This weekend, communities across southwest New Mexico will celebrate the birth of our nation with a range of festivities — including large events set to take place at Gough Park on Monday, July 4, itself.
The Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce will kick things off Monday morning at 8 in Gough Park with a breakfast prepared by the Kiwanis Club that includes scrambled eggs, sausage and a drink for $7. The flag will be officially raised in a ceremony at 9 a.m., with Keana Huerta singing the national anthem, and the Independence Day Parade will begin near the park at 10 a.m.
The parade theme this year is “America the Beautiful,” and Chamber leaders expect at least 100 entries, along with 62 vendors in Gough Park. The number of vendors has almost doubled since last year’s event.
“We have the Illusion Band that will be performing at 11 a.m., and the Silver Stompers will be performing a dance routine,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Romeo Cruz said. “At about 2:15 p.m., we will have the Siempre Band closing out the day.”
Park festivities will take place until 6 p.m., and a Kiwanis beef barbecue lunch will also be available for $10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“I was talking to park officials — they do this every year, and they are expecting, especially with this size, 7,000 to 9,000 people,” Cruz said. “It’s going to be a big show — our parade route is returning to the original.… Last year, it was changed due to the COVID requirements.”
The parade will start at Pope and 13th streets, and will turn left on College Avenue, right on Bullard Street, left on Broadway and make another left on Hudson for a return trip to Gough Park.
“We’re excited for this event. We hold this every year,” Cruz said. “We’re especially excited how people have turned out to want to be involved in this, and be involved in the parade and be a vendor. We support all local businesses, and we support the tourism here — this is great for Grant County.”
The Silver City Museum will hold its annual Ice Cream Social on Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two outside food vendors will be available, the Mint Chip Creamery and La Bonita Bakery, and hot dogs and other refreshments will also be offered in-house from the museum. Live music will be performed from a tent behind the museum with four live performances, and children’s activities, including crafts, face painting and games, will also be available.
“This is the 38th year that the museum has presented the Ice Cream Social for the public,” said Museum Director Bart Roselli. “It’s a great event for everybody, young and old.”
The Silver City Museum timed its event so that community members could enjoy the parade and events at Gough Park before ending the day at the museum.
“People have been asking whether we’re going to bring the cake walk back or not, and it’s definitely back this year,” Roselli said. “Dozens of volunteers in the community have baked a cake or [otherwise] given us a cake.”
They are anticipating a total of 40 donated cakes, according to museum Community Engagement Manager Sarah Zamora, who said they are still accepting more cake donations. To donate a cake, call the museum at 575-538-5921 and ask for Zamora.
A town-sponsored fireworks show will take place 30 minutes after sunset July 4, and will be launched from the Southwest Concrete and Paving plant behind the Grant County Administration Building.
“We were trying to do the same size show as we did the last couple of years,” said Silver City Town Manager Alex Brown. “Because of all the sourcing issues throughout the country we couldn’t get as much, but it’s still going to be a really nice show.”
The Silver City Fire Department will bring in additional personnel this year to ensure nothing goes wrong with the show, according to Brown.
To the north, Glenwood will host their Fourth of July Weekend at the Glenwood Park this year, starting Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight with a rodeo, art auction and dance. Sunday will see a pancake breakfast, followed by a dance and BBQ; and things wrap up Monday, July 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. with a veterans’ parade, dance and pulled pork sandwiches, and fireworks will fill the sky after dusk.
“Once you get through the first couple of years, it’s an annual event, and folks look forward to it,” said Glenwood Park board member Mark Sprague. “The ranch rodeo has a lot of teams that want to enter — it’s really turning into a fun event for everybody. It’s run well and it’s a good time. It’s a family time, and we just enjoy it.”
—JORDAN ARCHUNDE
