Large crowd packs stadium for Clovis Freedom Fest

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Waving American flags, family and friends sat around in the heat as they waited for the big Fourth of July show in Clovis. Some played cards and basked in the sun, while others hid under tents and used portable fans with misters to stay cool.

But it was the music that kept the party going well before the fireworks took over. And the line dancing had Tammy Velasquez re-living all the memories she made at this annual event since the age of 15.

"There's not a stranger out here, even if you don't know someone you get to know the people around you and it just really connects the community together."

But the Clovis Freedom Fest almost didn't happen-- back in April a major corporate sponsor dropped out and the Clovis Kiwanis had to let everyone know it could not carry on the tradition because of a lack of funding. That was until the Clovis Veterans Memorial District stepped in a few weeks ago.

"Our elected board said there's no way the 4th of July is not going to be celebrated in our Valley, and by God, they went out and said we're making it happen," said Lorenzo Rios, Clovis Veterans Memorial District.

Blake Cappa is glad that they did-- at his young age, he knows the importance of this day.

"We signed the Declaration of Independence and became a country."

But Cappa said the pyrotechnic display adds to the celebration.

"The big ones that explode in the sky rockets those are cool."

Hours later Cappa and thousands of others saw just that-- when 4,600 fireworks lit the night sky. A performance that reminds people how great our country is.

"It's always the ending grand finale-- saved the best for last-- everything just sparks up it was beautiful," said

You could just see it on people's faces as they walked out how happy they were to be able to be there for Freedom Fest.

Now organizers said they expected about 12,000 people to come and I can tell you it was a packed crowd.