Independence Day... It's still two days away!

     Welcome to the Anthem360 blog.  I guess today is as good of day as any to start writing and get this blog bloging!  Today is July 2nd, 2011.  The temperature reached 116.2F @ 2:52 PM here in Anthem per our @Anthem_Weather feed on Twitter.  According to the National Weather Service the temperature at Sky Harbor Airport reached a even higher temperature of 118F.  Either way it was HOT!  There were a few monsoon storms that tried to make their way into the valley but only outlying areas received any rain.  Most of the valley did however get a lot of wind and even some power lines were knocked down in North Phoenix.

Happy 2nd of July!

Composition from the anual Anthem Fireworks Display on July 2nd!

     This evening was the Anthem's anual fireworks display at the Anthem community park.  I heard several people say they were expecting around 20,000 people to attend the event.  I believe it!  We arrived to find parking around 8:45pm.  In previous years we've had good luck getting there last minute and find a spot right away.  Lots of people are still coming and going right up to the start time.  Well, this year there seemed to be lots more people attending.  We ended up with a okay parking spot in the south parking lot but we stayed near our vehicle so we could make a quick exit once the fireworks were over.  The show started about 9:25 and ended about 9:55.  It was a nice display as usual but the music they played near the ball fields was turned down so low that most spectators could barely hear it.  Anthem usually has a very nice fireworks display and this one was no different.  There was an entire event leading up to the fireworks with inflatable jumpers, slides and face painting for the kids and even a beer garden for the adults.  Big crowds aren't usually my thing so I tend to steer clear of the mayhem, but if you enjoy getting in the mix and socializing then this is the place to do it.  Traffic and security seem to have improved over the years with help from the Anthem Community Center staff and the Maricopa County Sheriff''s Office who bring in Posse members from all over the valley to help out.

     I think alot of people must show hop since there are usually fireworks displays on July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th giving people more opportunities to go where they want.  A quick Google search of Phoenix Area Fireworks shows many displays around the valley to choose from.  When I was little I only remember fireworks being on July 4th!  That's the way it was and if you wanted to see them you went on July 4th regardless of the day of the week it fell on.  We picked a spot alongside the road and sat back to watch in awe of the amazing lights.  Like most things people aren't happy with old school ways and have to be different so celebrations have changed to a day of convenience to get higher attendance and a weekend timeslot.  As long as people don't forget the real reason for our celebration of July 4th and give thanks to the brave men and women who continue to fight for our freedoms I guess it works out.  This is a day of celebration but it is also a day to say Thanks!  Thanks!

    I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July.  Let this be the beginning of many more blogs from the patch of Arizona dessert we call Anthem!



Fourth of July is Independence Day

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.shtml