The Accelerated Learning Academy football field was alive with lawn chairs, kids running around and the aromas of frybread and fireworks smoke as hundreds of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members braved the summer heat to celebrate the 4th of July.

Food trucks Frybread Riot, Tacos Huachi and Ice Surrender provided food options available to purchase for hungry and thirsty attendees, who lined up around the fence waiting to order. Hot dog and hamburger meals were available at no charge.

“The food trucks were a hit, which was awesome,” said Events Assistant Kym Tyler. “We’re glad people had a variety of food choices to purchase other than the free food, which was out in an hour.”

To cool off, everyone enjoyed free watermelon slices donated by Rousseau Farming Company, which leases farmland from the Community. In total, 2 pallets (40 to 60 watermelons) were donated. Casino Arizona donated 30 cases of water for thirsty attendees.

Throughout the evening, kids jumped around in large bounce houses and tried throwing the ball at the target at the dunk tank, where SRPMIC President Martin Harvier, Council member Jacob Butler and Salt River Royalty took turns escaping a watery fate inside the tank.

Kids also enjoyed face-painting and carnival games. The real fun began when they participated in the watermelon-eating contest. To win, you had to be the first one to eat the watermelon slice down to the rind. The winner of the contest was Martin Osife-Reid.  

Following the watermelon-eating contest was a chicken wing–eating contest for adults. The contest was quite the spectacle as family members surrounded the contestants, cheering them on to eat the wings down to the bone. The winner was Adrian Jim Sr., who downed 20 wings.

As the sun went down, DJ Jermatik and Waila Style 87 kept Community members active and dancing the night away.

At 9 p.m., a single firework shot up into the sky to let everyone know that the big show was about to start. Community members were amazed by the dazzling light display that followed. The grand finale was met with cheers and claps on the dark football field, which was lit only by Community members holding up promotional glow sticks that were handed out by the SRPMIC Community Relations Events team.