Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

Tusayan's small town Fourth of July celebration: fun for the entire family

Above: Tusayan Fourth of July participants feel the beat at last year’s event. Below: Mother and daughter take part in the parade. Bill Brookins/WGCN<br /><br /><!-- 1upcrlf2 -->

Above: Tusayan Fourth of July participants feel the beat at last year’s event. Below: Mother and daughter take part in the parade. Bill Brookins/WGCN<br /><br /><!-- 1upcrlf2 -->

TUSAYAN, Ariz. - Josie Bustillos, Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce executive director, wants Tusayan's free Fourth of July event to be a celebration of family, friends and freedom.

For that reason, the chamber has gone above and beyond to appeal to the community's kids this year by increasing the amount of games and entertainment in the Kid's Zone.

"We definitely want it to be a big, family friendly event," Bustillos said. "That's always our goal. This is a community event and we want to make it a success for them."

Local Pink Jeep employees will run the Kid's Zone, starting at 11 a.m. The entire celebration will last from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"There will be lot of good old fashioned fun," Bustillos said. "Active games. They really have to play with each other. We have awards for them. No kid walks out without getting something."

The parade, starting at 2 p.m., will feature community-made floats and a Grand Marshal from the Wounded Warrior Regiment in Phoenix.

"We thought a great way to honor them would be to have them in the parade as the Grand Marshal," Bustillos said, adding Pink Jeeps will transport the Marshal down Highway 64.

Bustillos said the chamber encourages kids to participate by decorating their bikes and riding them during the parade.

Kids can either decorate their bikes before they arrive, or do it with the chamber's supply of patriotic accoutrements while they're there. The best-decorated bike wins a trophy.

"We have some really cute stuff for them," Bustillos said. "Stars for their wheels, things like that."

In between dancing to local band Exit 64 and sampling a variety of culinary delights from Sweet Lou Dog Shack, Martha's Navajo Tacos and Big John's Barbecue Shack, parade-goers can bid on silent auction items - like iPads, boat trips, ski trips and hotel stays - then check out some unique northern Arizona artists' work.

Also, local fire agencies will be manning a table at the event, seeking donations for the families of the 19 Granite Mountain Hot Shots, who were killed while fighting the Yarnell Fire in Prescott. All proceeds will go toward the families.

"If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, you have an opportunity to come up, see the Canyon for a few hours, watch a small town parade and actually participate," Bustillos said. "People can come here for the day, and still be able to see whatever else is going on in northern Arizona."

More information is available by contacting Josie Bustillos at (928) 638-2901.

Song and dance

Family-oriented local band, Exit 64, has been known to turn up its amps to 11 for a variety of causes. The trio has played concerts benefiting the Kaibab Learning Center, Rotary and community members with cancer, to name just a few.

This year, Exit 64 will take the stage right after the Fourth of July Parade ends, and play from around 3 to 7 p.m.

Throughout the afternoon, music fans can count on plenty of patriotic songs as well as some original material from the bands debut album coming out sometime in the fall.

"I wrote them acoustically," guitarist Emmons Berry said. "We have a song called 'Stop, Drop and Rock n' Roll' dedicated to firefighters. That kind of stuff."

Since 2001, the Exit 64 has entertained locals and visitors alike with their toe-tapping tunes.

The group is comprised of lead singer and guitarist Berry, bassist John Vail, and drummer Bryan Stone. Vail and Berry are original band members and Stone has been with the group for about four years.

The group played their first gig as a benefit for the families of 9/11 victims and has been going strong ever since, traveling as far away as Needles, Calif. to play.

Celebrating our wounded heroes

Teaming up with the Wounded Warrior Regiment, event organizers will showcase our nation's heroes by dedicating their Grand Marshal seat in the parade to a wounded veteran.

"We wanted to do something different," Bustillos said. "Every year it's kind of a struggle to pick the grand marshal. Who do you choose? What do you do? We have some Marines here that we work closely with like Shawn Shields and Mike Halpin from the airport, so we thought a great way to honor them."

District Injured Support Coordinator Salvador Marquez said if the public would like to donate to wounded veterans, they can contact non-profit East Valley Marine Corp League Detachment 1246 Commandant Rick Schwartz at (480) 332-5439 or servtype@yahoo.com.

The chamber will have donation jars out during the event for the Wounded Warrior Regiment. More information about the Wounded Warrior Regiment is available by visiting www.woundedwarriorregiment.org.

Big eats

Big John's Texas BBQ out of Flagstaff will be dishing its delicious barbecue all day.

The family-owned establishment offers a wide range of mouthwatering treats for meat lovers, cooked and sold out of the back of its custom trailer.

During the summer and fall months, barbecue lovers will often find Big John's BBQ set up in two locations on Route 66 in Flagstaff selling food to locals and visitors alike. The restaurant also has a location in Page.

More information about Big John's BBQ is available by visiting www.bigjohnstexasbbq.com.

If festivalgoers prefer hot dogs and snow cones, Sweet Lou's Dog Shack has the answer. The local restaurateur specializes in a variety of all-American hot dogs, barbecue, and frozen treats to cool down with after an afternoon of dancing. Sweet Lou's is available for catering, parties and events. Interested foodies can call (928) 638-3222 for more information.

Martha's Navajo Tacos will also be on hand at the celebration. A local family runs the business, and this year has come on board as an official vendor.

"We have some great food vendors," Grand Canyon Chamber Executive Director Josie Bustillos said. "I think we have a really great variety. It will be a good old-fashioned Fourth of July."


Donate Report a Typo Contact