“I want to thank everyone in the community for the wonderful support we’ve had from you throughout the years, from all over southeastern Idaho. The response from the community has been tremendous. So, from all of us at Melaleuca, we want to say thank you, and I want to say thank you personally from me and my dear wife, Belinda, for your amazing support. You have made this a wonderful experience for us. In our opinion, there’s no better place to raise a family than right here in Idaho Falls.”
-Melaleuca Executive Chairman Frank VanderSloot
Dear Frank VanderSloot,
There are very few people who leave a mark on an entire community. You have done exactly that.
As the final Melaleuca: The Wellness Company Freedom Celebration comes to a close, the people of Eastern Idaho want to express something that can never truly be measured in words: our gratitude.
For decades, you didn’t just put on a fireworks show. You created a tradition. You gave hundreds of thousands of people a place to gather, to celebrate our country, to spend time with family, and to create memories that will be talked about for generations.
Each year, more than 300,000 people have made the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration part of their Fourth of July tradition. Children became parents who later brought their own children. Military families, first responders, neighbors, friends, and complete strangers came together as one community under a sky illuminated by what became the largest fireworks display west of the Mississippi River.
But your gift was never just the fireworks.
It was the excitement leading up to the celebration. It was grandparents spreading blankets beside their grandchildren. It was the laughter, the music, the pride in our nation, and the feeling that, for one evening, everyone belonged together. It was a reminder of what community is supposed to look like.
Beyond the memories, your generosity has strengthened Eastern Idaho in countless ways. The celebration has brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to our region, supporting local restaurants, hotels, retailers, and small businesses while showcasing everything that makes this community so special. Its economic impact will be remembered, but even more importantly, so will its impact on our hearts.
The greatest legacies aren’t measured by buildings or businesses. They’re measured by lives touched, traditions created, and communities brought together. By that measure, your legacy is extraordinary.
While this chapter comes to an end, what you’ve built never truly will. Every Fourth of July, families across Eastern Idaho will remember where they watched the fireworks, who they were with, and the feeling of looking up into the night sky together. Those memories belong to all of us because of your generosity.
On behalf of the families, the veterans, the children, the local businesses, and everyone fortunate enough to experience the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, thank you.
Thank you for believing in this community.
Thank you for investing in the people of Eastern Idaho.
Thank you for reminding us what generosity can accomplish.
And thank you for giving us memories that will live on long after the final firework has faded from the sky.
With heartfelt appreciation and respect,
The People of Eastern Idaho
I’d also like to take a moment to thank the Ball Family and Ball Ventures LLC and Snake River Landing. This post was intended as a personal thank you to Frank VanderSloot, but I certainly don’t want to overlook the many people who helped make the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration what it became. Thank you to the Ball Family, Ball Ventures, every sponsor, vendor, volunteer, city employee, and especially our law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, and all first responders who gave up part of their own Fourth of July to make this event safe and memorable for the rest of us. It truly took an entire community to create something so special, and Eastern Idaho is better because of all of you. Thank you.
Frank, as I watched the many people enjoying tonight’s fireworks display, I was so thankful for this unique gift that you have given us for all of these years. This has been the highlight of celebration for so many people to unite together and celebrate our blessings of family and country. Status, race, religion, age, or politics didn’t matter tonight. We all came together to celebrate America. You are a true patriot. Thank you.
Thank you thank you thank you to all involved in giving this beautiful gift to our community for so many years! What a treasure it’s been to all of us for so many years!!
Thank you to everyone! It’s a huge undertaking for an event of that magnitude! Pretty darn spectacular over the years. Thank you!
What a beautiful tribute and a legacy that will live on in our beloved city for generations!!!
Thank you Frank Vandersloot for your generosity and making it possible for many incredible memories with our loved ones on the 4th of July.
Been going to the IF firework show for almost 30 years. Best show ever tonight. Best grand finale ever as well! Thank you Frank and company for putting on such an amazing free show for us locals. I hope the city can work something out so we can continue this tradition in our families for years to come.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for such a wonderful show.
I’ve experienced 4th of July in other places and now live out of state, but there’s no other place I’d like to celebrate the 4th than Idaho Falls. Thank you Melaleuca and to Frank VanderSloot for your generosity!
Truly Mr. VanderSloot, you have outdone yourself! Tonight was absolutely incredible! I was in tears at how well done the show was. And that finale… earth-shakingly beautiful! Regardless of the masses of people or the bad traffic, there were 30 minutes where everyone was on the same team, united in awe at the grandeur, and humbled by the patriotism we couldn’t help but feel. Thank you Mr. VanderSloot for your hard work, dedication and unwavering faith in the city of Idaho Falls to help you pull off the best year to date!
When I was little I thought the fireworks were just for my birthday; then I got a little older and learned there was this really ‘rich guy’ who paid for them (not my dad); and as I grew even older it became an appreciation of your generosity to our community. I have the most incredible birthday memories because of the fireworks shows. And I’ve absolutely loved getting to share that excitement and experience with my little girls while I could. Thank you.
Thank you so much for so many years of wonderful fireworks, community connection, love and so much Idaho pride!
A big thanks. Many wonderful memories over the years with family. Tonight I got goosebumps and tears of pride. Proud to be an American and from Idaho.
Thank you Melaleuca: The Wellness Company, Frank VanderSloot and Ball Packing in Idaho Falls, ID for putting on such a fantastic family event each year. Your generosity and love for the community is greatly appreciated!
I would like to thank you all for great memories and support in our community and all who came out of state. Thank you Frank VanderSloot and Ball family. Also all who gave us their time and services. To enjoy the love and friendship we have this Independence Day.
Our thanks to Mr. VanderSloot and the many others that has made this possible over the past 30 years. This is just one reason why I love the United States of America!!
Thank you, thank you!!!! We have all been so blessed and fortunate for such a spectacular gift each year to watch together!!! These shows will be missed if Idaho Falls truly does not find another venue/location any time soon.
It was absolutely magical. Thank you for the memories, Frank, and everyone else involved. Truly wonderful.
The finale was tremendous. Thank you, Frank, for years of doing this. It is very much appreciated throughout the years and will be missed.
Really appreciate you doing great for the community and Idaho Falls, East Idaho. Great time, and we always here in East Idaho look forward to family and awesome people enjoying time and remembering it before time. Thank you!!
Your generosity and dedication have inspired countless people. Thank you for being a blessing to Eastern Idaho!
Thank you for the most epic show I have ever seen tonight! Thank you for all of the years past. Thank you for helping me and my family remember and celebrate the wonderful things that made our country.
Last night was stupendous and my little grandkids saw fireworks they’d never seen before. It was amazing. Thank you so much.
We have had the pleasure of enjoying our annual Independence Day fireworks for over 30 years and, just like previous celebrations, our 2026 Celebration did not disappoint, as it was a spectacular conclusion to our 2026 Independence Day! The cheers from the spectators brought warmth to our hearts!
THANK YOU for all the amazing memories and THANK YOU for your service to this community. Thank You for remembering our heroes and helping us to also remember our country’s founding fathers. We are so blessed to be able to live in this wonderful country and to enjoy the freedoms we have each and every day. Words really do not truly express the feeling of my heart, but they can at least express my THANKS!!!
Gratitude and appreciation for this wonderful gift! A shared tradition and gift my family and I have enjoyed every year! Thank you so much!
This year the fireworks were the most spectacular!! Thank you Frank VanderSloot, Ball Ventures, Snake River Landing and all others who helped put on this incredible show for our Nation’s 250th birthday!!
It’s so hard to have this tradition come to a close but we are beyond grateful for all the amazing shows we have gotten to experience for the past few decades! Last night’s show was beyond spectacular! Thank you for the joyful memories!
My first time ever visiting Idaho Falls was in 2008 on the 4th of July. I knew instantly I wanted to raise my family here. In 2015 we moved here and the 4th of July parade and fireworks have been a part of our family tradition. Thank you for putting them on every year, Frank. And to the countless other people we never see or hear about that make it happen so we can enjoy a night with our families. This is what community is.
These 33 years I’ve watched every one with my family, friends and community. Best 4ths of July ever. Thank you.
Thank you for your dedication to make the 4th of July so special! It was phenomenal.