Spring Break
The Perfect Holiday
College Times staffIssue date: 7/2/09 Section: Calendar
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THE PERFECT CELEBRATION
CBS Tempe July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival Produced by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe
In the era of economic cutbacks and slashed Fourth of July celebrations, one celebration is going as big as ever - the Tempe July 4th Town Lake Festival.
The main attraction, the
45-minute fireworks display begins at 9 p.m. Bands will play on the main stage beginning with the festival's opening at 4 p.m. Bands slated to play include Calumet, the Joey Arroyo Band, Lil' Debbie & Blue Plate Special and Telescope.
In addition, there will be a splash playground and inflatable village for kids. Adults can suck down some tasty suds in the festival's numerous beer gardens. Non-alcoholic drink options and food will be available, too.
Officials expect crowds in downtown Tempe - both inside the festival and in the surrounding downtown area - to swell beyond 100,000, especially considering several other Valley cities have cancelled their fireworks displays.
Organizers recommend that those coming to the festival arrive early and be mentally prepared for traffic after the event's conclusion. They also suggest considering taking mass transit, such as light rail, or parking at Tempe Marketplace and taking Tempe's Orbit shuttles. Tempe residents are also encouraged to take the neighborhood Orbit shuttles to the event.
CBS Tempe July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival Produced by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe, Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, tempe4th.com, Saturday, July 4, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., $5-$8
THE PERFECT DAY TRIP
Hike, bike & beer: Flagstaff
Perhaps the heat just isn't your thing. Well, then, use the extended holiday to get out of here.
Temperatures in Arizona's highest "big" city - Flagstaff - rarely top the 80s in July, and nighttime lows are in the 40s and 50s.
When most people think of Flagstaff they think of mountain hiking; but if heading into the woods isn't your thing, but you still want to be outside, check out the city's urban trail system.
The city's network of paved and gravel trails are stunningly beautiful; many of them navigate through greenbelts in the city center; keeping you away from the traffic, but allowing you to jump from hotel to bar to dinner without breathing in the fumes of passing vehicles.
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