The promise of an unobstructed view of the fireworks drew thousands to Mission College in Santa Clara on July 4 this year. While San Francisco and other Bay Area fireworks shows had to battle Mother Nature, attendees in Santa Clara didn’t have a problem. Instead, locals celebrating the 250th anniversary of America saw the bright colors of California’s Great America’s fireworks without any fog in the way.
“We wanted to go to San Francisco, but we knew that it was going to be very foggy, so we wanted to come to an area that was sunnier, where there would be fireworks,” said Jackie, who drove down from Daly City with Royce. “We usually do Foster City, but then they canceled that, too.”
Mother Nature did her best to show off Santa Clara in her best light. She offered a mild temperature that peaked at 81 degrees, with a light breeze, so things didn’t get too hot.
While the fireworks were the main attraction, the gates opened at 5 p.m. to let people settle in well before the big event. With performances from Santa Clara Vanguard, the Santa Clara Elite Dance Team, local DJs and the band Pride and Joy the crowd stayed pumped up.
“It’s fun. There’s lot of people that we can interact with, lot of activities and events that we can actually see, and especially we are here for the fireworks,” said one Santa Clara resident who was attending the event for the second year in a row.
“First, it was live music, or DJ, and it’s like a lot of wonderful people in here, and waiting for fireworks, of course,” said Roman, who came with his family.
And it’s that kind of entertainment that keeps residents like Cameron coming back. This year, she brought her friend Demi.
“Aside from the fireworks, probably the games and stuff that they have,” said Cameron when asked why she returned.
Roberta Jones Junior Theater staff member Rowan Biesemeyer opened the event by singing the National Anthem, while the local Boy Scouts presented the colors.
More than a dozen food vendors also attended the event, offering event-goers a wide variety of food options, from Saigon street food to chicken and waffles to sweet treats like brownies and shave ice.
This is the third year in a row that Santa Clara has held its Fourth of July event at Santa Clara’s Mission College instead of at Central Park, where the event was previously held.
