Fourth of July 2026

 Fourth of July started with the ward breakfast.  It was at a home this year, changed from a park due to weather.  The weather was pretty bad so I had to go alone.  I was helping with the music.  We sang a couple patriotic songs.  The weather cleared for juwt long enough to get breakfast in; Pancakes and lots of raspberries.  However after the meal the rain came back.  Somebody said it would clear, but I was wet enough and didn't stay.  

We had the traditional Fourth of July meal at our house.  Sheri made a terrific potato salad.  Riley really enjoyed her corn on the cob.

Evening we all went to the Heartland Park for fireworks.  The concert from Gene Lehy Mall was piped over.  

                                                                     My Country Tis of Thee

The fireworks started as soon as the concert was over.  In fact the or chestra played through some of the fireworks.  

Fireworks at Omaha, Heartland Park

We concluded at Charity's for home fireworks.  We also had a nice view of the moon.  We got home close to midnight.

Ringo Starr in Omaha

A week before the Fourth Ringo Star was in Omaha at Memorial Park for a concert leading up to a fireworks show.  Ringo sang most of the songs he sang with the Beatles, Yellow Submarine, With a Little Help from my Friends, I want to be your Man and Octopus's Garden.   Ringo Starr is 85 years old and still tours with Ringo Starr and His All Star Band

Some shots of the fireworks which followed:

July 4 fireworks 2019

 We were in Marshall for July 4th.  This included a nice dinner with Gerdt and Stefanie.  Stefanie made a nice July 4th pie with lots of fruit. 

Because we didn't buy fireworks until the day before they were half price in Marshall.  We were able to get quite a few.  Tony and Gerdt's son helped set them off.

July 4 2018

A  relatively lazy day, but it did include swimming at the Normans, and fireworks.  We swam with a frog at the Normans.  I had difficulty getting in for cold water.  They also did barbecue for us.  We were showered with sparklers by someone on a skate board as we waited in the Costco parking lot, until we told him enough.  I don't think it was a very good place.  Jeremy supplied some sparklers and other fireworks.  As always it was a mess getting out.

Life in Manteca: Why Manteca Fireworks Were Cut Short?

Where we were sitting, we saw a firework which appeared to explode on the ground.  Immediately the emergency lights approached the area where this happened.  We thought maybe something had happened.  Manteca Bulletin verified this.  A launch accident sent a man detonating the fireworks to the hospital with second degree burns on his leg.  This cut off the display after a third of the fireworks had been exploded.  The injured man was an employee of J&M Displays.  He was treated for the burns at DOctor's Hospital.  The article says one of the mortars had been lit but became stuck and exploded while still on the ground.  "Firefighters on scene quickly got the situation under control.  Given the nature of the incident and potential damage to launch equipment Manteca fire officials shut down the aerial display that had started 10 ten minutes earlier."  The article further explains that the 10,000 people in the area started dispersing within about another ten minutes.  It also points at the J&M displays will give a refund to the Manteca City, which had to pay upfront, for the unexploded fireworks.  

Fourth of July Plans

We have decided to stay in manteca and do the Manteca Fourth.  This starts with a parade.

4th of July Celebration - Parade & Fireworks Spectacular

Bring the family out to enjoy our Independence Day festivities.

Start your day by watching the over 100 entries in Manteca's Annual Fourth of July Parade sponsored by the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis. The parade begins at 10:00 am and includes floats, marching bands, antique and show vehicles and mounted horse teams. Wave and cheer as the parade strolls right by you along Main Street!

This brochure points to several sites to view the fireworks.  We have never gone to Big League Dreams and it looks like the open the doors there at 7 p.m.  However they charge a couple dollars.  There are also nearby parks where you can see the fireworks.

Memorial Day Not Forgotten 2016

Because of a conflict with our church schedule this year, we were not very active at the Not Forgotten Celebration.  Tony and I went over and talked with Sammy and Dixie Davis.  Sammy is the Vietnam War hero and Medal of Honor recipient.  Mike Dye and his wife were also at the booth.  He appeared to have been at the Family History Booth, which they were taking down when we got there.  I did get signed copies of their books.  We also went back over for the fireworks.  We sat by the Hokansons and the Porters.  They each have boys Tony's age so he had a good time.  They were playing "Tron" with the lighted tubes.  Fireworks lasted about fifteen minutes.  We had parked by the Binghams, so didn't have any problem getting home.