Food trucks, kid activities and an expansive fireworks display await the Crescenta Valley community.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Members of the Crescenta Valley Fireworks Association are working hard as they prepare for the Fourth of July Star Spangled Celebration at Crescenta Valley High School. The longtime traditional hometown Independence Day fireworks celebration costs $50,000 to bring to the community.

“We know there are a lot of people who host Fourth of July parties at their homes and then watch the fireworks [display]. We want them to know that we need their support to [allow] the show to continue,” said Robert Wollenweber, president of the CV Fireworks Assn.

For those wanting to attend the event at the field at Crescenta Valley High School, they can expect more food trucks and more things for kids to do than last year.

“People can come, set up their [seats], have dinner and then kids will have more games and rides to entertain them as they wait for the fireworks,” Wollenweber said.

Tickets for the event are $9 for pre-sale, $10 at the door, and kids under 7 years old are free to attend.

For years the audience for the fireworks would set up their lawn chairs and blankets at La Crescenta Elementary School while the fireworks were set off from CVHS. There were no restrictions on seating because the seating area was grass; however, due to the construction at the elementary school, the CVFWA had to make a move to the high school field. The artificial turf at the high school is not as forgiving as the grass at the elementary school, and the surface can be damaged by chairs and umbrellas that can poke through the turf. Ticketholders for the fireworks show are asked to bring blankets to sit on the field or chairs that have rounded legs that will not damage the ground. There will also be a limited number of seats on the school’s bleachers.

Coolers are allowed but only water can be brought onto the field. Alcohol is prohibited on school grounds. Coolers will be subject to a search.

“These are rules set by the school not the CVFWA,” Wollenweber added.

There will be picnic tables arranged in the parking lot on Ramsdell near the field’s entrance providing everyone with a place to sit while enjoying dinner from their favorite food trucks.

Tickets for the fireworks show are available at Bob Smith Toyota, 3333 Foothill Blvd., J’s Maintenance, 3550 Foothill Blvd., CV Chamber of Commerce, 3131 Foothill Blvd., Ste D and CV Weekly, 3800 La Crescenta Ave. Envelopes to make donations to the CVFWA are included with this week’s paper.

  Mary Okeefe