July 3, Panama City
Freedom Rocks!
Grand Lagoon hosts a fireworks display at 9 p.m.
grandlagoon.com
July 4, Key Largo
Annual Parade and Picnic
Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and the Upper Keys Reporter old-fashioned community event is from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Key Largo Community Park.
www.keylargochamber.org;
305-451-1414
July 4, Panama City Beach
Star-Spangled Spectacular
Celebrate the Fourth with fireworks fired from the identical City Pier and County Pier at 9 p.m. Tune in to the 103.5 app for a choreographed music simulcast.
www.visitpanamacitybeach.com
July 4, Marathon
Beach Party & Fireworks Show
Families gather for a day of activities including a patriotic parade that begins around 10:30 a.m. from Marathon High School on Sombrero Beach Road (MM 50 oceanside) to free-admission Sombrero Beach, where a daylong celebration features food, drink, kids’ crafts and entertainment. Activities conclude with fireworks after dark.
www.floridakeysmarathon.com;
305-743-5417
July 4, Panama City
Salute to Freedom
The event kicks off with a parade down Harrison Avenue at 3 p.m. followed by live music on the green at Panama City Marina featuring The Dave Matthews Tribute Band. Activities include a dance contest for kids, cornhole contest, hot dog eating contest, charity dunk tank, a water balloon toss and three-point basketball shoot. Bring a blanket and lawn chair for a fireworks show at 9 p.m. over St. Andrews Bay.
www.bayareaevents.com
July 4, Pensacola
Seratoma’s Independence Day
The 29th annual celebration begins at 11 a.m. with free activities until 6 p.m. in Seville Square, including a children’s area with inflatables, a rock climbing wall and pony rides, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and live entertainment on the bayfront stage in the evening. Signups for a hot dog eating contest are at 11:15 a.m. The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra plays at the Hunter Amphitheater in Vince Whibbs Community Maritime Park at 7:30 p.m. Festivities culminate with a fireworks show over Pensacola Bay at 9 p.m., synchronized with music broadcast on 98.7.
pensacolafireworks.com;
850-434-1234
July 4, Wewahitchka
Fourth of July Festival
Gather around Lake Alice when the sun goes down for a spectacular display over the water.
www.visitgulf.com;
850-639-2605
July 4, Key Largo
Fireworks Show
Blackwater Sound, MM104, provides the perfect mirrorlike surface to make the annual fireworks display at 10 p.m. seem like a 3-D viewing experience.
www.keylargofireworks.com;
305-451-4502
July 4, Bradenton
Fourth of July Fireworks
Enjoy a fireworks display over the Manatee River at 9 p.m. Bring a blanket and chairs. Fireworks are launched from the Green Bridge fishing pier and are viewable from nearly all of the Riverwalk.
www.realizebradenton.com
July 4, Port St. Joe
Fourth of July
The fireworks show at the Port St. Joe marina begins at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
www.visitgulf.com;
850-639-2605
July 4, Highlands County
Fourth of July Celebrations
Three fireworks shows will be staged from 9 to 10 p.m.: City Pier Beach in Sebring, Donaldson Park in Avon Park and Lake June in Lake Placid.
www.visitsebring.com
July 4, Pensacola Beach
Independence Day Fireworks
Start celebrating at 8:30 p.m. at Casino Beach.
www.visitpensacolabeach.com;
850-932-1500
35th Annual Underwater Music Festival
Mariah Reynolds blows an artist’s rendition of a conch shell at the 2018 Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary near Big Pine Key. About 400 divers and snorkelers participated in the event that provided entertainment and promoted coral reef preservation. The 2019 submerged songfest is at Looe Key Reef from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Staged by US1 Radio 104.1 FM, the music is broadcast underwater via speakers suspended beneath boats positioned above the reef. For more information, visit www.lowerkeyschamber.com or call 305-872-2411.
July 4-7, Key West
Seventh annual Key Lime Festival
A wacky talent show, pie-eating and cooking contests, and other tasty temptations await at the event that celebrates key limes.
www.keylimefestival.com
July 5-7, Key West
Key West Mermaid Festival
Activities in the inaugural event include mermaid meet and greets, vendors, entertainment, ocean awareness and dancing under the sea, with activities for all ages.
www.keywestmermaidfestival.com;
305-304-1988
July 9, Pensacola
Pensacola History Talk
John Appleyard shares stories about Pensacola’s history at 9 a.m. at the Pensacola Visitor Information Center’s Wayside Park. The event is free, but seating is limited.
850-434-1234
July 11-13, Key West
Mel Fisher Days
Commemorate the famous 16-year search for the Spanish galleon Atocha, which led to a $450 million treasure discovery in the waters off Key West with a chance to explore the Fisher family’s 90-foot working salvage boat, behind-the-scenes tours of the family’s private artifact conservation lab and social events with members of the crew that found the Atocha’s riches.
melfisherdays.melfisher.com;
305-296-6533
July 13, Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach Air Show
The show at Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach begins at noon with civilian acts. The Blue Angels fly at 2 p.m. The Blue Angels hold several practice sessions along the beach in the days leading up to the show.
www.visitpensacolabeach.com;
850-932-2257
July 17, Islamorada
Immerse Yourself!
A speaker from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission speaks at 7 p.m. at the History of Diving Museum, MM83.
www.divingmuseum.org;
305-664-9737
July 19-20, Bradenton
The Music Man
The funny, wicked, romantic and touching family-friendly musical is a Broadway Bootcamp production. The bootcamp is July 1-19, with performances at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.
www.manateeperformingartscenter.com;
941-748-5875
July 20, Islamorada
PADI Women Dive Day
The History of Diving Museum joins the global Professional Association of Diving Instructors to celebrate women in diving. The day begins with a morning presentation, followed by a fun dive for ladies and gentlemen.
www.divingmuseum.org;
305-664-9737
July 26-28, Lake Placid
Lake Placid Caladium Festival
The annual event celebrates the beautiful plant with caladium field tours, art competitions and vendors, bulb and plant sale, antique cars, and live entertainment.
www.lpfla.com
July 27, Bradenton
Mixon Farms Craft Fair
The indoor fair is in the back of the processing plant from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the fourth Saturday of the month from April to September. Fifteen to 25 craft vendors participate.
www.mixon.com;
941-748-5829 ext. 239