SEATLLE -- As the final explosions cascaded over Lake Union and the echos of John Phillip Sousa faded away, a cheer rose up from the thousands of people packed into Gas Works Park.
It was a fitting finale to a day that was sometimes in doubt, both in the weather, and in the show itself.
"Been out here since 10 o'clock this morning," said Oscar Brown, who was caught in an afternoon downpour at the park. "I was only wet on one side, because I wouldn't move, stayed on one side, then I got this garbage bag from the guy who picks up the trash."
A group of women dressed up in red, white, and blus Spandex summed it up this way:
"We're not quitters, we care. We care, it's the fourth of July. It's going to rain regardless," said one. "It's Seattle, you just step up to the plate."
"It's un-American to stay home," said the other.
With the cloudy and chilly weather, it was no surprise the consistently longest line at the 2010 Family Fourth was the one at the espresso booth.
"Did not expect this," said vendor Marcy Alonzo "[But] it's raining, it's Seattle, we need coffee."
"It's Seattle" seems to be not just the excuse for the weather, but the reason people can see this show that almost wasn't.
"I'm glad someone stepped in and picked up the slack," said Dan Stearn, who was there with his toddler son Porter, "because I think this is an important celebration that needs to take place."
"Someone" includes Jennifer Shea, who owns Trophy Cupcakes. She was one of 300-plus donors who stepped in to save the Lake Union tradition after Chase Bank dropped its sponsorship. In 24 hours, an impromptu fund-raiser on KING-5 radio partner KIRO-FM raised the $500,000 needed to keep the show alive.
On this afternoon, Trophy employees were hosting a cake walk for young children, and handing out free pastries to all participants.
"It being community-supported is a huge deal," Shea said, noting that her first store is in the same neighborhood as Gas Works Park. "I mean, I look at it differently, and I think a lot of the families we've talked to today just feel like they want to be here because they know that it was saved by all these business owners in Seattle."
All this, so 2-year old Porter Stearn could see his first Family Fourth.
"Some day, he'll know what it's really all about, Independence Day and all that, but right now we're just here to see some fireworks, listen to some good music," said Dan Stearn.
Starbucks is organizing a clean-up effort on July 5th for the Wallingford neighborhood. A spokeswoman said they already have more than a thousand volunteers signed up.
