The Melaleuca Freedom Celebration was ranked the second best budget-friendly family getaway for July 4th Fireworks in the United States, according to Trivago.
This year will be a 31-minute show that will shoot off 17,550 shells, which is approximately ten shells per minute, according to the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration website.
With such a large event, safety is the city of Idaho Falls’ top priority.
June 22, the Idaho Falls Police Department issued a press release detailing safety reminders and parking protocol for the event.
“The IFPD asks residents and visitors to exercise patience during the holiday, according to the press release. “Drivers should also slow down, relax, concentrate, and make the choice to obey all traffic laws and special holiday parking and traffic restrictions.”
According to the press release, the following streets and parking areas will be closed or interrupted during the holiday:
- Memorial Drive, from Broadway to “E” Street will be closed to vehicle traffic July 3 at 6 a.m. Memorial Drive will remain closed until the morning of July 5. This will accommodate the Liberty Festival on the Falls.
- No parking allowed on Riverside Drive from “E” Street to U.S. Highway 20 July 4. Riverside Drive will close to vehicle traffic July 4 at 6 p.m. It will remain closed until pedestrian traffic clears and the fireworks display has ended. Pedestrians may use Riverside Drive during this closure. An emergency vehicle lane will be created on Riverside Drive. It must remain clear for emergency response vehicles during the 4th of July celebration.
- No parking permitted around Civitan Park beginning 48 hours before the fireworks. Thus, parking along Elva from Riverside Drive to Jefferson Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and “I” Street from Elva to Temple Place will be closed to parking until after the fireworks. Any vehicles or RVs parked in this area will be towed at the owner's expense.
- Beginning at 6 p.m. July 4, no motorized traffic will be permitted on Jefferson Avenue and “I” Street, from Elva to Temple Place. No motorized traffic allowed until the firework show is complete and pedestrian traffic has cleared. Additionally, parking in this section will close 48 hours before the fireworks. Only pedestrian and bicycle traffic are allowed during the closure.
- June 27 through July 5, River Parkway will close to all vehicle traffic north of the Driftwood Hotel to U.S. Highway 20.
- No parking is not permitted on U.S. Highway 20 on the grassy areas from Science Center Drive to Saturn Ave. before, during or after the fireworks. This includes all interstate entrances and exits in this area. Vehicles parked in these areas will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- After approximately 6 p.m. July 4, the Lindsay Boulevard, Riverside Drive and Science Center Drive exits from U.S. Highway 20 will close to help reduce traffic. After 6 p.m., northbound traffic must take the Lewisville Highway exit before turning back into Idaho Falls.
- When the firework show begins, the northbound ramp at exit 119 on Interstate 15 will close.
- Only eastbound traffic will be permitted on “E” Street. This will reduce fireworks-related traffic.
- A handicap-only parking area will be created on the “island” on Riverside Drive next to Vissing Circle.
- This year's parade route is the same. The route will travel west down Fourth Street to Holmes, turn south on Boulevard and end at Tautphaus Park. IFPD asks drivers to use extreme caution and be aware of increased pedestrian traffic in the area.
- The 17th Street and Boulevard intersection will be interrupted twice July 4. First, for the 5K run and again for the 4th of July parade.
In its 24th year, the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration will once again honor our great country with one of the nation’s largest firework displays. Don’t miss out on this amazing firework spectacular.
To learn more about 4th of July activities in Idaho Falls, visit http://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/city/4th-of-july.html.
AJ Rupp is the head content writer at Manwaring Web Solutions, an Idaho Falls SEO and web design company. AJ graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2015 with a degree in Communication, and his work has been published by prominent outlets, including Idaho Falls Magazine, Deseret News and Sports Illustrated.