Break out the sparklers, sunscreen and American flags. The Fourth of July is upon us again, along with a bevy of ways to celebrate your independence (and, we hope, your day off).
ST. PETERSBURG
Get Downtown First Friday Music Series
Fri., July 1, 5:30 p.m.
Second Street N and Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
Start off the holiday weekend with music by Al Chisholm and the On Que Players.
4th of July Extravaganza at The Pier
Mon., July 4, 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Phone: 727-821-6443
stpetepier.com
Rock, country, soul, even a banjo band are part of the all-day festivities on The Pier, plus interactive dance video and a comedy hypnotist. Fireworks over the Bay at 9 p.m., compliments of the City of St. Petersburg! 3-D prism glasses provided by Aveda Institute, while supplies last. www.stpetepier.com.
Light Up the Bay
Mon., July 4, 6 p.m.
Al Lang Stadium
230 First St. S., St. Petersburg
Following the pro soccer match between FC Tampa Bay and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, fans can stick around Al Lang Stadium after the game for a great view of St. Pete's 4th of July fireworks. 4 Pack and individual tickets available. Mon., July 4, 6 p.m., Al Lang Stadium, 230 First St. S., St. Petersburg, 813-287-1539, fctampabay.com.
Fourth of July Celebration at the Museum of Fine Arts
Mon. July 4, 6 p.m.
255 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg
The party begins with the museum providing a great vantage point for the city’s fireworks display. Music by Motel Funk, art in the Hazel Hough Wing, gourmet barbecue, iced tea and soft drinks, and a champagne toast, as well as a beer/wine cash bar. $34 for MFA members and $44 for non-members. Call 727-822-1032 for reservations.
TAMPA/HILLSBOROUGH
Independence Day at Channelside
Mon., July 4, 2-10 p.m.
615 Channelside Drive, Tampa
The daylong fest includes the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show, Dragon Boat Races mini regatta, kid-friendly fun, and 20 minutes of fireworks displayed with patriotic music at 9 p.m. See fireworks from Channelside Bay Plaza,Yacht StarShip, The Florida Aquarium, Harbour Island Bayshore Boulevard, Contanchobee Park, SS American Victory Ship, Marriott Waterside Hotel, the Tampa Bay History Center and St Pete Times Forum. The TECO Line Streetcar will shuttle visitors from Ybor and Downtown. channelsidebayplaza.com.
Fireworks and Sunset Cruise on the Bay Spirit II
Mon., July 4, 7:15- 9 p.m.
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Stretch out your sea legs and experience fireworks over the Channel from the Florida Aquarium’s new Ecotour boat, the Bay Spirit II. The 72-foot catamaran has large viewing windows, bar and seating, an air-conditioned lower deck and a covered second floor. The boat will embark on an intimate, two-hour sunset cruise and return to the Channel, where passengers will get a boat-side view of fireworks. There will be a full liquor cash bar, as well as light hors d’oeuvres and coffee. Tickets are $50 per person ($40 for members) and include admission to the Aquarium, parking, food and fireworks. For more information, call 813-273-4568 or visit flaquarium.org.
Extended Hours and Fireworks at the Florida Aquarium
Mon., July 4, 3- 9:30 p.m.
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Take advantage of extended hours, low admission and fireworks at the Aquarium. Exhibits will be open until 9 p.m. Exterior decks and Explore a Shore will remain open until 9:30 p.m., giving visitors a front-row seat for fireworks over the Channel. Tickets are $10 for all ages. For more information, call 813-273-4568 or visit flaquarium.org.
American Victory Ship’s Annual 4th of July Family Funfest
Mon., July 4, 6-9 p.m.
705 Channelside Drive
The ship, located next to the Channelside firework barge, will offer arts and crafts projects, music, face painting, and contests and prizes for children. Mickey’s Peanuts will provide an assortment of food options, and there will be a beer and wine tent. Tickets go on sale June 1 and are $12 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. They can be purchased at ticketweb.com, 866-468-7630, or aboard the ship.
Lutz Independence Day Parade
Mon., July 4 at 10 a.m.
Oscar Cooler Park
770 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road
What is more apple pie and traditional than a Fourth of July parade? The "Lutz: Home Sweet Home" parade includes 80-100 units of firetrucks, bikes, cars, floats, candidates, scout troops, belly dancers and martial arts performers. The parade goes from Oscar Cooler Park to Lutz Lake Fern Road. Free.
Temple Terrace 4th of July Parade and Festivities
Mon., July 4, 10 a.m.
Festivities include a 2-mile parade, variety of festivities, food, live entertainment and fireworks. The parade route begins at Whiteway Drive and Gillette Avenue, travels south on Gillette to Druid Hills Road, then turns west to Ridgedale Avenue where it will turn south and disperse in the parking lot of Temple Terrace Elementary School. The evening event begins at 7 p.m. at the first fairway of the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club, 200 Inverness Ave. The band Shout entertains with '50s and '60s music from 7 to 9 p.m., and singers with Masque Community Theatre of Temple Terrace perform. For more information, call the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce at 813-989-7004 or write to ltice@templeterracechamber.com.
GULFPORT/GULF BEACHES/SOUTH PINELLAS
Rockin' Red Glare
July 2-4
104th and Gulf Boulevard
Treasure Island Beach
If you're wondering where to make a weekend of it, head to T.I. Their three-day Independence Day festival begins at 4 p.m. Sat., July 2, kicking off with blues and southern rock from the Single Malt Brothers Band and Sarasota Slim. On Sunday, Caribbean Cowboy gets you in the summertime mood at 3 p.m., and the Elton John tribute band, The Rocket Man Show, featuring frontman Rus Anderson as the famed performer, busts out costume changes and all the necessary flamboyance at 6:30 p.m. The beach's Seaside Cinema, screens a free movie on the beach at 9 p.m., showing the PG-rated How to Train Your Dragon. On Mon., July 4, surf rockers The Tridents perform at 1 p.m., Tropical Disturbance plays ska and reggae at 3 p.m. and the Rebel Pride Band kicks out the down-home American jams at 7 p.m. Activities for kids include The Hippo, a large inflatable water slide — 175 feet long and nearly 40 feet high — from 10 a.m. to sunset. Arts and crafts vendors sell stuff, and a food court will be open all three days. Shows are free. Beach parking is $10 per day; parking entrance at 112th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. Additional parking on July 4 only at the Treasure Island Community Center lawn for $5, and in the Community Center lot for $4. The Treasure Island Community Center is at 106th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard, behind Walgreens. 727-547-4575, ext. 237, online at mytreasureisland.org.
Gulfport 4th of July Centennial Celebration
Mon., July 4, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
The all-day festivities begin with a Kid’s Fishing Derby at the Recreation Center seawall, 8-11 a.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m..) followed by a Free Family Sand Sculpture Contest on Gulfport Beach, 10 a.m.-Noon (registration at 9:30 a.m.). Enjoy an auto show and arts and crafts fest all day, and at 6 p.m. the community parade makes its way down Beach Boulevard to the Gulfport Casino, ending at Shore Boulevard and 58th Street South. At 9 p.m., fireworks off of Gulfport Beach along Shore Blvd. S. close out the day. Free open air trolley from 4-11 p.m. will pick up passengers from remote parking spots. 727-893-1118.
Red, White & Boom
July 1-5
TradeWinds Islands Resort
St. Pete Beach
TradeWinds Islands Resort is celebrating the holiday weekend with a five-day special package. Enjoy three-night accommodations at the Island Grand and the Sandpiper Suites, an All-American barbecue buffet, Stars & Stripes beach party, carnival games and a live DJ. Grab your red, white and blue gear for Uncle Sam’s Most Patriotic contest. Popular ongoing resort activities include dive-in movies, glow-in-the-dark volleyball, miniature golf, the Splash Island Waterpark and the High Tide Slide. Guests will experience a special fireworks display on the Gulf of Mexico at the Island Grand on July 3, and have a great view of the City of St. Pete Beach’s fireworks on July 4. The package begins at $531. For reservations, call 866-587-8538 or visit JustLetGo.com.
CENTRAL PINELLAS
Freedom Fest
Sun., July 3, noon
Town Square Plaza Park
5120 81st Ave. N., Pinellas Park
See country music headliner Darryl Worley, who's best known for his 9/11 elegy, "Have You Forgotten?" and partake of a family fun zone. Stay for the big fireworks finale.
Largo 4th of July Celebration
Mon., July 4, 7-10 p.m. Largo Central Park
101 Central Park Drive, Largo
This one has some rules: No alcohol, coolers, pets or personal fireworks (not even sparklers) permitted. Limited on-site parking available for $5. Park and walk from Largo Middle School and Largo High School. Parking is not permitted in surrounding neighborhoods. See fireworks at 9 p.m.
NORTH PINELLAS
Clearwater Celebrates America
Mon., July 4, 4-10 p.m. Coachman Park
301 Drew St., Clearwater
Family-friendly activities and the Mostly Pops Orchestra get folks in a patriotic mood until a finale featuring one of Tampa Bay's biggest fireworks displays.
Fourth of July with the Clearwater Threshers
Sat., July 3
Brighthouse Field
601 N. Old Coachman Road, Clearwater
See the Clearwater Threshers take on the Lakeland Tigers, and stay for "A Tribute to America," a 16-minute firework and video presentation. web.minorleaguebaseball.com.
Capitol Classics: Yankee Doodle Dandy
Tues., July 5, 7:30 p.m.
Capitol Theatre
405 Cleveland St., Clearwater
In the spirit of the Fourth, the theater will screen the 1942 musical Yankee Doodle Dandy. The three-time Academy Award winning film stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie and Walter Huston. General admission tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office, by calling 727-791-7400 or visiting atthecap.com.
July Fourth Parade in Safety Harbor
Mon., July 4 at 10 a.m.
Main Street and Second Avenue North, Safety Harbor
The Auxiliary Unit of American Legion Post 238 in Safety Harbor presents its third annual Fourth of July parade to salute America, veterans and citizens currently serving in the Armed Forces. Festivities will follow at the Post, located at 900 Main St. Free.
Tarpon Springs July 4th Boat Parade
Mon., July 4 at 7 p.m.
Dockside Sports Bar and Grille
37611 U.S. N, Palm Harbor
Tarpon Springs digs into its nautical roots for this Fourth of July boat parade. Hundreds of boats and their crews are expected to compete for best decorations, best costumes and other wacky awards. Stick around Dockside for the post-parade party. Price: Free.
This article appears in Jun 16-22, 2011.
