I had been thinking of going out of town for the 4th, but I decided it would be wiser to stay in town and not spend the money on gas and food to leave. So a couple of friends and I decided to celebrate our nation's independence by going to the firework show here in my new community of Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Fourth was an entire evening starting at 5:30 PM on the banks of the Trinity River just north of downtown. The Fort Worth Cats (minor league baseball) would be playing the Pelicans, there would be a "battle of the bands" just outside of LaGrave Field, and fireworks would blast at the end of the game. Sounded like a good time so I was looking forward to attending.
We decided to avoid the expensive food & drinks at the celebration and get our own food. Unfortunately one of my friends wasn't able to make it due to a gym curse, but my friend Lisa was still up for meeting. We met downtown for some Riscky's BBQ, and some really good sweet tea!!!
After we finished eating we headed into the crowds at the baseball field, found a good place to set up our chairs, and wait for the fireworks to begin. We got there about 7:30, just as the baseball game was beginning. We figured by 9:30 or so the game would conclude and the show would begin. Here's some of what the celebration looked like:
7:45 PM We relaxed in our comfy spot with a view of the Trinity River and played on our phones and chatted for a while. Some interesting things were going on around us. Children were sliding down the side of a levee on political signs pulled from the ground. There was a trolley of clowns giving people shuttle rides along the river - scary!
8:15PM About 30 minutes went by or so and we decided to play a game. I had brought cards so we played several rounds of Spades until it started to get dark.
9:15PM Once we lost the ability to see well, we knew the game would be over soon and the fireworks would begin. So we continued to sit around, drinking the Gatorade I had packed.
10:00 PM It was HOT outside, even w/ the sun down, and we had finished our Gatorades at this point. With the game still roaring on, we had no idea when the firework show would begin! So I broke down and went and got some overpriced drinks.
10:30 PM So slowly, we watch as the people around us start to pack up and leave. Disappointed families have children starting to fall asleep, so they better round everyone up and head out. As the crowd thins out, we start weighing our options on if we should go or not. We hear the game call out they are in the 10th inning - TENTH INNING!? Surely they will be done soon!
11:00 Bored...and tired...and frustrated...but not wanting to leave at this point, we start quizzing each other on the most populated cities in the US. New York, LA, Chicago, Houston, Philly, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio...this goes on for a while...
11:30 Empty drink cans lay on the grass where people have left. Political signs are thrown in a pile where the children were sliding with them. I decide to make a declaration! IF the firework show does not begin by mid night - we are leaving!!! By then it will be July 5th - the FIFTH! I want to see fireworks on the FOURTH.
Sure enough, not long after, the game ends! The crowd is cheering and people are excited that their evening is finally coming to an end! With less than 10 minutes to spare on the FOURTH, the show begins...
11:50
This ones my favorite
So this is the finale...and when it got scary
A little too close for comfort
So these were VERY close...I was pretty concerned...
And this is the fire that started
So that was my never ending 4th. GREAT time...very long night! Worth the wait
2 comments:
Interesting fourth, you should have been in Maumelle, I wasn't there but they usually start at 9:00 or 9:30.
I'm so sorry that I didn't get to come!!!
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