Stanislaus State prepares for return of July Fourth fireworks

Predictions for July Fourth say the sun will be sizzling, the grass golden and slightly crunchy. But as the sun goes down and color fades from the landscape, the focus will turn skyward as free fireworks once again light the night above California State University, Stanislaus.

“We are delighted to again host this longstanding event,” said university spokesman Tim Lynch. “We are pleased that the Chamber of Commerce and the city have taken the lead role in bringing it to the campus.”

Turlock’s Fourth begins at 8 a.m. with a Downtown Property Owners Association street fair and market at Central Park, Golden State Boulevard and Main Street. The Fourth of July parade starts its Main Street march at 10 a.m. The street fair winds up after lunchtime.

At 7 p.m., the festivities start at the university campus on the north side of town, though savvy fireworks fans will have unfolded their chairs and blankets long before. Barbecues, alcohol and outside fireworks are not allowed, but picnics are welcome, according to the Stanislaus State website.

The launching area has shifted, moving the prime viewing area away from the amphitheater where longtime fireworks watchers had all but deeded property with elaborate markers for saving spots.

For those contemplating off-campus viewing, organizers said they asked the pyrotechnics providers to aim higher this year, making the display easier to see around town. The first booms should be rumbling when it gets dark, around 9 p.m.

Prime viewing this year will be in the center of campus, just south of campus housing and west of Warrior Lake. A kids zone provided by the city of Turlock will be up and running in the southeast quadrant of the large grassy field.

Just in case, a Red Cross and American Medical Response first aid station will be in place in front of Fitzpatrick Arena, notes a university map viewable at www.modbee.com. Athletic fields and the stadium are closed for the event.

Parking restrictions on surrounding streets begin Friday. Monte Vista Avenue in front of the campus will be closed starting at 6:30 p.m. After the event, surrounding roads may be designated one-way, with uniformed officers directing traffic.

Last year’s event drew an estimated 20,000 people to the Stanislaus County Fairground in west Turlock. The Chamber of Commerce raised more than $30,000 to pay for the display, said retiring chamber President Sharon Silva.

“I am so glad that we were able to work it out,” Silva said.

The event was held at the Turlock campus for 24 years, often with live orchestral arrangements booming along with the fireworks. Mid-recession, in 2010, the event was canceled. In 2011, it took up residence at the fairground.

But with the fair beginning July 10, it seemed a good year to approach the college, Silva said. “It was time to get it back,” she said. “The university has really opened its doors.”

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Stanislaus State prepares for return of July Fourth fireworks."