Red, white and blue spread across the city of Farmington on Wednesday night, as the annual Freedom Days firework display lit up the skies to usher in the Fourth of July festivities.
Crowds gathered at churches, school parking lots, sidewalks, backyards and anywhere they could get a glance at the colorful display.
Counting the number of participants would be hard because of its regional appeal, said Visit Farmington executive director Tonya Stinson.
“It’s a July third tradition,” she said.
Firing off in 1997, the Paxton family started hosting the show after moving from Oklahoma, according to firework technician Brandon Paxton.
“My dad ended up giving the show to my older sister, Amanda, which will be there tonight,” he said. “She's been the one for probably the last 10 years shooting that show, and then she handed it over to me last year.”
This year, Paxton said his family came together for a reunion.
“So we actually don't live in Farmington anymore, but we still make an effort to come down here to do this for everyone down here and we really do enjoy it,” he said.
The show consisted of 154 shells ranging in size from 3 to 6 inches that would reach a height of 10,000 feet, according to Paxton.
With a run time of 17 minutes and 50 seconds, the show itself took two days to set up.
“A lot of people like that big bang,” he said. “It's a small shell, it's only a 3-inch (shell), but it can make a really loud noise.”
Putting on a firework show can be difficult with forest fires and drones taking the place of a show, he said.
“You just don't get that firework sound that feeling and the lights in the sky like a firework does,” he said.
For safety, the Farmington Fire Department does a walk-through mowing spots of concern while also installing a sprinkler system, according to Paxton.
“With a lot of moisture that Farmington has had for the past week, we should be pretty good tonight,” he said “We do get in contact with the chief of fire and make sure we make all of our contacts and get everybody on board for the safety.”
Amber DeAnda and Manuel Graciano sat along College Boulevard with their children, awaiting the display that has become a tradition.
Hard to miss, the family sat with red, white and blue attire and accessories.
The loud and shower-like fireworks were the favorites of the family.
Fourth of July festivities will continue for the family with a firework show at Navajo Dam and the Party in the Park, DeAna said.
Graciano said patriotism means being yourself while also sticking up for yourself.
“I think our community is pretty good. If we need to come together, we come together,” DeAnda said.
Michael Sandoval also sat with his sons along the street with an American flag posted next to him on a truck bed.
Sandoval said his family has always watched the show. Other firework festivities in the region will be a part of their celebration.
With family members in the military, Sandoval appreciates their service and the freedom that comes with it.
Ryan McCoy walked with his daughter to purchase ice cream while wearing patriotic colors.
Moving from Los Angeles to Farmington, he said the larger city setting had a hit-or-miss approach to celebrations.
“I think that's what I love about this place is the fact that everyone does stuff like this,” he said. “Back there, it's really hard because it's such a big city.”
For McCoy, patriotism is knowing the fight for freedom and the saying, ‘land of the free, home of the brave.’
Amber Wisley and Nick Nelson walked alongside the San Juan College Bike Park with their son and dog while waiting for the show to start.
The family traveled from Albuquerque to watch the show for the first time in six years.
Aside from the traffic difference, Nelson and Wisley said Farmington’s small-town vibe is what sets it apart from a larger city.
For Independence Day, the family opted for a day at the farm on the reservation, Nelson said.
As the sun set, spectators turned up their radios to the synchronized bursts of fireworks and ushered in the festiveness of the Fourth of July.
