Independence Day Events

LAKE MARY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - It's a blast of excitement for all this Forth of July Weekend and you need to know the up and coming events in your city!   Each year, our Independence Day is marked with glowing skies and thundering booms. But while you shoot your fireworks in celebration, keep in mind some helpful hints:

• Always use fireworks outside.
• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks and be mindful of any bans.
• Always have a bucket of water or water hose nearby.
• Children under 16 should only use fireworks under adult supervision.
• Even if you are not planning on shooting your own fireworks or cooking out in the backyard, check out some of the events happening in your area.

JULY 2

VOLUSIA COUNTY

Daytona Beach

On July 2nd at the Daytona International Speedway there will be events happening every couple of hours starting at 1pm. The day starts off with the opening of the Sprint Fanzone, Q & A with SPEED On-Air personalities Kenny Wallace, JR, and Hermie Sadler. There will be a DJ, performances from Cantastic and various activities in the Kids Zone.

Later in the afternoon at 3 and 4 pm are more concerts, more DJ-ing, VIP experience tours, and Inspection station activity. Congressional Medal of honor recipients will be on hand for autographs. At 5:30 pm Grammy award-winning recording artist Martina McBride will take the stage.

Driver appearances from Michael Waltrip, Brian Vickers, and Greg Biffle are spread throughout.

Closing out the day are NSCS driver introductions and the Coke Zero 400.

JULY 3

ORANGE COUNTY

Orlando’s Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park will be hosting its 2nd Annual 4th of July Bash this Monday. The event features a parade in Downtown Baldwin Park Blue Jacket Parks, a concert at 7pm, and fireworks at 9 pm. Festivities run from 4-10 pm.

Admission for the concert is $5. For any inquiries contact Elizabeth McCarthy at 407-745-9345.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

Altamonte Springs

This Sunday, July 3rd, is the Annual Independence Day Celebration…Red, Hot, and Boom. It takes place at Cranes Roost Park 436 from 4-11 pm.

This free family-friendly features live entertainment and fireworks, bringing out a crowd of 150,000 Central Floridians to Uptown Altamonte and Cranes Roost Park. XL 106.7 FM simulcasts the event on-air, while also bringing world renowned music artists to perform.

Past performers include N’Sync, Kat DeLuna, and Jessica Simpson.

JULY 4

BREVARD COUNTY

Cocoa

Brevard County Parks and Recreation, with the Cities of Cocoa and Rockledge, will sponsor a fireworks display by Zambelli Internationale on Monday, July 4, beginning at 9:15 PM from Lee Wenner Park, 300 Riveredge Boulevard in Cocoa.

Lee Wenner Park will close on July 3 and Riverside Drive will close to in-bound vehicular traffic at 6 a.m. on July 4, in preparation for the fireworks. Spectators should park west of Brevard Avenue starting near Cocoa City Hall and the Post Office.

The best viewing area will be at Riverfront Park and along Riverside Drive, north of Derby Street. There is no cost to attend. For additional information call 321-633-1874.

Melbourne

Running Zone's Race Series is fun and patriotic event to celebrate Independence Day! To benefit the Honor America Liberty Bell Memorial Museum Race Fee: (Before Early Registration Date): $28 (Sign up for series to get discounts) Early Registration Date: July 3rd Race Fee: (After Early Registration Date): $31 For more information call: 321-751-8890.  It begins at 7:15 AM at the Honor America Liberty Bell Memorial Museum 1601 Oak Street Melbourne, FL 32902. For more info visit www.runningzone.com.

A parade will start at 11 a.m. The parade is to begin near the railroad tracks and travel westward on New Haven Avenue to Oak Street, then northward to Honor America's Liberty Bell Museum. Following the parade, from about 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. hot dogs and hamburgers are to be available in a fund-raising lunch at the Liberty Bell Museum, provided by Boy Scouts and AVET Project. The museum will be open for free tours. Entertainment will be provided by J.A.M. Masters DJ Services and Custom CD Specialists. Live patriotic songs will also be provided by Merrie Sofet, and Cynthia Watkins US Army(Ret) from P and W Services. For Additional Information Call: 727-1776.  For more info visit www.honoramerica.org.

Celebrate with us on Independence Day with the traditional fireworks display at the Melbourne Causeway. Bring a chair and join us at Claude Edge Front Street Park for a spectacular show of fireworks. The fireworks display is funded by community donations. For more information call 255-4608. It begins at 9:00 PM at Claude Edge Front Street Park 2205 S. Front Street Melbourne. For more info visit www.melbourneflorida.org.

FLAGLER COUNTY

Palm Coast

The city of Palm Coast is asking residents to celebrate the July 4th Independence Day with flags and not fireworks. The flame of a firecracker could swiftly ignite any dry surfaces in the city and cause a tremendous wildfire. Please help keep Palm Coast citizens safe this holiday.

“By the Dawn’s Early Light”, The City of Palm Coast will be hosting a 4th of July event entitled “By the Dawn’s Early Light”, an annual observance that brings people together to honor our nation’s patriotism.

The program includes musical contributions from the Flagler Palm Coast Starlets, the Flagler Youth Orchestra and soloist Juhlya Willis. Mayor Jon Netts, Palm Coast firefighter James Estes and Ted St. Pierre from the Sons of the American Revolution will all speak to commemorate the holiday.

The event begins at 8 am at Heroes Park on Palm Coast Parkway. For more information, contact the Community Relations Department at 386-986-3708 or 386-986-2341.

LAKE COUNTY

Leesburg

Join the fun as Cecil Clark Chevrolet presents Leesburg's Fourth of July Celebration with baseball, music, free kids' activities and this area's biggest fireworks show.

The patriotic event from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday, July 4, in beautiful Venetian Gardens off of Dixie
Avenue kicks off with a special baseball game between the Leesburg Lightning and the US9 Armed Forces touring team at Pat Thomas Stadium. Following that is a free concert from rock band Hypersona, live entertainment from a patriotic stilt walker, free face painting, and other activities.

Free apple pie and ice cream begins at 7 pm, but there will be food vendors all day. Leesburg's pool at Venetian Gardens will offer free admission from 1 to 8 p.m. Florida's Blood Centers will host a blood drive from 5 to 8 p.m The fireworks display over Lake Harris begins at 9:15 pm.

Tavares

Spend the Fourth of July in Tavares for "Red, White & Blues"! Three bands, a Fourth of July parade, and fireworks in Wooton Park, are just the start of an old fashioned community celebration.

Festivities begin at 3:00 pm in Wooton Park, downtown Tavares, with kid's activities, food vendors and the one-of-a-kind Splash Park! Entertainment will continue featuring melodious "blues" by featured performers, the Nightly Blues Band. Also appearing are the Jimmy Sparks Band and Dixieland Band. All entertainment is free.

The parade will wind down both Main Street and Ruby Street beginning at 5:00 p.m. and will be a fun-filled mix of marching bands, the Tri-City Twirlers, floats and mounted units.

In keeping with this year's theme of "Red, White & Blues", there will be a wine tasting tent offering red, white and "blues" samplings. There will be an admission fee for entering the wine tasting tent and appropriate ID will be required.

The evening concludes with a synchronized light show and fireworks at 9:00 p.m. 

ORANGE COUNTY 

Downtown Orlando

The City of Orlando is hosting "Fireworks at the Fountain" on Monday, July 4th. "Fireworks at the Fountain" is a patriotic celebration of fun, food and fanfare at Lake Eola Park! Enjoy live entertainment and an area just for kids. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., so get there early for a great viewing spot of the fountain and the fireworks! The finale of fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.

New this year, the City will feature the recently renovated Lake Eola Fountain. For the first time, the fountain will feature patriotic water, light and sound show for attendees immediately following the fireworks.

SeaWorld Orlando

You can celebrate the Fourth of July all weekend long at SeaWorld with our amazing Summer Nights activities. Summer Nights starts at 6 p.m. on July 2, 3 and 4 with spectacular evening shows, DJs and live bands, plus amazing fireworks. On the Fourth of July, a special Reflections show at 9:45 p.m. will feature additional fireworks timed to patriotic music, and SeaWorld will remain open until 11 p.m.

On the web: http://www.seaworld.com/orlando/

Universal Orlando

Live music by local band Blue Stone Circle will be performed all night on the Music Plaza stage beginning at 5 p.m. There will be special patriotic character appearances throughout the evening and at 9 p.m., guests can cap off their day with the Universal360 show, featuring movie highlights and music from some of Universal’s most-beloved films.

On the web: http://www.universalorlando.com

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is celebrating the 4th of July at all of their parks. At Magic Kingdom there will be the “Disney’s Celebrate America ! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” at 9 pm. Guests can also watch the show July 3rd at 9pm.

Hollywood Studios’ all-new “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration” fireworks show features a performance from “Mulch, Sweat, and Shears” when the show begins at 9:45pm. Epcot will celebrate with their “Voices of 4th of July Concert” at the America Gardens Theatre and the patriotic finale “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” at 10pm.

On the web: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Winter Park

The nomination of the Downtown Winter Park Historic District (DWPHD) for the National Register of Historic Places was approved by the National Park Service on May 3, 2011. Three events are planned in the coming months to celebrate this prominent historic designation.

Monday, July 4 - Mayor Ken Bradley will lead a special ceremony at the city's 16th annual Olde Fashioned 4th of July Celebration in Central Park. (public event)

The national register is the official list of the nation's historic places which are worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, it is part of a national program to coordinate and support efforts to identify, evaluate and protect historic and archeological resources. The register honors places by recognizing their importance to the community, state or nation.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

Deltona

The City of Deltona invites the public to the 7th Annual Fireworks Extravaganza, on Monday July 4th at the Dewey O. Boster Sportsplex. The free event will begin at 6:00pm, with food, games for the family and music.

The fireworks display will start at 9:15pm and is scheduled to last for 30 minutes, and the event will conclude at 10:00pm. For more information, contact Lee
Lopez/Public Information Officer at (386) 878-8755.

Debary

DeBary families and visitors are invited to the Inaugural “Freedom and Fireworks” Independence Day Celebration. The event begins at 4 pm when games and inflatable attractions open for the kids.

The show itself starts at 4:30 pm with a greeting from Mayor Bob Garcia and a presentation of the colors. It will be followed by performances from local musicians Clyde Harris and Street Talk, Revolution Band, Christopher Cummings, and University High School’s Symphonic Band. At 6 PM the finalists Sabrena Jones, Amanda Melito, “Those Guys” Joellen Wolfson, Shirley Kelly and Steve Hightower, from DeBary Has Talent will peform.

Then the brilliant Southwest Volusia County’s Most Creative Fireworks display will light up the sky at 9:20 pm. Please note if fire ban remains in existence, the firework display will be rescheduled to a future date.

The Independence Day Celebration is produced and coordinated by the Community Partnership Program in cooperation with the City of DeBary and the County of Volusia.

Ormond Beach

Our nation’s 234 years of freedom will be celebrated at the beautiful Halifax Park in Ormond Beach with entertainment and fun-filled attractions free of charge.

Entertainment will stretch from City Hall Plaza across the Granada Bridge to Fortunato Park and south across Granada Boulevard into Rockefeller Gardens. Free shuttle service will be available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The City Hall Plaza will feature Jazz and Blues music by the Danny Silva G & The Boomers (6:00-7:30 p.m.), and The Sauce Band (8:45-9:15 p.m.). Rockefeller Gardens will feature Rock & Roll and Country music by Stickshift Cadillac (6:00-7:30 p.m.) and Big Engine (8:45-9:15 p.m.).

Vendors will offer foods to satisfy every appetite with over 30 varied menu items, ranging from the traditional holiday fare of hot dogs, ice cream, hamburgers and sausages to exotic oriental foods, seafood and an array of barbequed specialties will be available.

Those visiting the Kid's Patriotic Corner at Fortunato Park will be treated to many special features between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. including Glen Foster's Comedy Magic and Juggler Randy Cabral. The kids will be able to play on inflatables, climb a rock wall, and visit with Abe Lincoln, Ben Franklin, and Uncle Sam.

At 9:30 p.m., Fireworks by Santore, Inc., will light up Ormond Beach's sky with breathtaking fireworks above the Halifax River.

For additional information, contact Leisure Services at 676-3241.