The 2009 4th of July fireworks shows in Phoenix and Tempe promise to be some of the very best places to celebrate Independence Day. While some cities have been forced to cut back or cancel 4th of July fireworks, tens of thousands are expected to watch fireworks at Tempe Beach Park and at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix.
If heading to Tempe or to Phoenix to watch the 4th of July fireworks, light rail and or the bus will be great options for thousands of people. Here is some 4th of July parking and transit info for saving time (and money) on your ticket.
At Tempe Beach Park, there will be live entertainment, games and activities for kids, rock climbing walls and face painting prior to the fireworks show. Gates open at 4 p.m. on a first come first serve basis for lawn seating. VIP tickets are available if you prefer to be pampered. Discounted tickets are available at Fry’s ( $6.00 ) and at City of Tempe outlets ($5.00 ) and will be $8.00 at the gate or $15.00 for two. Blankets, portable chairs, personal cameras and personal umbrellas – up to 48” are permitted. Only manufacturer's sealed containers of water (1 gallon / per person) will be allowed inside the venue. No food or coolers allowed. Entry is free for anyone showing a current military ID.
Tempe Beach Park is located just a block North of the light rail station at 3rd Street and Mill Avenue. The City of Tempe is making access as easy as possible for the 4th of July.
At Steele Indian School Park, the FREE festivities are listed as being from 6-10 p.m. According to the City of Phoenix, “This premier family event will feature great local entertainment, a giant misting area to cool off, inflatable rides, three stages of entertainment, a Classic Car exhibit and one of the biggest fireworks displays in the state! Festival goers also can enjoy food and beverage vendors. The Phoenix Fire Department will be cooling people down in the water spray zone.” For the Phoenix July 4th festivities you can bring blankets to enjoy the show and fireworks from the grass. Coolers are permitted, but no alcohol or glass containers. No pets. No skates or skateboards. People are encouraged to bring plenty of cold water but food and beverage vendors will be on site. For both Independence Day events, ( Tempe and Phoenix) you should expect large crowds.
To access Steele Indian School Park via light rail you will want to use the stations at Central and Indian School Roads with signage that says “Steel Indian School Park” OR there is a light rail stop at Central and Campbell just North of the park.
Enjoy your July 4th holiday and bypass all fare vending machine lines by purchasing your all-day pass in advance. Metro is offering a pre-validated pass for July 4, 2009 that will be valid for that date only. An all-day pass provides unlimited service for the day. Heck, you could easily “party-hop the two events! Pre-validated July 4th all-day passes can be purchased for $2.50 online at www.valleymetro.org until Saturday, June 27 and will soon be available at Central Station and at the Tempe Transportation Center. Online sales will be mailed to the recipient. Central Station at Central Avenue and Van Buren is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tempe Transportation Center at Fifth Street and Forest Avenue is open Monday – Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. July 4th all-day passes sold on or after July 1 at transit centers will cost $3.50.
Remember, fireworks in Tempe and in Phoenix might not begin until approximately 9:30 pm. Thankfully, the light rail cars should be running until 2 a.m on Friday and Saturdays.
If you have never taken the light rail, don’t forget to check out our frequently asked questions page for more information. Remember, the park and ride lots are free to use. If coming from the East Valley, there is a park and ride lot at the 101 and Apache and at Sycamore and Main. From the North or West Valley, the most convenient park and ride lots will probably be 19th Avenue and Camelback or Montebello and 19th Avenue. You can also check out our light rail map to familiarize yourself with the areas.
*Update* If you decide to visit one of the other shows around town, take a look at the list of 4th of July Fireworks shows from our friend Jay.
*Update #2* More information for the 4th of July Festivities:
Our family has attended the festivities at the Tempe Beach Park for years. This year, our experience will be 100% improved – just by taking the rail. Each year, we typically wait a couple of hours to just get out of the parking garage. Not this year – light rail here we come! See you there?
I bet you never see a tow truck in the lite rail park & ride lot…
Jay – If I see a tow truck in the P&R lot, I’ll be making 2 phone calls – one hysterical call to RailLife and then to you to help me get my car back 🙂