SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
Your Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, keepers of Zozobra’s flame, is thrilled to announce that they have been tapped to organize the Annual City of Santa Fe Fourth of July celebration. Previous Fourth of July events hosted by the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club have set a high bar, and we thank Roman Abeyta and his crew for years of service and for the opportunity to follow in their footsteps. What an honor to host a birthday party for our nation!
WHO: The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe
WHAT: City of Santa Fe Annual Fourth of July Celebration
WHERE: Santa Fe Place Mall/Villa Linda Park
WHEN: Tuesday, July 4, 2017, 6:15 – 10:00 p.m
After weighing the pros and cons of the old location and considering other options, in an exciting new development the annual fireworks display will be launched from Santa Fe Place Mall. This expansive new venue offers ample space for visitors and Santa Fesinos from all parts of our city to come together and celebrate Independence Day! As Event Chair Ray Sandoval says, “We really want people to get out of their cars and celebrate as one big inclusive community. We’re paying homage to the birth of our nation at a totally free event for all.”
While city funds cover the cost of the event, Kiwanis volunteers are happy to donate their years of Zozobra experience to organize the event and handle the set-up and clean-up at no cost. In order to aid the Club’s fundraising efforts, revenue-sharing partnerships have been arranged with the onsite food trucks, and pending approval, from a proposed beer garden manned by the experts from Santa Fe Brewing, will be located in the mall parking lot adjacent to the park. No outside alcohol will be allowed at the event.
Plenty of FREE parking ensures that the Santa Feans and travelers to the City Different can enjoy hassle-free festivities, and with numerous exits, leaving the area after the fireworks will be that much easier. Live entertainment will fire up the night with performances by local favorites Alex Maryol, Sol Fire, and Fun Addixx. The grassy 11-acre Villa Linda Park is perfect for picnics, and there will be fun activities for kids.
The Santa Fe Place site hopes to hold down city safety costs and allays previous concerns caused at the old location by cars parking in local neighborhoods and impeding access to emergency services. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales himself noted that, “For the neighborhoods, it makes a huge difference. Having to walk through streets and having lots of high car traffic in neighborhoods, it was a lot of hardship.”
As for the fireworks, that’s a done deal, since Zozobra Event Chair Ray Sandoval notes that “It’s something we have a fair amount of experience doing.” And the Kiwanis are thrilled that the new venue will allow more elaborate, high-altitude fireworks to light up the Santa Fe skies and wish America a Happy Birthday!
You’re invited to gather your family, friends and visitors and join your fellow Santa Feans to celebrate Independence Day together in City Different style!
