Firework Extravaganza!

A WHOLE NEW SHOW FOR THE FOURTH!
Tailgating, live music and fantastic fireworks!

It’s a whole new show for the July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday, July 4, at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Changes include allowing VIP parking pass holders to tailgate in the parking lots of the museum, the band “Timberwolf” entertaining from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm and a half time show from Overstreet TaeKwonDo Academy. Early entry onto the museum grounds will begin at 6:00 pm, with overflow parking in the NMSU-A Science Center lot. Buses will be provided to shuttle people from NMSU-A’s lot to the museum grounds.
“It’s going to be a fantastic Fourth of July program this year, especially with spectators being allowed to stay with their vehicles in the parking lots at the Museum. This is the first year people will get to tailgate and enjoy live music. We’re also very pleased that NMSU-A has decided to partner with us this year and provide overflow parking,” said Museum Director Randall Hayes. NMSU-A joins the City of Alamogordo, the International Space Hall of Fame, Burt Broadcasting and the Museum as co-hosts of this community event. The City and Foundation provide the $33,000 in funding for the fireworks display, which is put on by Atlas Enterprises of Fort Worth, Texas.
The agenda for the evening has changed from previous years, due to the addition of “Timberwolf,” a popular local band that features a variety of music from country to rock and roll to original productions. Highway 2001 will open to VIP parking pass holders at 6:00 pm on Saturday, July 4, and the band will begin at 7:00 pm. VIP parking pass holders will be allowed to stay with their vehicles in both large museum parking lots. When both Museum parking lots are full, overflow parking will begin at NMSU-A’s Science Center. Buses will be available to shuttle spectators to the Museum grounds. No one will be allowed to remain with their vehicle in the NMSU-A parking lot. A limited amount of personal belongings will be allowed on the buses.
Tailgating will be allowed in the lots at the Museum, although charcoal grills are banned for fire safety reasons. At approximately 7:45, the Overstreet TaeKwonDo Academy will be performing. The presentation, a series of forms by students, will be highlighted by a board-breaking event that is a fundraiser for the Families Apart program at Holloman Air Force Base. David Overstreet has set a goal of breaking 70 boards in 49 seconds. Members of the Academy have been taking pledges for this fundraiser for the past several weeks. Following this special activity, “Timberwolf” will take the stage again until 9:00 pm. The Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 pm. All events are weather permitting. A back up date of July 5 has been scheduled.
Members of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation, museum volunteers and staff, along with friends of the museum will be invited to attend the Fireworks Extravaganza. Randall Hayes, Museum Director, said, “The invitation to attend our annual fireworks display is probably one of the favorite benefits of Foundation members. It’s a wonderful evening of family relaxation, and you can’t get any better seats to the show!” Those with VIP passes pack up their car with friends, family, lawn chairs and dinner, then settle in on the Museum grounds for the choreographed show. Parking is limited at the event. Those who receive VIP passes and are unable to use them are requested to return them to the museum. Passes are non-transferable. Letters of invitation and passes were mailed June 12.
As in years past, music for the fireworks program will be carried live on KZZX Radio, 105.3 FM, through the support of Burt Broadcasting. “We certainly appreciate the assistance of Burt Broadcasting each year for the Fireworks Extravaganza,” commented Hayes. “The event is much easier for the general public to enjoy when they can tune in to the same music we’re hearing on site, and KZZX always does a great job.”
The Museum grounds will be closed to the public following the 5:00 pm movie at the Clyde W. Tombaugh Omnimax Theater. Patrons of the 5:00 pm showing will be asked to leave the grounds immediately following the conclusion of the film. Because of safety concerns, the general public is not permitted to remain on the Museum grounds during the Fireworks Extravaganza. Only those with Museum VIP Parking Passes will be allowed onto Museum property after the grounds are closed. However, the show may be viewed from almost anywhere in the city.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information on Museum related activities or on how you can become a member of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation, call 437-2840 or 1-877-333-6589, or visit the website at www.nmspacemuseum.org.