Great American BBQ lives up to its name

They came in sleeveless shirts, swim trunks and short shorts. They carried coolers, pushed strollers and guided small children. It was the aroma of barbecue, the slippery wetness of waterslides and the grand finale of fireworks that drew them in.

It was, in a word, “great.”

Maricopa’s eighth annual Great American Barbecue event held to celebrate the country’s 237th birthday attracted an enormous crowd that, by night’s end, covered the vast expanse of grass at Pacana Park, leaving almost no green patch in sight.

While city officials didn’t have a crowd estimate on Thursday night, Community Service Director Jennifer Campbell had no problem saying there were “thousands and thousands” that came for the festivities.

“I think it was a great turnout,” Campbell said.

Others would agree.

As Rafael Morales walked out of the park with his family after witnessing a booming barrage of fireworks light up the nighttime sky, he noted the extreme number of bodies packed into the event’s boundaries. 

“It was big,” Morales said. “Way bigger than last time.”

Morales would know. Living up the street – not too far from Pacana Park – his family often frequents the events held nearby.

But city residents weren’t the only ones finding themselves seated on the grass and enjoying the day.

Kim Farrell of Phoenix decided she wanted to enjoy the Fourth beyond the congested celebrations that take place in the Valley. When she learned 100,000 people were predicted to attend an Independence Day festival in her city, she began to look beyond the metro borders.

By 7 p.m. Thursday night, Farrell was planted on a green towel laid in the outfield of a baseball diamond on the park’s northeast side. She watched her son, Stellan, 7, standing in a nearby line awaiting the chance to glide down a blow-up slip-and-slide.

The temperature at the time: 106 degrees.

“It’s a little hot here but we’re having a good time anyway,” Farrell said.

The “here” in her statement had a double meaning – not just Maricopa, but Arizona in general. Farrell moved to the dry desert heat in September, coming from the cold, wet climate of Seattle. While the rain is something she doesn’t miss, the high temperatures did give her some surprise.

“It’s kind of a shocker,” she said.

The heat was also a change for the Schumachers – husband and wife, Erin and Jeremy, with their son, Jackson, 7. All three were visiting family from Illinois and had come out to witness the fireworks display.

As the 9:15 p.m. fireworks start time approached, Erin Schumacher stood with Jackson near the long food vendor lines in the park’s southwest corner. She held three lemonades in her hands while Jeremy waited for the curly fries he had ordered.

“They think I have more hands than I do,” she joked.

She noted that current temperatures back home were mid-to-upper 70s – a “gorgeous” time of year for the Midwest state. However, when it came to Fourth of July celebrations, “There’s not really much around.”

Jackson, who had patriotic colors painted on his left cheek, appeared to be in high spirits, but did comment how his legs were “so tired” from walking around.

Not too far from the food booths sat Carrie Cole and Jeff Stumbaugh, sister and brother, rested in the green grass. They had never attended the Great American Barbecue, although Cole lives in Maricopa; her brother lives in Mesa.

Lying before them were two plates of tasty festival food – a turkey leg and butterfly potato chips powdered with bacon bits and dressed with cheese.

“I’m really enjoying it,” Cole said.