Get out the Red White and Blue and get ready for some Star Spangled Fun this weekend in Southwest Florida. There are 4th of July parties and events all over Naples and Southwest Florida this weekend. Read on for all the details!!
Celebrate the 4th of July Mercato style with festive events and exclusive promotions! Enjoy a Red, White & Blues concert with Pitbull of Blues on July 3, and show your star-spangled spirit at Cycle Bar’s Party Ride—plus more holiday fun at participating locations.
Everglades City traditionally offers the first Independence Day fun with an opening ceremony, parade and a drone shows. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 28, for festivities then drone show starts at 9 p.m. McLeod Park at Copeland Avenue & Hibiscus Street West, Everglades City. More on Facebook.
Freedom 5K - Participants run or walk across the Cape Coral Bridge in this annual event. The 5K is 7-10 a.m. Friday, July 4. Registration starts at 6 a.m. and costs $20-$40 (or $15 for the Kids Fun Run, ages 12 and younger). Race starts at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge, 2051 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral. freedom5kcc.com
Farmer Joe's 4th of July customer appreciation event - The Cape Coral grocery store celebrates the holiday ― and its customers ― with games, live music, vendors, shopping deals and free hamburgers and hot dogs. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. The parking lot at Farmer Joe’s, 1401 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. farmerjoes.com
Hot Dogs For Heroes block party - City Tavern hosts their annual chili-dog-eating competition to benefit Family Initiative, a local nonprofit that helps youth on the autism spectrum and their families. The block party also includes two deejays, food, drinks and a view of downtown Fort Myers’ fireworks. 4-10 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. The chili-dog contest starts at 6 p.m. City Tavern, 2206 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 226-1133 or mycitytavern.com
Babcock Ranch 4th of July Celebration - Celebrate Independence Day with a drone show, bounce houses, food trucks and live music. 4-9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Registration online isn't required, but it's strongly encouraged to help organizers plan the event. Founder’s Square in Babcock Ranch, 42850 Crescent Loop, Charlotte County. Register at babcockranchliving.com/573/
Fourth of July 5K – Gulf Coast Runners will host the 4th of July 5K at 7:00 a.m. The race starts on 10th Street, loops through nearby avenues and finishes near Fleischmann Park, where post-race activities and awards will follow. www.gulfcoastrunners. wordpress.com.
Free Garden Admission – Naples Botanical Garden is celebrating the Fourth of July with free admission from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples. 239-643-7275 or www.naplesgarden.org.
Fourth of July Parade – The City of Naples presents the Fourth of July Parade from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The vibrant parade kicks off at Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South, concluding at Eighth Street South in front of Naples City Hall. www.naplesgov.com.
Estero 4th of July celebration - The Estero Historical Society hosts its annual reading of the Declaration of Independence with historian Jacob Winge doing the honors in full period costume. The celebration also includes fresh watermelon slices, a patriotic firetruck display and giveaways. 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, July 4. Free. The Estero Historical Society Cottage Museum, 9285 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. esterohistoricalsociety.com/
4th of July Fireworks Events
Fireworks at Naples Pier - Bring chairs and blankets to watch the fireworks launch at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4, from near Naples Pier. The fireworks show typically lasts about 30 minutes and can be seen from all along the Naples beach. Personal use of fireworks and sparklers is prohibited. Parking is limited, so visitors are urged to plan ahead and find parking on the street or in downtown parking garages; or to walk, take bicycles or use a ride service. Free. Naples City Pier, 12th Avenue South, Naples. fifthavenuesouth.com/events-
Marco Island fireworks - Fireworks will launch from a barge off the coast between Tigertail Beach and South Beach. The fireworks can be seen from along Collier Boulevard and Marco’s beach front. No personal fireworks permitted on the beach. Fireworks start at about 9 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. cityofmarcoisland.com
BONITA SPRINGS - Star Spangled Bonita - The annual Fourth of July festival features a 48-minute drone, fireworks and laser-light show. Star Spangled Bonita also includes food trucks, an ice-cream-eating contest and live country music by the Ben Allen Band. Starts at 6 p.m. Friday, July 4. The drone, fireworks and laser-light show starts at dusk. Free. Old 41 Road will be closed from 5 p.m. to about 10 p.m. from Wilson Street to Childers Street. Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs. 949-6262 or cityofbonitasprings.org
Red, White & Boom on Cape Coral Parkway - Country singer George Birge headlines Cape Coral's Independence Day celebration, which also features fireworks at 9:30 p.m., food, vendors and more live musical acts. 5-10 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Tickets for the VIP Boom Zone are $20-$40, including catered barbecue meal, drinks, a game area, prime viewing of the fireworks and air-conditioned restrooms. The outdoor event takes place in downtown Cape Coral at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge. The Cape Coral Bridge and Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Boulevard to the bridge will be closed from 3 a.m. Friday to about 3 a.m. Saturday. No pets or personal fireworks allowed. capeboom.com
Downtown Fort Myers' July 4th party includes live music, a deejay and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. (weather permitting). The musical lineup stars with guitarist Tyler Shep at 6 p.m., followed by classic rock, blues and country from the Caloosa River Band at 8 p.m. Bring your own chairs and blankets. 6 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Caloosa Sound Amphitheater and Centennial Park, 2000 W. First St., downtown Fort Myers. myriverdistrict.com
Mighty Mussels 4th of July fireworks show - The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels ends its Friday, July 4, home game with a “fireworks extravaganza” set to patriotic music. Organizers call it the “longest, largest and loudest pyrotechnics show” of the season at Hammond Stadium. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. Friday, July 4. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets for the game (fireworks included) are $12-$17. The Mussels are also offering a Fourth of July Family Picnic Special for $87.76, including four game tickets, four concession vouchers worth $12.75 each and a Mighty Mussels fleece picnic blanket. Hammond Stadium at Lee Health Sports Complex, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, south Fort Myers. 768-4210 or MightyMussels.com
4th of July Rooftop Bash at Davis Art Center - Watch downtown Fort Myers’ annual fireworks show from the Davis Art Center’s rooftop sculpture garden. Plus a barbecue buffet, drinks and a deejay. 7-11 p.m. Friday, July 4. $115 admission includes draft beer and wine, food, "swag gifts" and entertainment. $200-$1000 for tables seating two to eight, including a VIP table seating six. Visitors are encouraged to dress in “patriotic casual.” Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers. sbdac.com/july-4
Fort Myers Beach Fireworks and Parade - Fort Myers Beach celebrates the holiday with a parade in the morning and a fireworks show and live music at night. The annual festivities start at 10 a.m. Friday, July 4, with the parade on Estero Boulevard. Colorful floats and other parade participants travel from Bay Oaks Recreation Center to Times Square. Estero Boulevard will be closed for the parade from 9 a.m. until noon. Later that night, The Guilty Pleasure Band performs at Bayside Park, followed by fireworks launched above Times Square at 9 p.m. Spectators are encouraged to bring beach chairs. The Matanzas Pass Bridge will be closed to inbound traffic from 8:30-11:30 p.m. Times Square and Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. fortmyersbeach.org/events/
Sanibel Island fireworks - The annual fireworks display launches from the north end of Baily Road West. Best viewing will be from the Sanibel Causeway islands and bayside, according to organizers. No roadside or illegal parking allowed. 9 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. mysanibel.com/317/Recreation