Chukars Change July 4th Start Time

The Idaho Falls Chukars and a group of local citizens have announced a plan to put on a Fourth of July fireworks show at Melaleuca Field following the Chukars game against the Ogden Raptors that day. The Chukars have also changed the start time of the Fourth of July game to 5:00 p.m. in order to fit into the fireworks show timeframe better.

The group who raised the funds was formed on Facebook under the title Keep the 4th of July on the 4th. The group raised a large amount of money in about a week, and those funds were matched by Frank VanderSloot of The Melaleuca Foundation. The Melaleuca Foundation is putting on the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration over the Idaho Falls' Greenbelt on July 3rd, because the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday in 2010.

The Chukars will open the gates by 4:00 p.m. for the game against Ogden. Following the game, the gates will be reopened and the public will be welcome to sit in the Melaleuca Field stands for the fireworks show at no cost. Like all Chukars' games, there will be no outside food or beverage allowed during the game against Ogden. The concession stands at Melaleuca Field will remain open for food and full beverage services throughout the break in between the game and the fireworks show.

The show will be significantly longer than any fireworks show previously done at Melaleuca Field. Again, everyone is welcome to enjoy the show from the Melaleuca Field stands, whether they stay after the baseball game or enter after the game at no cost.