Fourth at the park

Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

M.J. Willard of Clovis serves a volleyball as her family kills time Monday afternoon before the Smoke on the Water fireworks show at Greene Acres Park.

Greene Acres Park wasn’t as green on Monday, as its grass was overshadowed by a sea of red, white and blue.

According to event organizers, Clovis’ annual Smoke on the Water event drew spectators by the thousands. But the fireworks display was merely the explosive finale to the Fourth of July celebration.

The holiday festivities kicked off at 8 a.m. with a 5k run in downtown Clovis, followed by the Curry County 4-H Lamb and Goat Jackpot. The celebration at the park extended into the night for the dazzling pyrotechnics.

Leading up to the fireworks was a pre-launch party complete with live musical performances, food, vendors, and plenty of kid-friendly activities like a rock climbing wall and a bouncy house.

The community-sponsored event, held by Rooney Moon Broadcasting radio stations in conjunction with the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, was made possible by more than 85 local businesses and individual donations.

Pre-launch party host Jeff McNaughton, more commonly known as Mix 107.5 radio personality Duffy Moon said the event costs about $25,000 every year with $20,000 covering the fireworks.

“The rest of it goes toward the ancillary things,” McNaughton said.

He estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 people were expected to attend the event throughout the day.

“On a year like this when Fourth of July is on a Monday,” he said, “and folks have to be back at work the next day, we’ll have a bigger crowd.”

Some attendees began setting up their spots as early as 5 a.m., like Clovis resident Steve Logan and his family.

Claiming a picnic area right by the edge of the lake, the Logans said they’ve been coming to the event for 16 years as part of a family tradition.

Although Logan is a fireman who could technically handle firework mishaps, he said he was there off-duty to relax, barbecue and enjoy the show with his family.

“My favorite part about Fourth of July is the food and the fireworks,” Logan said. “I like the loud ones that make the really loud bang.”

According to McNaughton, this year’s 18-minute fireworks show had nearly 900 fireworks — the largest one consisting of a 6-inch shell and reaching 600 feet in the air. He said the grand finale, a crowd favorite, had roughly 280 fireworks shot off in the span of about three minutes.

The fireworks display was coordinated by Western Enterprises, Inc. out of Albuquerque and required three main road closures to allow for the fireworks shooters’ setup.

The fireworks show choreographer and designer Gary Caimano said he has more than 35 years’ experience designing fireworks displays but has been involved in pyrotechnics all his life.

Caimano said preparation for a Fourth a July event typically takes six months.

“It’s not just showing up and shooting,” he said. “It’s a collaborative effort. It takes a crew of about six people.”

While he’s shot off all kinds of fireworks, his favorites are ones that change color several times in the sky and have a longer duration.

“Some aerial effects are loud and bombastic,” he said, “and others are soft and gentle and majestic.

“It’s all just beautiful.”