Douglas Athas, Mayor-Elect

Saturday, July 3
Family Fun, Music
& Fireworks

A fun-filled afternoon and evening beginning at 4:00 p.m.!
Fireworks at 9:00 p.m.

 
Make it an Independence Day weekend to remember at Firewheel Town Center’s Star Spangled Spectacular July 3rd, featuring amazing fireworks plus family fun and musical performances all afternoon and night long. Enjoy spectacular savings at your favorite Firewheel stores and restaurants including Macy's, Dillard's, Houlihan's, and T.G.I. Friday's. Festivities begin at 4:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m.!
 
Click for complete schedule of events.
 

 
Cities are feeling the economic crunch and many are not sponsoring the traditional fireworks displays of years past. Dallas seems to have jumped back in at the last minute, so much so that their display won't be until July 5.
 
Garland, for the second year in a row, is in the group that isn't spending money for fireworks but management and the stores at Firewheel Town Center have stepped into the vacuum and will have fireworks and entertainment very much like previous years.
 
The effort to coordinate and host an event like this is not easy. Besides the pretty lights, tons of time, effort, and funds are needed to handle the event, the security, traffic, and trash. We owe a great deal of gratitude to everyone at Firewheel Town Center for their months and months of work hosting what had been a city event, saving the taxpayers many thousands of dollars. They once again exemplify what it means to be a great community partner.
 
I hope to see you there!
 
Original post revised.   UPDATE: Another article on cities with No Bucks, No Booms. Mayors from across the country are asking much the same questions we asked last year, how can we justify fireworks when city employees are receiving salary cuts? The article doesn't mention relief for taxpayers but that's every bit as important, too. They also mention how individuals and private companies have stepped in to save fireworks displays, much like Firewheel Town Center is doing this year. Again, my appreciation to the staff and the businesses at Firewheel for their Star-Spangled Spectacular gift to Garland and our neighbors.