Tailgating, live music & fireworks highlight the night

There’s going to be great big bangs and lots of bright lights for the City of Alamogordo’s July 4th Centennial Fireworks Extravaganza on Wednesday, July 4, at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. “We have a fantastic fireworks show planned this year to celebrate the centennial and our fireworks company promises a grand finale like never before!” said Museum Marketing Director Cathy Harper. Atlas Enterprises of Fort Worth, Texas, will be putting on the fireworks show. Atlas is a nationally known pyrotechnics company with a long history of outstanding programs and an exceptional safety record.

VIP Parking Pass holders will be able to drive up the hill to the museum beginning at 6:00 pm. Tailgating in the museum’s parking lots is allowed. “You can enjoy the show from the comfort of your lawn chair right next to your car. Each vehicle gets one pass, which translates to two parking spaces, one for the car and one for the party,” said Harper. The VIP parking passes are given to members of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation as part of their benefits of membership. Membership forms are available on the museum website or at the museum reception desk. Harper said, “The invitation to attend our annual fireworks display is probably one of the favorite benefits of Foundation members. It’s a wonderful evening of family relaxation, and you can’t get any better seats to the show!”

A live band begins at 7:00 pm. “The Electric Edric Project” is a five-member band that hails from Albuquerque. According to the band’s website, “Music has always been a revolutionary process. From classical to big band to the sound of the 50's & 60's, music seems to morph from one generation to the next. With that in mind, bands don't change, they evolve, always searching for "the sound" that defines them, then they evolve again. That statement perfectly describes The Electric Edric Project.” The group plays a mix of classic rock, pop and blues, and will play until 9:00.

The Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 pm, all events are weather permitting with a back up date of July 5. Music for the fireworks program will be carried live on KZZX Radio, 105.3 FM, through the support of Burt Broadcasting. “We appreciate the assistance of Burt Broadcasting each year for the Fireworks Extravaganza,” commented Harper. “The event is more fun for the general public when they can tune in to the same music we’re hearing on site.”

Entry onto the museum grounds will begin at 6:00 pm, with overflow parking in the NMSU-A Science Center lot. Additional parking will be available at the Tays Special Events Center and the smaller student parking lot on the West side of Scenic Drive. People in the overflow parking lots should be aware that there is no tailgating, fireworks, or alcohol allowed on university property. Tailgating will be allowed in the lots at the Museum, although charcoal grills are banned for fire safety reasons.

The Museum grounds will be closed to the public following the 5:00 pm movie at the Clyde W. Tombaugh Omnimax Theater. Patrons of the 5:00 pm showing will be asked to leave the grounds immediately following the conclusion of the film. Only those with Museum VIP Parking Passes will be allowed onto Museum property after the grounds are closed. However, the show may be viewed from almost anywhere in the city.

Each year, traffic flow has been a major consideration of event organizers. “The Alamogordo Department of Public Safety works closely with us to insure maximum safe traffic flow both into the event and afterwards. We’ve worked particularly hard this year to make sure traffic exit flow is as safe and expedient as possible,” said Harper. “We’re particularly asking those who are directed from the Museum parking lots North on Scenic after the show to not make u-turns or turn around in the hospital parking lot in an attempt to go South on Scenic. Based on our past experience, it will probably save drivers ten minutes if they just continue North on Scenic to Florida, then travel home.” Harper also pointed out that with the Tays Center parking lot and student parking lot at NMSU-A open for overflow parking, it will increase southbound traffic on Scenic. Traffic flow entrance and exit maps will be published in the Alamogordo Daily News.

The July 4th Centennial Fireworks Extravaganza is sponsored by the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation, the City of Alamogordo, New Mexico State University Alamogordo, Burt Broadcasting and Uptown Rentals. In addition, the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety, City Fire Departments, County Fire Departments, the Lincoln National Forest and a large contingency of volunteer fire and safety personnel make the event possible.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information on Museum related activities or on how you can become a member of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation, call 437-2840 or 1-877-333-6589.