McALLEN — Last year, they toughed it out at McAllen Municipal Park despite the chilling showers. This Fourth of July, the Santos family scoffed at the sun's sweltering rays as they sipped on cold soda and beer in the shade of a small metal pavilion.

Temperatures reached a record 107 degrees in the city Saturday, and the heat index - the measure of how hot it feels when the relative humidity is combined with the actual air temperature - reached as high as 112 degrees.

The record for the date was previously 101 degrees, in 2005. The average high for July 4 in McAllen is 95 degrees, said Joseph Tomaselli with the National Weather Service in Brownsville.

Despite the baking heat, dozens of families gathered at the park at 1921 N. Bicentennial Blvd., putting up tents, firing up grills and spreading out blankets and lawn chairs on the park's grassy field.

"Sun or rain, we're always here," said Leticia Santos, 53. "It's tradition."

At last year's get-together, Santos' son Freddie had announced his wife, Brandi, was expecting twins. On Saturday, the rosy-cheeked girls crawled and babbled inside a mesh tent with their young mother while Freddie helped his dad at the grill.

The sounds of country, Tejano and rock radio stations mingled with the chatter of families at the park. Parents carted in barbecue grills, ice chests and picnic baskets filled with chicken, fajitas and hot dogs, while dozens of young children and teens climbed the steps of the swimming pool's spiraling blue water slide.

Leticia Hernandez, 41, usually celebrates the holiday at home. But this year, she and her family decided to try out the park.

"We usually just come for the fireworks," Hernandez said. "But we wanted something different."

Her sister's children were cooling off at the municipal pool, where participants would later compete in the Aquafest Water Show, one of several free events the city of McAllen sponsored throughout the day.

Across the street from the park, Ana and Carlos Izaguirre camped out in their backyard, carrying platters of raw meat and refreshments from the back door of their apartment.

Each year, the couple invites their relatives to cook barbecue and watch the fireworks display from the comfort of the Pecan Village Apartments complex, which boasts a perfect view of the evening fireworks display.

"We're so glad we don't have to carry around everything," Ana Izaguirre said. "It must be hot being at the park all day."

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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.