Booming Good Fun
It's Independence Day (aka the Fourth of July) weekend, and you can go practically anywhere in town and stumble upon some sort of joyous revelry.Clearwater Celebrates America falls two days before the holiday itself. Gather in Coachman Park on July 2 (301 Drew St.) at 4 p.m. and enjoy jazz concerts by Mindi Abair and contemporary saxophonist Steve Cole. While you groove, buy a snack from the food vendors on site and then go out with a bang at the fireworks show, beginning at 9:30 p.m. (727-562-4800)
The Dunedin celebration kicks off on July 3. Make your way to Knology Park (311 Douglas Ave.) at 5 p.m. for three musical performances. First is Alias Julius, followed by Impacs and closing with Original Rockers, to be followed by a fireworks display at 9 p.m. (727-733-0429)
In St. Petersburg, on and around The Pier (800 Second Ave. N.E.), every Clear Channel station imaginable hosts live entertainment. 93.3 FLZ presents concerts and family fun starting at 12:30 p.m. Performances include Year Crush and CRE' Three (1-5 p.m.); new talents Ashlee Simpson (Jessica's sister), Brooke Hogan (Hulk's daughter), Mystique and Maria Menna (5-9 p.m.); and Jeremy Thomas Band from 10 p.m. to midnight in the courtyard. MIX 100.7 activities and music begin in North Straub Park (Beach Drive and Fourth Avenue N.E.) at 5 p.m.; and 95.7 The Beat hosts music and activities in Vinoy Park (Bayshore Drive and Seventh Avenue N.E.) from 1 to 5 p.m. St. Pete's fireworks begin at 9 p.m. on Spa Beach and can be viewed from the downtown area and neighboring waterfront parks. (727-821-6443)
The Florida Aquarium (701 Channelside Drive) is the site of Tampa's daylong FreedomFest. Live music and entertainment start in the early afternoon and end with a spectacular Fireworks Demonstration at 9 p.m. (Of course, you can always find a less crowded space nearby on Bayshore or in surrounding areas.)
In Largo, the city celebrates the holiday with activities, entertainment and food at Largo Central Park (101 Central Park Drive), beginning at 4 p.m. and concluding at 9:30 p.m. with a fireworks display. (727-587-6775)
The City of Gulfport hosts an array of activities beginning at 8 a.m. with a kids' fishing tournament at Williams Pier. At 10 a.m., head to the beach for the city's annual sand castle-building contest. Beginning at 2 p.m., enjoy the tropical stylings of steel drum band Island Boys at Gulfport Casino. Watch the city parade wind its way down Beach Boulevard onto Shore Boulevard at 7 p.m. and end your day with a fireworks display, planned for the evening after darkness descends. (727-893-1000)
If you're uninterested in fighting your way through Fourth of July traffic, have fun blowing shit up in your own backyard — but be prepared to run from any straying bottle rockets.
This article appears in Jul 1-7, 2004.