Lighting up the July 4 sky

Primary colors will decorate the Kiwanis’ Fourth of July celebration; splashes of red, white and blue set aglow by glittery fireworks, will fill up Overlook Park July 4. The spectacle, which gathers together about 15,000 people, has been held for 30 years. Its origins started around the 1960s and began with a man interested in bringing a Fourth of July celebration, like the one from his home town, to Los Alamos.

“My home town had one and I thought it was too bad we didn’t get everybody together and celebrate like we did in my home town,” club member Steve Stoddard said.

This desire led him and others to begin work on an Independence Day event. Stoddard said he and another Kiwanis member traveled to different businesses, asking for a $50 donation to purchase fireworks. In its early history, the Fourth of July celebration also included a guest speaker.

Stoddard added the Elks were influential with keeping the event going and the Sunrise Kiwanis Club members also managed the event for several years before the club folded.

As the years went on, Stoddard said the event got bigger and bigger and more expensive to run.

As it got bigger, it attracted more attention. “A lot of people are enjoying it, besides people in Los Alamos,” he said.

If you subscribe to the newspaper, you receive FREE access to all the exclusive content of the web site! Simply register to receive uninterrupted access to our award-winning and in-depth local online content!

Renew Current or Past Subscription / Register for Online Subscription

If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Los Alamos Monitor, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.

Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.

Newspaper Acct. ID:
Street Address:	(exactly as it appears on the label)

If you are a subscriber and you do not know your account ID or don't have a copy of your newspaper available that shows the information on the address label you can click continue below to search for your account.

New Subscription/30 Day Free Trial Account

If you are new to the award winning Los Alamos Monitor and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.

ZIP Code:

Create a limited access account.
Register to participate in community forums, post on the community calendar, blog etc. This registration does not give you full access to read our award winning content, etc.

The Los Alamos Monitor | lacirculation@lamonitor.com | 505-662-4185
256 DP Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544
Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday