The rush and bustle of the twenty-first century stood still for a few hours Monday morning as horses, bicycles and vintage cars took over the village of Corrales in a traditional Fourth of July celebration.
Riders wore cowboy hats, or bikinis, cyclists came dressed in patriotic colors and funny hats and the horses came in all sizes. From a muscular gray draft horse named Guss drawing a hefty wagon, to miniature horses the size of St. Bernard dogs, pulling tiny carts.
Despite the heat, crowds packed Balloon Fiesta Park on Monday afternoon for the Freedom Fourth celebration. Organizers said they expected as many as 60,000 people. (jim thompson/journal)
But the rush and bustle made a comeback in late afternoon and early evening at Balloon Fiesta Park, as the city of Albuquerque’s Freedom Fourth celebration got under way in earnest. Crowds flowed in steadily after about 6 p.m., and city officials said they expected as many as 60,000 people for the fireworks show.
Besides the fireworks, the event included kids’ games, food vendors and live music.
Many in the crowd were repeat visitors, drawn by the fireworks display.
“When the big ones go off, you can really feel it,” said Gilbert Graue of Rio Rancho.
Fire concerns played a big part this year, too.
Mark Griego took a Park and Ride bus to Freedom Fourth from Coronado Center with his wife and three children. He said the family normally buys fireworks to use at home on the Fourth of July. Not in drought-stricken, fire-laden 2011.
“This is the safest way to go this year,” Griego said, while waiting for the bus.
The Park and Ride was popular. Hundreds were queued at Coronado by 6:30, waiting about a half-hour for a seat.
The Corrales parade featured Boy Scouts and bagpipers, men dressed as Continental soldiers and a contingent of historic re-enactors wearing Civil War garb.
Delone Fuglseth of Albuquerque and his colleagues from the 22nd Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers travel the country participating in events like the Corrales parade. They were dressed in Civil War-era clothing — wool from head to toe — and looked just a tad warm under the blazing New Mexico sun.
As the temperature rose, roadside vendors did a brisk trade in ice cream and cold drinks. And folks at the Farm Depot, a local business, thoughtfully set out generous-sized red and blue buckets of water for pet visitors.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal
Photo Credit – DEAN HANSON/JOURNAL
Cutline – Boy Scouts from Troop 714 hold their flags while relaxing before the start of the Fourth of July parade in Rio Rancho.
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