Original article can be found on the Post Register.
IDAHO FALLS — Every year, my family looks forward to the Fourth of July more than almost any other day on the calendar. Idaho Falls is home to Idaho’s largest Independence Day parade and the country’s fifth-largest fireworks display, and this year, as our nation marks its 250th anniversary, I can say with confidence: This will be our greatest celebration yet.
I want to personally invite every resident and every visitor to come out and experience everything our city has to offer on July 4. Whether it’s your first time celebrating here or your 50th, there is something truly special about the way Idaho Falls comes alive on Independence Day.
The morning begins early with the Idaho Falls FireKracker 5K at 7 a.m. on Boulevard at Tautphaus Park. It’s a great way to start the day, and one that gives back, with proceeds supporting the Idaho Falls Military Affairs Committee.
At 9 a.m., the parade begins at the intersection of 4th Street and Holmes, travels west along 4th Street, south on South Boulevard and finishes at Tautphaus Park. The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce puts an enormous amount of work into organizing this parade every year, and it shows.
The Idaho Falls Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Memorial Drive, and the Idaho Falls Zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 11:30 a.m., Snake River Landing starts filling with families for the Idaho Falls Community Hospital Riverfest, featuring local food vendors, live entertainment and kids’ activities that last all day. Funland rides and refreshments from the newly renovated Log Hut Café round out the afternoon fun from noon to 8 p.m.
The Melaleuca Freedom Celebration fireworks display — beginning around 10 p.m. — will be Melaleuca’s last after more than 30 remarkable years. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Frank Vandersloot and the entire Melaleuca team for what they have given this community. I also want to thank Alan Ball and the employees at Ball Ventures for maintaining and opening over 70 acres of their private property to thousands of our neighbors. These are extraordinary acts of generosity, and Idaho Falls is better for them. I’m told this final show will be their biggest and best ever — and I believe it.
Finally, I want to recognize the hundreds of city employees who work tirelessly behind the scenes — setting up tables, garbage cans, closing streets, managing traffic, ensuring safety, reuniting lost children with their families, and working hard until roads are open again, streets are swept clean and everything is put away. They are the backbone of this day, and I am grateful for every one of them.
Looking ahead, I’m committed to ensuring the magic of our Fourth of July celebration continues. Partnering with Bonneville County, surrounding communities and local businesses, we will keep this tradition alive and vibrant for generations to come.
So please — gather your family, reflect on what makes this country great, thank those who serve to protect our freedoms and don’t miss a minute of this celebration. I’ll see you out there.
Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw wrote this column.
