Where Art Thou Rockets’ Red Glare!

Has the bad economy put a damper on your community’s Fourth of July?

I may need a boat to see any fireworks this Fourth of July. I’m staying on a lake in Central Texas for the summer. Normally the small towns in the two counties here compete with each other for the best holiday fireworks displays. The bad economy has put a damper on the patriotic fervor in the Texas Hill Country, this year.

In the Highland Lakes, which is about 40 miles west of Austin (the state’s capital), the problem is not just the economy though. While the cost of a community fireworks display led the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce to cancel its town’s pyrotechnics, the drought has also played a role.

Burn bans are in effect throughout Burnet and Llano counties, and yet fireworks stands are open to the public along almost every major roadway. Volunteer fire departments plan to be on alert all weekend long. (Kid Reporter Quinn Jacobson is here covering that story for The River Cities Daily Tribune, one of the local papers. More on his cool summer internship later!)

In this area of Texas, only Kingsland and Horseshoe Bay will feature community fireworks, and both of those are on the water. Kingsland, which is a small community about 50 miles west of Austin, is still holding its annual Aqua Boom fest. And just as the name suggests, it’s all about the water: boat parades and fireworks center lake.

Just try and rent a boat around here on the Fourth of July! Well, I have and it’s not happening, so me and mine will be straining our necks on very dry land for a glimpse of the rocket’s red glare!

What about you? What are you doing for the Fourth? What is your community planning (or not)? Click on the blue comment link below and tell us all about it!

—Editor Suzanne Freeman

PHOTO: Part of the Aqua Boom 4th of July Boat Parade in Kingsland, Texas, 2008. Photo courtesy The Picayune.

Comments

[Ana]

Once again Philadelphia will have fireworks but this year me and my family won't see them. This year for the Fourth of July my family is going to go out in the country with our friends. There will food, fireworks, music, that kind of stuff.

[Scholastic Reporter Shelby]

For the fourth of July I am going where it all happened: Boston. I am so excited because my family and I will be able to see the firework show. Before the show I will be able to see the Boston Pops Orchestra. Finally, there will be the reading of the Declaration of Independence. During my trip I will be blogging about it so check back here for more! Happy Fourth of July!

[Kid Reporter Danielle A.]

Boom, Boom and no gloom here in Red Bank, New Jersey! The fireworks are scheduled to go off on July 3rd with a rain date of July 4th.

The Red Bank fireworks are very popular and people come from many towns away to see them. Each year Red Bank tries to top last year's, which is not easy because they are GREAT every year!

A local radio station plays music that is in sync with the fireworks display and makes it even more fun to watch. I'm glad the fireworks are happening because I think everyone could use some fun and celebration these days!!

[Kid Reporter Allie Sakowicz]

Fireworks here in Park Ridge, IL are a tradition on July 3rd. My family always goes out to the grocery store and buys all kinds of junk foods we normally aren't allowed and we indulge in it during the fireworks display. Before the show (which happens about 9pm) we play tennis and four-square in the parking lot. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night!

[Kid Reporter Maya Fleming]

This year, since I'm with my dad and my step-mom, I'll be spending the Fourth of July a little differently. Instead of going to the local annual fireworks show, we will be going to a family reunion. Even though we won't be doing the same things, I'm sure we won't forget the barbecue, games, and most importantly, fireworks! Have a Happy Fourth of July.

[Kid Reporter Mariam E. =)]

Happy Fourth of July, Everyone!!!!! Fireworks are outlawed where I live, but every year my city, Laguna Niguel, California puts on a Fireworks show and a summer concert. We'll go watch the summer concert in the park and then watch the fireworks burst over the lake. We also get a chance to see the fireworks from other cities at the same time. It's soooooo much fun!!!!! I love the Fourth of July! =)

[Kid Reporter Chloe Conway]

When I think of the Fourth of July one of the things I think of is fireworks. Manchester N.H. doesn’t have the most amazing fireworks but they are still fun to watch. This Fourth of July my family and I will be going to a barbeque but there won’t be any fireworks because of all the rain in N.H. It has rained here for the past 14 days. The fireworks are rescheduled to July fifth. (Unless it gets rained out again.) I will be at a beach on the coast of N.H. celebrating the fourth at my grandmothers with my family on July fifth. And their fireworks already will have happened. But not seeing fireworks will not stop me from having fun! I hope everyone has a Happy Fourth of July!

[Kid Reporter Jacqueline M]

Last night I went to a Long Island Ducks baseball game because after the game there were the most spectacular fireworks!!! In my town of Southampton, New York, our local fire department holds a carnival and shoots off fireworks. There used to be beautiful fireworks over the ocean but these small birds called plovers started nesting on the beaches. The fireworks disturbed the plovers so now they are no longer allowed to set off fireworks over the ocean!!! There is a big parade in town though. This year former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani and his wife Judy were in the parade. I was so excited to see them. Hope everyone is having a Happy 4th of July!!!

[Kid Reporter Anjali B.]

Cupertino's Fourth of July was fantastic! Although two fireworks displays in our city had to be cancelled, the traditional Pancake Breakfast at our community center and a wonderful fireworks display and carnival nearby were still on. It was also the grand re-opening of Blackberry Farms, a local park and golf course, and everyone got in for free! I enjoyed this holiday, and I hope you did too! :)

[Kid Reporter Caitlin Wardlow]

Fireworks burst over the Milford,CT mall in all different colors as the traditional display went off with a bang. There were all different colors, such as red, white, blue, green, purple, yellow, etc. Shapes were also seen such as angel wings and hearts. Some fireworks made sounds, like one made a noise like falling rain.
Another noise was when one firework shrieked into the sky. A woman near me called it a "screamer". It was fun and a sight to see. I really enjoyed this 4th Of July!

[Kid Reporter Miandra]

This year my family and I had a TON of fun this forth of July! We went camping over the weekend and went tubing, swimming, biking, and explored all over the camp with my siblings. Later we drove our boat down river to see the fire works. It was a blast! ;) (pun intended)

[Kid Reporter Matthew S]

The fireworks were in full blast over the Long Island Sound on July 4th! Many towns by the water, such as New Rochelle, Mamaroneck and Rye had great shows. My family and I watched an awesome display at the New York Athletic Club. We could see many other celebrations in the distance. It was a great night!

[Shoshana]

I hope everyone had a good fourth of July!! I live on the upper west side of Manhattan in New York City were they had huge twenty minute fie works display. It was really cool!! Usually the New York fireworks are shot off in the East River. This year, it was moved to the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan.

All the people who wanted to see the fire works (such as my family) went down to the water. I think this was the best fire works show I have ever seen!! If you were lucky enough to see the west side fire works I hope you enjoyed it too!!

[Shelby Fallin, Kid Reporter]

Happy Fourth of July! I had a great one here in Boston, Massachusetts. I live in Florida, but my family came here for vacation. We started out the morning by joining a parade that went around the city. The parade included former and current Navy and Military members, people dressed as Revolutionary Soldiers and Colonists, and a crowd of people. The parade went to John Hancock’s grave where he was honored with the laying a wreath on while “Taps” played. After the “Parade of the People,” officers read the Declaration of Independence to the crowd. That night half a million people arrived at the park five hours early to see the famous Boston fireworks. We were part of the crowd! It all paid off, because the fireworks were spectacular and accompanied by the Boston Pops Orchestra. It was a long and exciting day!

[Kid Reporter Gopa]

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!
The fireworks at my place went GREAT. The really cool part is that the fireworks were right next to our house! We didn't even have to leave home to see the amazing view!! Also, I invited a few friends over for a small 4th of July get together. It was small, but it was still really fun.