Santa Paula’s Fireworks Spectacular
lives up to its name for 4th of July

July 08, 2015
Santa Paula News

Santa Paula’s Independence Day/4th of July Fireworks Spectacular lived up to its name with an air show that brought families out to jam favorite viewing spots, a huge crowd to Harding Park — a.k.a. pyrotechnics ground zero — and to scores of celebrants to private parties Saturday evening.

The barrage of fireworks was one of the longest shows yet: “Thirty-seven minutes,” Michele Johns told guests at her hillside home, a statement backed up by the time she set on her smart phone. 

But the words were barely out of her mouth when a last firework went off.

“Thirty-seven and a half minutes,” she noted.

Michele and her husband Rod Johns were hosting a gathering that had been a coveted auction item at the annual Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula dinner.

Among the lucky bidders Saturday was City Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi, the co-chair of the Fireworks Committee who was busy watching the fireworks.

“It’s going real well,” said Gherardi. “All the fireworks are going well,” she laughed, alluding to the illegal fireworks being shot off throughout the city.

There was a lot to look at from the Johns balcony as the sanctioned fireworks shows at Fillmore High School, Ventura Community College and Oxnard Harbor were also visible…but the main show was at Harding Park.

Last week Fireworks Committee Co-Chair Al Guilin said he and his wife Jo Ann were planning to “load up the pickup truck with the grandkids and go watch the fireworks,” at Harding Park.

The Fireworks Spectacular lived up to its name with almost 40 minutes of pyrotechnics that filled the sky above the city with the “bombs bursting in air” that represent the Colonies’ successful fight to create a free nation.

Others throughout the city were lighting off fireworks illegally but there were no major incidents although guests at the Johns thought they saw a small spot fire that apparently was quickly extinguished on the south side of the Santa Clara River.

Fireworks remained on sale in Fillmore through Sunday; the only city in Ventura County where the so-called Safe and Sane state approved pyrotechnics could be sold with the caveat that they are set off within Fillmore city limits. Possession of or firing off any fireworks in Santa Paula is illegal and can result in fines up to $1,000 and even jail time.

The Santa Paula Fireworks Spectacular is a community-funded celebration supported by businesses as well as individuals.

It cost about $15,000 for the annual show, which due to the Great Recession was cancelled by the city in 2009 but revived in 2010 by the Fireworks Committee.

The committee and the City of Santa Paula co-sponsor the event with the help of the Santa Paula Rotary Club.

Fundraising is ongoing and if you would like to make a donation send it to Santa Paula Rotary - Fireworks, P.O. Box 809 Santa Paula, CA 93061. Be sure to mark Fireworks on the memo line.





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