It is the 239th anniversary of our independence from the colonial rule of Great Britain, and we all know what that means; fireworks! From the backyard celebrations (that are frowned upon by local law enforcement) to the huge professional displays all over the country, the Fourth of July is one of the best reasons to go out and see explosives light up the whole sky!
Numerous communities all over the Palm Beaches are planning patriotic displays this year. Below is a listing of some of the larger ones.
West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach will continue its SUMMER IN PARADISE program of free family-friendly activities and events with a three-day patriotic weekend to celebrate the 4th of July. The City of West Palm Beach invites residents and visitors to celebrate Independence Day at three fun and free events July 3 – 5, 2015 throughout the City. This exciting event line-up will offer a variety of entertainment and activities including fireworks, concerts, food, agility games, kid’s activities and much more.
The city’s Northwest Neighborhood will host BBQ, Brews & Blues on Friday, July 3, a lively event in this historic community where guests can sample for free southern soul food and craft beers while taking in live music from local and national blues artists. 4th on Flagler, South Florida’s largest outdoor Independence Day celebration, is on Saturday, July 4 on the West Palm Beach Waterfront with tons of music, food, and activities for the whole family with the fireworks extravaganza at 9:00 p.m. And on Sunday, July 5, a new patriotic event will debut on the West Palm Beach Waterfront. War Games is an exciting and rigorous fitness battle at the Meyer Amphitheatre that pits the military branches against each other while guests cheer on their favorite participants and teams. Details for all city events follow below:
BBQ, Brews & Blues
Friday, July 3, 2015
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Northwest Neighborhood; three blocks north of Clematis Street
Guests can savor free samples of southern soul food with everything from pulled pork and stewed okra to peach cobbler and sweet potato pie along with tastings of 10 craft beers, while supplies last. Live blues music will be performed by local blues band, The Natty Bos, and famed, Grammy Award-winning artist, Sugar Blue. Guests can also join in on the making of a giant, paint-by-numbers, glow-in-the-dark, blues-themed mural and other family-friendly activities. Trolley service will be available from downtown West Palm Beach to the corner of Rosemary and Banyan and free parking is available at the event site.
BBQ, Brews & Blues is produced by the City of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
4th on Flagler
Saturday, July 4, 2015
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
West Palm Beach Waterfront; Flagler Drive
This free, outdoor event is the largest Independence Day celebration in South Florida with more than 100,000 guests expected. A spectacular fireworks show will fill the sky for 18 minutes of pyrotechnics synced to music, lighting up the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway starting at 9:00 P.M.
4th on Flagler features three stages of entertainment with concerts, a patriotic ceremony and kid’s entertainment. The Meyer Amphitheater stage will feature local favorite, Pocket Change, the 13th Army Band from the Florida National Guard, Atlantic recording artist, Jacquie Lee, and Chemradery, a local pop/rock/soul band. The Palm stage features country acts including The Redlands, The Silver Spurs Dance Team, Samantha Russell and the Andrew Morris Band. The Post Park stage will have tons of kid-friendly entertainment with DJs spinning tunes all night and giant puppets by Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre. For a complete schedule, visit: http://wpb.org/4th-on-flagler/entertainment/.
Other activities include a military honor ceremony, a giant flag unfurl, a kid’s area with crafts, chalk artists, and food and drink vendors. This is also the last day of glow-in-the-dark mini golf and The Pool, an interactive light sculpture, on the West Palm Beach Waterfront presented by the city’s Art in Public Places Program.
Guests can purchase tickets for the private Club 4th. This 21-and-older party hosted by 97.9 WRMF is back again from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Lake Pavilion. Club 4th includes two complimentary drink tickets, dinner catered by Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a DJ playing all of the best party jams, an air conditioned space with private bathrooms and a private terrace to view the fireworks on the Waterfront. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased at club4thtickets.com.
4th on Flagler is produced by the City of West Palm Beach Park and Recreation Department, Community Events Division. Sponsors include: City of West Palm Beach Art in Public Places Program, Bathcrest, Budweiser, Coca Cola, Discover The Palm Beaches, Maui Wowie, Pollo Tropical, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Southern Waste Systems, Storm Tight Windows, The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Town of Palm Beach, St. Mary’s Medical Center, West Palm Beach Marriott, Potions in Motion, Northwood Village, Northwest Neighborhood, Downtown Development Authority, Visit Palm Beach, Skybike, WPBF 25 NEWS, SUNNY 107.9, WIRK 103.1, X 102.3 and 97.9 WRMF.
War Games
Sunday, July 5, 2015
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Meyer Amphitheatre, Downtown West Palm Beach
This rigorous fitness competition, debuting in West Palm Beach, pits the branches of the military against each other in a patriotic test of strength to see who will earn bragging rights. The CrossFit-style event consists of teams and individuals performing highly functional and demanding tasks illustrating how skilled and tough our armed forces truly are. This physically grueling competition also offers divisions for “Civilian Elite Athletes” and “Average Joes” as well as an “Adaptive Athlete” division.
Guests will also enjoy an impressive display of military operation vehicles, bag pipers, kid’s activities and more. Proceeds will benefit 22 Until None, an organization standing up to the suicide rate of veterans, which currently is 22 lives per day, and I Am Adaptive, an organization raising awareness for the adaptive movement. For more information, visit www.WarGamesUSA.com.
War Games is produced by Crazytrain CrossFit, Wheelhouse Branding, and the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. Presenting sponsors include: South Beach Orthotics and Prosthetics and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Other sponsors include: City of West Palm Beach, Sapporo, Mark Gonsenhauser Rug and Carpet Superstore, Espolon Tequila, RPM Ropes, WOD Life, Steve’s Paleo, Caffeine and Kilos, Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach, Center for Bone and Joint, Bandbell Bars, Lalo Tactical, Hylete, CORA Rehabilitation, Marc Pro, D-Dey Response Group, the PBC Firefighter Benevolent Fund, The Biostation, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar and Grease Burger Bar.
Palm Beach Zoo (West Palm Beach)
Safari Nights: Independence Day Beach Bash!
Join the zoo for “Independence Day” Night on Friday, July 3. There’s fun for guests of all ages!Children’s Entertainment, Character Meet ‘n’ Greets, Games, Eco-Crafts & More!For children, fun activities include:
**Games
**Crafts
**Prizes & Giveaways
**DJ Dance Party hosted by Noisy Neighbors DJs
**Face Painting
**Dress to Match the “Independence Day” Theme to be entered to win a $150 Palm Beach Zoo Prize Pack (Winner will be drawn at the end of the Safari Nights Series in August 2015)…Fun for everyone includes:
**Roving Animal Encounters
**Keeper Talks & Training Sessions
**Dinner Specials in the Tropics Cafe
**Interactive Fountain Fun
**Photo Ops with the Zoo Crew’s Costume Characters (weather dependent)
**”Independence Day” Themed Photo Ops Throughout the ZooPricing for “Safari Nights” is as follows:· Zoo Members Free
· Non-Member Adult (13 and older) $15.95
· Non-Member Child (3-12) $9.95
· All Children under 3 Free See More
Flagler Museum (Palm Beach)
For more information on becoming a Member, or upgrading your Membership, please e-mail Member Services or call (561) 655-2833
Greenacres
Delray Beach
Be HOT HERE at Delray Beach’s coolest event of the year, the July 4th Celebration. Located on A1A and Atlantic Avenue, this free event will feature back to back live music from Progression, a reggae band and Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band!
Family activities will include the Kool 105.5 Splash Zone featuring an Air-mist tent and water games, a Kid’s Corner hosted by the Avenue Church & Sunflower Creative Arts with face painting, craft activities, sidewalk chalk and more. Adults can cool down at the Chill Lounge by Vista BMW or at the Beer Garden hosted by Burger Fi, Caffe Luna Rosa, and Boston’s on the Beach. We’ll also have a custard eating contest for kids and a burger eating contest for adults courtesy of Burger Fi.
New this year is the Patriotic Golf Cart Decorating contest hosted by Exhilaride Golf Cart Rentals. Vote for your favorite as you walk into the event. Golf carts will be lined up on Atlantic Avenue near Federal Highway.
Be sure to sign up for the sand sculpting contest hosted by the HOW Foundation and challenge your friends to a game of putt-putt at the Putt’n Around mini golf course. Countdown to the coolest fireworks show in South Florida with a Lip-Sync battle hosted by @TheZRock. Fireworks begin at 9pm and launch from the North end of the beach and are simulcast by Wild 95.5.
Extend your stay in Delray Beach this July 4th Weekend! Book with our Host Hotels: Marriott Delray Beach & Cranes BeachHouse Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas.
By 1 p.m., portions of Atlantic Avenue east of the Intracoastal Waterway and portions of State Road A1A near Atlantic Avenue will be closed in preparation for the 3:30 p.m. flag-raising ceremony featuring representatives of the U.S. military.
Live entertainment on the main stage starts at 4pm and continues throughout the evening.
Of course, the highlight of the celebration is one of South Florida’s largest and longest fireworks shows, put on by Zambelli Fireworks and synchronized to music available on Wild 95.5.
The 20-25 minute show will feature more than 500 unique shells that are guaranteed to produce oohs and ahs from the crowd.
This year, the fireworks will be launched just north of the Delray Beach Marriott.
Delray Beach’s July 4th schedule
8:00am – 12 Noon – Sandcastle Contest on the beach hosted by the HOW Foundation of South Florida
3:30pm – Flag Raising Ceremony (Atlantic Ave and Venetian Drive)
3:30 – Patriotic Golf Cart Decorating Contest hosted by Exhilaride Golf Cart Rentals
3:30pm-9:30pm – Bike2 The 4th – Bike Valet
4 – 8pm – The Kids Corner hosted by The Avenue Church & Sunflower Creative Arts
4pm – 8pm Kool 105.5 Splash Zone
4:00pm – 5:30pm – Progression, a reggae band
5:30pm – Burger Fi Custard Eating Contest for kids
5:45pm – 6:15pm – Burger Fi Burger Eating Contest for adults
6:30pm – 8:30pm – Jimmy Stowe and the Stowaways, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band
8:45pm – 9:00pm – Lip Sync Battle Countdown Show hosted by @TheZRock
9:00pm – FIREWORKS show launching from the north end of the beach
BIKE2 THE 4TH – Bike2 the 4th thanks to Human Powered Delray. Leave your car at home and ride your bicycle to the event. Free Bicycle Valet Bike racks will be available at no charge and the Human Powered Delray staff will be there to watch your bike.
PARKING – Handicap parking will be available at the north and south ends of the SR A1A closures near Vista Del Mar and Miramar Street on a first come, first served basis. Handicap vehicles must have placards and registration when approaching checkpoints. The public is urged to park in Downtown Delray Beach and take the Downtown Roundabout or walk to the beach.
For complete details, please visit www.JulyFourthDelrayBeach.com.
To find out more about what else Delray Beach has to offer this summer and to learn about hotel holiday specials, visit www.visitdelraybeach.org/hot and look for travel specials and packages.
Five Ways to Best Enjoy Delray Beach’s Fourth of July Celebration:
Bring a beach chair
Wear comfortable shoes
Bring sunblock
Park west of the Intracoastal Waterway
Stay hydrated
Lake Worth
Lantana
July 4th Celebration
Bicentennial Park | 7-4-15 | 6pm
We’ll kick off our annual 4th of July celebration in style at Bicentennial Park! Join us for live music, most patriotic baby contest, food vendors, fireworks and more! Its always a great time!
Boynton Beach
Join friends at the Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks Department’s Senior Center, 1021 S. Federal Highway, for a 4th of July Celebration. The event will take place on Thursday, July 2, 2015 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Enjoy great music by The A.N.T.H.U.M. Jazz Band and free refreshments. Free for members, $2 for non-members. Non – members of the Boynton Beach Senior Center will need to obtain a guest pass if they wish to attend.
For more information please contact the Senior Center at (561) 742-6570(561) 742-6570 or follow us on Facebook (boyntonbeachrecandparks) and Twitter (@boyntonbeachrec). For information about Joey Dale and his performance place visit joeydaleproductionsinc.com.
The City of Boynton Beach is celebrating the 4th of July in style by presenting a FREE community event at Intracoastal Park. Enjoy live music and family entertainment from 6:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
The first band to perform will be The New Horizon Band from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. The band was formed a mere five years ago but they have a sound that will make you want to move like you did when you were a teenager with feet tapping and hands clapping. The members of the band have a wide range of talent and have opened for artists including Percy Sledge, Archie Bell and the late, great B.B. King. The eight member band includes bass guitar, drums, guitar, keyboards, saxophone, and trumpet and they’ve been playing all over Palm Beach County, including at Sunfest, Art Festival Belle Glade, Jazz After Dark and Jazz on the Avenue.
The second band is set to perform at 7:30 p.m. and again at 9:20 p.m. immediately following the fireworks (until 10:20 p.m.). Big Night Out will be performing their own beautiful blend of Latin, Island and R & B. Big Night Out features a powerful horn section and grooving conga, which add to the commanding vocals of Frank Alverez.
Over the past decade, Big Night Out has become one of southwest Florida’s most in demand dance bands. The band’s lineup includes the area’s top musicians and we are proud to welcome them to southeast Florida and the Boynton Beach July 4th Festival. Big Night Out is sure to get us east-coasters rocking and rolling to lively music.
Food and beverage vendors will also be on site throughout the entire event. Continuous activities are planned in the Kid’s Corner including arts and crafts, a petting zoo and a watermelon eating contest. Limited seating will be available and spectators can bring their own blankets and chairs. The evening culminates in a spectacular, musically-choreographed fireworks display at 9:00 p.m. sharp.
Intracoastal Park is located at 2240 N. Federal Highway, just south of Gateway Boulevard and overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the Boynton Inlet.
A free park and ride shuttle from Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Boulevard and Boynton Beach High School, 4975 Park Ridge Blvd. at Gateway Blvd., just west of I-95 from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. is available. No pets or personal fireworks allowed for the safety of all spectators.
For recorded information, please call the event line at 742-6246. To learn more about the City of Boynton Beach, visit www.boynton-beach.org, “Like” us on www.facebook.com/boyntonbeachcity and follow us www.twitter.com/cityofboynton.
Fourth of July Travel Destinations
Busch Gardens Tampa
Since some people like to travel for the holiday, why not check out the fireworks at one of the largest wild animal/thrill parks in the state!
On Independence Day, Busch Gardens® Tampa celebrates the red, white and blue all day, and even when the sun goes down, with thrill rides in the dark, live entertainment and an incredible fireworks show.
Open until midnight, guests can celebrate the Fourth of July festivities all night long. Challenge Florida’s top thrill rides, like North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower Falcon’s Fury® or Florida’s first and only triple-launch coaster Cheetah Hunt®. Plus, fireworks illuminate the sky at 9:30 p.m., with the best views in Gwazi Park right after the rock-fueled acrobatics show, Kinetix.
Guests can enjoy Summer Nights at Busch Gardens from June 27 to August 16. Experience all the thrills this summer with an Annual Pass, which includes unlimited admission with no blockout dates, free parking, special deals and discounts, and much more! It’s the best value for Florida residents and it starts at just $13 per month with EZpay.
For more information, visit buschgardenstampa.com. Or, be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com, or “Like” the Busch Gardens Facebook page and follow @buschgardens on Twitter and Instagram.
Celebrate the Fourth of Jul-Eye on The New Orlando Eye
The Orlando Eye and I-Drive 360 will host their first annual Independence Day celebration with special events on the courtyard of the new dining and entertainment complex July 3-5, 2015. Events include live entertainment and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend, culminating with a 20-minute patriotic lighting show on the 400-foot observation wheel, where more than 64,000 LEDs will be illuminated in red, white and blue starting at 9 p.m. each night. This event is free and open to the public.
In honor of the holiday, the Orlando Eye has a special promotion, where children (12 and under) can enjoy a flight on the Eye for $4 with a paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased online at OfficialOrlandoEye.com, or in person at the attraction’s admissions desk.
Stone Mountain Park (Atlanta, Georgia)
If you know of another community event that you think should be listed here, please send us an email!