Fireworks, reverse parade mark July 4 in Alamogordo

Between a global pandemic and some ominous skies, Alamogordo celebrated Independence Day Saturday.

Although gray skies made a dreary backdrop for the reverse parade, the fireworks began a little after 9:15 p.m. and aside from a surprise finale, went without a hitch.

The entirety of the planned grand finale went up at once, New Mexico Museum of Space History spokeswoman Cathy Harper said.

"We were very near the end of the show when the incident happened," Harper said. "There were several small brush fires that the different fire departments that were supporting the event from all over the county were immediately on. They did a wonderful job."

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The fireworks were launched from the desert below the space museum.buildings.

Several fire departments such as Dungan Volunteer Fire Department were on scene in the event of a fire at the event.

As for the reverse parade earlier in the evening, the parade entrants were set up in the Fairgrounds parking lot as spectators inside vehicles drove by to get a view.

There were not many parade entrants this time and they were spaced out with at least six feet between each group and most were wearing masks.

The parade was in compliance with COVID-19 coronavirus health orders as established by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Entrants included Stack Up Alamogordo, New Heart Cowboy Church, Alamogordo Police Department, Thrive in Southern New Mexico and more.

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Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter