Host of family activities draw 4th of July revelers to Salute to America

Fireworks light up the sky Saturday for the annual Salute to America Red, White and Boom show for the Fourth of July. The show lasted for about 15 minutes as attendees stared up at the sky from their chosen viewing positions.
Fireworks light up the sky Saturday for the annual Salute to America Red, White and Boom show for the Fourth of July. The show lasted for about 15 minutes as attendees stared up at the sky from their chosen viewing positions.

As Saturday afternoon wore on and entertainment began to take stages in downtown Jefferson City, more and more people arrived to enjoy the Salute to America Festival.

Judging by his naked eye, attendance appeared to be down a little bit year-over-year from 2019, said David Thompson, the festival committee chairman.

Despite a possible dip in volume, food vendors were eager to set up Saturday, Thompson continued. And the lines outside food vendors' sites also appeared to be growing through the afternoon.

Although attendance started out slow, shows like the Birds of Prey exhibit caused families to stop their strolls and spend a few minutes in the sun. Naturalists from the World Bird Sanctuary brought live raptors on stage to demonstrate for onlookers.

The sanctuary, which started in 1977 as the Raptor Rehabilitation & Propagation Project, sits on more than 100 acres at Valley Park. Its mission is to preserve biological diversity and to secure the future of threatened bird species. It is now open to the public. More information is available at worldbirdsanctuary.org.

Viewers got to see a hawk, kestrel, owl and bald eagle. WBS repeated the program a few minutes later at another stage, nearer to the Capitol.

Barbara Rock and her daughter rode their bikes downtown to take care of a few errands but decided pause for a few minutes to take in some sights.

Rock spoke in the street with Ronnie Howell, who carried his ball python, named Houdini as he walked through the streets. Then, she let Houdini wrap around an arm.

Houdini seemed to like her, Rock said.

At another stage, Professor Farquar and Pole Cat Annie entertained families with their folksy music and a few magic tricks.

Among them was Julie Pape, with her three children Lilly, 2, Augie, 3, and JoJo, 4.

The children fidgeted and tugged to get from one place to another.

"Three kids tend to keep people at bay," Pape said.

Carla and Jerry Wheeler arrived downtown for the festival early Saturday. They said they didn't mind that it wasn't too crowded. They also said it's a great time to celebrate the nation's birthday.

"We're just up here enjoying the Fourth of July American style," Jerry Wheeler said. "It's a time to celebrate all the comforts we have in this country."

Carla Wheeler said she appreciates that the festival is in a historic part of the city.

Jim Davis, of Mexico, said he enjoys being in a place where he can talk to a number of people.

The moment they all waited on was the Red, White and Boom fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.

Three hours early, veterans of the Fourth of July celebration were carving out their spots for the event.

Seven-year-old Dominic Schaffer's family set up a little camp on the highest steps of the State Supreme Court building, looking out over the Capitol lawn a couple of hours before the display was set to begin.

"I want to watch the new fireworks," Dominic said, and added, "Patience don't hurt you."

Schaffer's family said it surprises them that he likes the fireworks because he doesn't like loud noises.

But, fireworks are the exception to the rule, Dominic said.

Meanwhile, out on the Capitol lawn, DanaLee Blain with her fiance, William Hatley, and cousin, Brittany White, reclined in chairs on a quilt. They sat in shade in their spot.

Blain, who is 45, said her mother brought her to see the fireworks at the Capitol every year since she was 4.

They often set up their chairs on the Missouri River side of the Capitol.

This year, they wanted to be on the lawn.

"It's a perfect view, and it's flat and level," Blain said.

"Woo! Woo!," 12-year-old Major Scott warmed up his voice, cheering as festival sponsors' names were read over a loudspeaker in the Carnahan Memorial Garden before the actual fireworks started going off late Saturday night.

He was among other children, young and old, who enjoyed Red, White and Boom.

Three-year-old Monserrat Vertiz-Hernandez giggled gleefully and ran in place as the first of the big blasts rumbled the sidewalk along Capitol Avenue where she stood.

"It's cool," her 12-year-old brother Giovanni said, "because it's loud and all that."