This Arizona city has celebrated July 4th with fireworks for over 100 years. See the photos

Fourth of July in Arizona is hot, but the colorful parades and brilliant fireworks shows have always gone on in spite of it.

Tempe has commemorated the holiday with citywide celebrations since at least 1887 when the city was just 10 years old.

Residents planned to light off a large fireworks show from the top of Hayden Butte with pieces like an American flag and a portrait of George Washington when things went awry. John Myers wrote about the event in his 1957 book, "Story of Tempe."

"Nobody was afterward quite clear as to what happened. … At all events there were loud explosions, the yells of men scrambling for cover and skyrockets going every place but up in the sky … and the scandalized audience watching from below the butte, saw the Father of His Country standing on his head," he wrote.

While the fireworks displays are less haphazard these days, there are still plenty of celebrations to enjoy around metro Phoenix.

Don't have any plans for Independence Day? Don't worry. There are lots of Fourth of July events in metro Phoenix .

20 Independence Day events in metro Phoenix

Anthem's Independence Day Celebration: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Phoenix. Free. onlineatanthem.com/events .

Apache Junction's Independence Day celebration : 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Superstition Shadows Park, 1091 W. Southern Ave., Apache Junction. Free. 480-983-2181, apachejunctionaz.gov .

Light Up the Sky Independence Day Celebration in Avondale: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. Free; VIP passes are $35-$55 (free for kids under 3 years old). 623-333-2400, avondaleaz.gov .

Buckeye's Independence Day Celebration: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Buckeye Airport, 3000 S. Palo Verde Road. Free. 623-349-6364, buckeyeaz.gov .

All-American Bash in Chandler: 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. Free. chandleraz.gov .

Fourth at the Fountain in Fountain Hills: 7:30-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. Free. experiencefountainhills.org .

Gilbert's 4th of July Celebration: 4-9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Road. Free; parking is $15 per car, VIP tickets are $30 per person, free for children 2 and younger. gilbertaz.gov .

Westgate Entertainment District Firework Fest in Glendale: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. 6770 N. Sunrise Blvd., Glendale. Free. westgateaz.com/event/america .

Star Spangled Fourth in Goodyear: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way. Goodyear Recreation Campus, 420 Estrella Parkway. Free. goodyearaz.gov .

Great American 4th in Maricopa: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Copper Sky Regional Park, 44345 West MLK Jr. Blvd., Maricopa. Fireworks event is free. Pool party costs $10 for Copper Sky members, $20 for nonmembers, free for age 3 and younger. ga4th.com .

Arizona Celebration of Freedom in Mesa: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. Free. azcelebrationoffreedom.com .

All-American Festival in Peoria: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave. Free; VIP is $45 for age 3 and older. peoriaaz.gov .

Fabulous Phoenix 4th in Phoenix: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. phoenix.gov .

Hometown 4th party at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek: 4-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. 24810 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek. From $39.99 plus fees per car, VIP $125 plus fees. 480-987-3100, schnepffarms.com .

Surprise's Independence Day Celebration: Thursday, July 4. Surprise Community Park, 15960 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. Free. 623-222-2000, surpriseaz.gov .

Tempe's 4th of July Celebration: 4-10 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $12, $5 for children 5 and older; free for age 4 and younger. VIP tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for age 5 and older. tempe4th.com .

Red, White and Choo Choo Independence Day in Scottsdale: 4-9 p.m. Sunday, June 30. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. $15, $5 for ages 3-12, free for 2 and under. 480-312-2312, therailroadpark.com .

Splash and Sparklers at the W Scottsdale: 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday, July 4. Wet Deck at the W Scottsdale, 7277 E. Camelback Road. $29.98 for general admission. 602-405-0099, cottontaillounge.com .

4th of July Celebration at WestWorld in Scottsdale: 5-9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. From $20. scottsdale4th.com .

July Freedom Fest at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: July 3-6. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Drive. 480-585-4848, scottsdaleprincess.com .

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This Arizona city has celebrated July 4th with fireworks for over 100 years. See the photos