Canyon knows how to do the 4th of July. That was apparent from sunrise to well after dark as an estimated crowd of 30,000 showed up for one of the biggest Independence Day celebrations in Texas.
Canyon residents know that to get a good viewing spot of the parade, they need to think ahead. By Friday afternoon, the parade route along 4th Avenue was lined both sides of the street with folding chairs and tent frames ready to be popped up for the Saturday celebration. Pick-up trucks, sitting in parking lots along 4th Avenue, were ready for their beds to be used as viewing stands.
Mescalero Park residents Jim and Christine arrived at 6 a.m. Saturday morning to stake out their spot for eight more family members in front of the Amarillo National Bank. They had come “late” last year at 6:30 a.m. and, “it was really overgrown,” Christine said. “We love it here. We sit and have some quiet (time) before all the craziness starts. It will be fun. It always is.”…