Happy 4th of July everyone! Got anything fun planned for the weekend??? Wellllll, just in case you’re still on the fence about what to do, here’s a rundown of firework displays and celebrations around town on Saturday, the 4th. However you decide to celebrate this weekend, be SAFE, have lots of FUN, and be PROUD to live in this great country – America!
FORT MYERS
•The City of Fort Myers’ Fourth of July festivities include a free fireworks show launched at dusk from a barge in the Caloosahatchee River across from Centennial Park. Centennial Park, Edwards Drive, Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL
• Red White & Boom Celebration Bring the family and celebrate food and drinks, local arts and crafts vendors, a children’s fun zone and a fireworks display. Admission is $1. The celebration begins at 4 p.m. and continues until the fireworks grand finale around 9:30 p.m. (depending on the weather). Live bands perform on the main stage throughout the day and evening. Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral. 549-6900.
•Cape Harbour Great American Picnic Cape Harbour celebrates Independence Day with a tribute to the troops, a patriotic pet contest, arts and crafts for kids, martial arts demonstrations by Jeff Santella’s Street Defense and an apple-pie baking contest sponsored by Pignoli’s (which will also be selling hot dogs and hamburgers). Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Juke Box Hero during the free festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Cape Harbour, 5703 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral. 945-6116.
BONITA SPRINGS
• Star Spangled Bonita Party in the Park As darkness falls, the Bonita Springs night sky will come alive with a laser light show. The eco-friendly display takes place at Riverside Park, near Pennsylvania Avenue on Old U.S. 41 Road. The party starts at 6 p.m. No fireworks will be used. Musical bands include Deb & The Dynamics, Jay Frost & Three Below and Kahlua & Cream. Other events at the Fourth of July celebration include the popular pie-baking and hot-dog-eating contests, children’s games and a waterslide. Refreshments will be available. The artist cottages in the Liles Hotel plaza will be open. For information, visit cityofbonitasprings.org or call 949-6262.
FORT MYERS BEACH
• Fort Myers Beach Fourth of July Parade & Fireworks Miss Florida — Lees Garcia of Tampa — leads the Fort Myers Beach Civic Association’s second Fourth of July Parade. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Beach Elementary School and proceeds along Estero Boulevard north ending at the beach pier. The best viewing area is anywhere along Estero Boulevard to Lynn Hall Park.
At 2 p.m., Miss Florida will be joined by Miss Southwest Florida, Miss Fort Myers, Miss Cape Coral and Miss Naples at a meet-and-greet reception at the Pink Shell Resort Hotel on the island’s north end next to Bowditch Point Park.
Stay on the beach and have fun until the fireworks display at dark at Lynn Hall Park. 462-8798.
SAN CARLOS PARK
• Parade A parade in San Carlos Park starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Sunshine Ace Hardware Plaza at Sanibel Road and U.S. 41. It travels east on Sanibel, south on Lee Road, east on San Carlos Boulevard and north on Three Oaks Parkway, then ends at the Three Oaks Community Park. A free festival starts there and continues until 1 p.m. The band Catalyst will play classic rock and a little country music. There will also be kids games and food vendors. Organizers are requesting donations to help pay for the event.
• Independence Day Parade and Celebration The Naples parade starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Third Street South and Broad Avenue South, turning onto Fifth Avenue and ending near City Hall on Eighth Street South. 213-7113.
• Opera Naples fireworks party Naples’ professional opera company celebrates Independence Day outside The Mansion at the Pier, a brand-new mansion located at 60 12th Ave. S., Naples. Tickets for the fundraiser are $75 and include beer, wine, brats, dessert, a patriotic sing-along and a “front-row seat” for the fireworks. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
There will be plenty of parking nearby at 1250 Gulf Shore Blvd. S., Naples. The event will be both inside and outside. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket.
For reservations, call 514-7464.
SANIBEL ISLAND
• Backyard BBQ The BCMA Merchants Association presents food and beer, cocktail sampling, live music by The Hay Boys, car bashing, mule and wagon rides, a waterslide, photos with Uncle Sam, a dunk tank and giveaways. It all happens from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Baileys Center, 2477 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
•Sanibel Island’s annual fireworks display will begin at dusk. The fireworks are traditionally launched from the northern terminus of Bailey Road.
LEHIGH ACRES
• Lehigh Community Services holds a Fourth of July celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at Veterans Park, 49 Homestead Road S. The patriotic-themed event features food, live bands and children’s activities such as a bounce house, water slides and a snow mountain. Contestants from this year’s Lehigh Spring Festival Idol Contests will perform too. No fireworks. The event is free, but it costs $3 for a wristband to ride the kids rides ($5 for two wristbands).All proceeds benefit Lehigh Community Services’ programs to help needy people pay for food, rent and clothes. For more information, call 369-5818.
• 4 Miler Race. Four-mile, cross-country run starts at 7:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 55 Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres. Pre-registration required by July 3. Entry fee is $18 in advance, $20 the day of the race, $15 for people 17 years old or younger. Call Coach Romero at Lehigh Senior High School, 369-5818.
PUNTA GORDA
• Families are invited to celebrate with games and children’s activities at Fisherman’s Village from noon-6 p.m. The Virgin Islands Band plays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. View the fireworks display over Charlotte Harbor beginning at 9 p.m, Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. 800-639-0020.
• Freedom Swim This year’s Freedom Swim fun swimming event starts at 11 a.m. A discussion with swimmers before the start takes place at 10:55 a.m. Parking is available on the public land on the east side of the north end of the northbound bridge. Landing will be at Fishermen’s Village. As always, the swim is intended to be a fun “happening” rather than a race. Swimmers are responsible for their own safety and support team, public beach at the west side of the north end of the southbound U.S. 41 bridge, Charlotte Harbor. 941-661-5622.
