GRAHAM COUNTY — There is more to do in the Gila Valley for the Independence Day holiday.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
THATCHER
Things get underway with the Thatcher Fire Department wake-up, with engines driving through town with sirens on. That’s followed by the Thatcher Community Parade at 7 a.m. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to be at Thatcher High School by 6:30 a.m.
The Thatcher Parade will travel north on Third Avenue to Church Street, turning left to Stadium Avenue. Another left takes the parade to the Thatcher Splash Pad Park for the Fourth of July Celebration, which includes flag raising, signing of the national anthem, jumping castles, a pancake breakfast and one small change.
“Instead of the airplane candy drop, they’re going to do another way to hand out candy favors to the kids,” said Thatcher Town Manager Heath Brown.
The day will close with a splash and play for the children on the ball fields, courtesy of the Thatcher Fire Department.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
PIMA
The Town of Pima and the Eastern Arizona Museum and Historical Society will again host the town’s Fourth of July celebration at Heritage Park.
A flag raising ceremony will start things at 7 a.m., followed by a pancake and egg breakfast. Cost is $5 per plate, $3 for those 10 and younger, and free for all veterans and active-duty military.
The Pima town pool will be open for free swimming from 1-5 p.m., and the day will close with a fireworks show by the Pima Volunteer Fire Department at the Vard Lines Roping Arena at 8 p.m.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
SAFFORD
The holiday in Safford starts with the Safford Lions Club Fourth of July Parade, which is undergoing a change this year.
The parade will start an hour earlier, at 9 a.m., and the theme is “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Grand marshal is UFC lightweight fighter and Safford native Justin Gaethje.
The reason for the early start is a new feature this year — a Fourth of July event on Safford City Hall lawn immediately following the parade.
“The idea was to put something in place that we could keep (people) together on the lawn, since they’re there for the parade itself, but not too long of an event because of the heat,” said Mick Ruiz, Administrative Events liaison for the City of Safford.
The event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will include food vendors, music and games with prizes, including a patriotic costume contest, potato sack race and watermelon rolling.
The day will end with the Safford Volunteer Fire Department’s fireworks show at Graham County Fairgrounds starting at 8 p.m.
