festival in the Park at Community Park, off Edmundson Ave. Residents will enjoy rides, food, arts, crafts and plenty of live music to get people on their feet. All rides in the Kids Zone will be free thanks to donations from Hamdey Al Tayyeb, Bruce Tichinin and Alex Kennett.
Those who don’t mind a further drive can visit the 2003 Hollister Independence Rally, which will run through Sunday. Some 140 vendors will line the streets from Fourth to South and Monterey to Sally, along with plenty of live music, a custom car show, an arm-wrestling contest, the Motordome Wall of Death Stunt Show and a tattoo contest.
Skies will be clear for all those block parties and fireworks shows. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80s through the week rising to the lower 90s for the weekend. Overnight temperatures will be in the mid 60s.
A new AAA study predicts the number of California travelers during the Fourth of July holiday weekend will be at the highest level in nine years and that one of every six people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday weekend.
To make traveling a little easier, Valley Transportation Authority will offer extra bus and light rail service to Fourth of July festivities in downtown San Jose and to Paramount’s Great America. Day passes cost $3 for adults, $2 for youth, $1 for senior/disabled and free for children under 5 years.
Those heading to the San Jose America Festival downtown should deboard at the Convention Center Station and walk one block west of San Carlos Street to Discovery Meadow. Light rail service will operate every 10 minutes from 4 to 9:20 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight. The fireworks show starts around 9:40 p.m. The Children’s Discovery Museum will be closed Friday.
Great America visitors should deboard at the Great America Station. Service will operate every 10 minutes from 5 to 10 p.m., about every 10 to 20 minutes from 10 p.m. to midnight and every 70 minutes in the early morning. No light rail service will operate during fireworks displays.
Activities
What: Fireworks display
Where: Gilroy High School, 750 W. 10th St.
When: Friday at 9 p.m.
What: All you can eat picnic buffet
Where: Bonfante Gardens
When: Friday – noon to 1 p.m.
Saturday – noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.
Tickets: Park admission plus $9.99 for guests ages 10 and up, $7.99 for 3 to 9.
Note: Tickets are limited to the first 1,000 people per picnic time. There will also be a watermelon-eating contest at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Details: 840-7100.
What: Old-fashioned Street Dance
Where: Downtown Morgan Hill on Monterey Road between Main and Dunne avenues.
When: Thursday 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Note: Dinner provided by local restaurants.
What: Morgan Hill parade
Where: Monterey, Main, Peak and West Dunne avenues.
When: Friday 10 a.m.
What: Family Fun Festival in the Park
Where: Morgan Hill Community Park, off Edmundson Ave.
When: Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets: Free, parking will be available between the park and Monterey Road for $10 to help off-set expenses and comes with a “goodie bag”
What: 2003 Hollister Independence Rally
Where: Fourth to South streets and Monterey to Sally streets
When: Friday – Sunday, vendors are open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
What: America Festival
Where: Guadalupe River Park’s Discovery Meadow, Woz Way and San Carlos Street, San Jose
When: Friday, music begins at 11 a.m., fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Details: www.americafestival.com or 294-2100, ext. 444
What: 27th annual Fireworks Skyconcert
Where: Paramount’s Great America
When: Friday at 9 p.m.
Tickets: Free with price of admission
What: Spirit of Watsonville parade
Where: Starts at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at Main Street and Freedom Boulevard
When: Friday 2 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Details: www.spiritofwatsonville.com or call (831) 728-6183.
