Grants to celebrate
Fourth of July includes parade, vendors

Army soldiers dressed in fatigues walk in the Parade in Grants for the Fourth of July celebration Friday to remind everyone that this a celebration for our country and show their support for American troops overseas. [Independent file photo]

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Two days of fun in the sun with area residents and visitors, in City Hall Park this Friday and Saturday, will celebrate the Fourth of July.

There are more than two dozen vendors who will be selling everything from beadwork to pottery, from hot dogs to pizza and soda pop.

On Friday, following the 9 a.m. Grants Rodeo Wild West Days Parade, events begin in the park in the center of Grants about 11:30 a.m. to noon.

The grand marshals for this year’s parade are: Abe Pena, Paul Milan, Birdye Abraham, Alex Gonzales, Bob Peets and Lee Marmon.

There will be live bands, games for the children and a performance by the Grants High School dance team.
There will also be a beverage tent that will sell beer, said Star Gonzales, executive director of the Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday, performing in the early afternoon is La Raza followed by Over the Limit. Both bands are sponsored by Dancing Eagle Casino. The celebration is planned to end sometime around 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ronnie Martin, 12, of Grants, said he likes the annual celebration in the park.

“It’s fun for everybody,” he said. “I love the vendors, especially the pizza they have there.”

His father, Ronnie Martin, said this is the one time of the year that the entire family — his two brothers in Texas with their families, and his wife’s family — get together and see one another.

“I don’t know about this year though, because of the high gas prices,” he said.

Robert Vandiver, 12, of Grants, also said he likes the celebration.

“I really like the floats in the parade in the morning,” he said. “I like the way they make the floats different.”

After the parade, he said he likes to walk around and look at all the different booths and people.

“The bands are cool too,” he said. “I really like the tortilla burgers and nachos they have every year.”

He said he likes to watch the dancers from the high school and other dancers when they perform as well.

The annual parade begins at 9 a.m., with parade entrants lining up at 8 a.m., on High Street and Wayne Avenue.

The parade then proceeds down Santa Fe Avenue to First Street and north on First to the old Alco building where the parade ends.

Following the parade on Friday, a band will perform at the park, sponsored by the Grants Rodeo Association.
Events

At 11 a.m., the Grants High School JrROTC will perform. At the same time the Cibola County Cinderella representative will greet the public.

The beer tent opens at noon and from noon to 4 p.m., La Raza performs. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Over the Limit band performs.

Throughout the afternoon there will be children’s games including a cake walk, face painting, balloons, child identification kits, seashell jewelry, T-shirts, tortilla burgers, funnel cakes, pottery, jumping bags and the Wild Wolf sanctuary will be present. The same schedule repeats on Saturday with the exception of only one band performing, LP Saxx.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com