On the morning of July 4th, USA Today published their picks of the top 10 most spectacular fireworks displays in the nation. This feature story ranks the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration with some of the most iconic shows found in big cities across the US like New York City, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.
Claiming the title, “The largest Independence Day fireworks show west of the Mississippi River,” the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration stands out for launching more than 18,000 shells into the night sky, which is far more than most of the shows listed in USA Today’s top ten.
Melaleuca Executive Chairman Frank VanderSloot wrote the following Facebook post after USA Today’s recognition:
USA Today just named the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration as one of the “most spectacular July 4th fireworks shows” in the USA. https://bit.ly/3nFSR9c We agree! It’s great to know USA Today is doing its homework. We gave a 31-minute salute to all those who have fought for our freedom! The Melaleuca Freedom Celebration! 18,237 shells in the air! 9.8 shells per second! Visit https://www.freedomcelebration.com/ to see more spectacular images and videos of the show.
The history of fireworks in America turns out to be a long one. According to the USA Today article, lighting fireworks in celebration is a tradition dating back to the early American settlers. In fact, it was John Adams who wrote of his hope that the Fourth of July would be celebrated with firelights and parades extending the length of the continent.
That much is true for the Fourth of July in the United States. Communities gather across the country to remember our heritage, salute our veterans, and acknowledge the valor of our brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
Melaleuca is honored to be a part of so many families’ traditions. The event typically attracts 200,000 visitors to Idaho Falls each year to celebrate. Not only are visitors entertained by the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, but they also participate in a range of other activities throughout the day, including helicopter rides, an antique tractor and car display, a Jeep demo course, live music, a kids fun zone, and more.
