The cities of DeSoto and Lancaster joined again to give the citizens of both cities a fantastic 4th of July.  The event was held at the Community Park located behind the Lancaster Recreation Center.  The events started around 6pm with FREE Helicopter Rides and it was well worth the ride for the hundreds who stood in line for the chance to take the 5 minute ride.  The line at times there were over 100 waiting. 

There were several bands playing up until the start of the fireworks show.  Newly elected Mayor Marcus Knight welcomed everyone, acknowledged DeSoto's mayor Bobby Waddle and the DeSoto City Council as welll as Lancaster Coucil members and was soon off to worked the crowd making sure that everyone was having a fabulous time.  

There was a petting zoo for the children, pony rides and the hugh inflatable slide that at any time was packed with fun seekers.  The wind was a bit high and left the Hot Air balloons grounded but only for a while, about 7ish you could see he formation of the hugh hot air ballooon and soon the line was over 200 standing and growing.  The face painters did double duty with faces and balloons with a long line.  The jugglers walked and worked the crowds with their amazing tricks and games.

As I made my way to the car once the fireworks started to try and get a jump on getting out of the park, we weaved through thousands of people.  People had been bussed from the Lancaster High School and that parking lot was to capacity, but what was so beautiful was to drive down Lancaster Road and see, there were cars parked all the way passed Cedar Valley College almost to I-20. 

I estimate this event drew into the ten thousand range of people,  who came out to experience how we have fun in the Best Soutwest.