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Fourth of July weekend brings fireworks, boat parades, drone shows and community celebrations across Hillsborough County as communities mark America’s 250th birthday.
America’s 250th anniversary adds extra significance to this year’s Independence Day events, with festivities planned from Tampa’s downtown waterfront and the Riverwalk to Brandon, Temple Terrace, Lutz, Plant City and other parts of the county.
Check with organizers before heading out for the latest updates on Independence Day weekend celebrations. With events planned across Hillsborough County, attendees should plan ahead for parking, traffic, heat and possible weather delays, according to many of the event listings.
July 1-31
— Red, White and Zoo: ZooTampa at Lowry Park will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a one-month celebration featuring patriotic-themed animal enrichment, festive food and beverages, merchandise and giveaways. The celebration runs throughout July at ZooTampa, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., with select themed programming around the holiday. The Fourth of July’s heightened celebration starts at 9:45 with special enrichment for the Bornean Orangutan and continues throughout the day. More information: zootampa.org
July 3-5
— Busch Gardens celebration: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will recognize Independence Day with its limited-time 250th Celebration, featuring extended evening hours, live entertainment, military appreciation offerings, patriotic merchandise, Americana-inspired food and the Wild Skies Drone & Fireworks Show with a fireworks finale on Festival Field. The celebration is included with park admission at 10165 N. McKinley Drive, with showtimes subject to weather and the park’s daily schedule. More information: buschgardens.com
— Florida Aquarium celebration: The Florida Aquarium will host Sea to Shining Sea: All-American Weekend with holiday-themed family activities. The event includes animal encounters, costumed divers, scavenger hunts, special character appearances and opportunities to support a project to plant 250 mangroves. The event runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from July 3-5 at The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive in Tampa. More information: flaquarium.org
July 4
— Tampa’s America250 celebration: Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park will host Tampa’s flagship America250 celebration, Liberty by the Bay, with a Kids Zone, food trucks, beer garden, Kids’ Market, community partner displays, live music and DJ entertainment. The event will also feature a patriotic pet show, water ski show, Kids Liberty Procession, 250-drone light show and fireworks finale. The free event runs 4-9:30 p.m. at 1001 N. Blvd., with the drone show and fireworks scheduled from 9-9:30 p.m. The celebration also extends along the Tampa Riverwalk with additional activities including the Friends of the Riverwalk Patriotic Boat Parade, Armature Works’ Fourth of July event, fireworks viewing at Jackson’s Bistro and Freedom Fest aboard the American Victory Ship. More information: tampa.gov
— Tampa Riverwalk boat parade: Decorated boats will cruise along the downtown waterfront during the Friends of the Riverwalk Patriotic Boat Parade, one of the additional Riverwalk activities tied to Tampa’s Liberty by the Bay celebration. The parade runs 6:15-8 p.m. along the Tampa Riverwalk near the Tampa Convention Center. More information: thetampariverwalk.com
— Temple Terrace celebration: Temple Terrace will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with its 51st annual Fourth of July celebration, including a morning parade and evening festivities with live music, a DJ, family activities, food vendors and fireworks. The parade begins at 10 a.m. near the Family Recreation Complex, 6610 Whiteway Drive, and evening activities begin at 6 p.m. near the first fairway of Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club, 200 Inverness Ave. Fireworks scheduled around 9:15 p.m., weather permitting. More information: templeterrace.gov
— Brandon/Dover Parade and FunFest: The Greater Brandon Action Network will host a 250th anniversary Fourth of July Parade and FunFest at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds. The celebration will feature live music, food, vendors, a beer station, eating contests, kids activities, a petting zoo, horse rides, face painting and more. The event runs at 215 Sydney Washer Road in Dover, with the parade starting at 10 a.m. More information: greaterbrandonactionnetwork.com
— Plant City celebration: Plant City will host its annual Fourth of July Celebration with live music, food trucks, vendors, family activities and fireworks at Plant City Stadium. The event runs 5-9:30 p.m. at 1810 E. Park Road, with fireworks scheduled for 9:15 p.m., weather permitting. More information: plantcitygov.com
— Lutz Independence Day celebration: Lutz will start the holiday early with races, a one-mile fun run, a flag ceremony, bake sale and patriotic parade. Races begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 1-mile fun run at 8:15 a.m., a 9 a.m. ceremony and the 10 a.m. parade starting at Lutz Lake Fern Road and Crooked Lane and finishing in front of the library. Post-parade events include Guv’na of Lutz festivities, parade awards, a kids zone and cake auction. More information: lutzparade.com
— MOSI celebration: The Museum of Science & Innovation will celebrate the semiquincentennial with a Stars, Stripes & Science event, featuring hands-on science activities, rainbow fire demonstrations, liquid nitrogen ice cream, games, planetarium programming and sensory-friendly fireworks visuals. The event runs 4-10 p.m. at the MOSI, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. More information: mosi.org
— Tampa Bay History Center screening: The Tampa Bay History Center will mark the Fourth of July with screenings of “A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America,” a Smithsonian Channel documentary. Screenings run hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 801 Water St. in Tampa and are included with gallery admission. More information: tampabayhistorycenter.org
— American Victory Ship Freedom Fest: The American Victory Ship will host a waterfront celebration with live entertainment, views of Tampa’s boat parade and a front-row seat for the fireworks along the downtown waterfront. The event begins at 6 p.m. at 705 Channelside Drive in Tampa. More information: americanvictory.org
— Yacht StarShip fireworks cruises: Yacht StarShip will offer Tampa Fourth of July fireworks cruises with dinner, drinks, DJ entertainment and views of the fireworks from the water. Cruises depart from 603 Channelside Drive in Tampa, with evening boarding and cruise times listed by the company. More information: yachtstarship.com
— Pirate Water Taxi fireworks cruise: Pirate Water Taxi will offer a Fourth of July fireworks cruise from the Tampa Convention Center dock, giving passengers a view of the downtown fireworks from the water. Boarding begins at 8:30 p.m. at Tampa Convention Center Dock No. 7, with the cruise running 8:45-9:45 p.m. or through the end of the fireworks. More information: piratewatertaxi.com
— Harbour Island waterfront celebrations: Jackson’s Bistro and American Social will host July Fourth waterfront celebrations tied to America’s 250th birthday, with live entertainment, food and drinks, and views of the boat parade, water ski show and the fireworks spectacular. More information: jacksonsbistro.com and americansocialbar.com
— Armature Works celebration: Armature Works will host The Heights District Fourth of July celebration. The day features a muscle car show from 10 a.m. to noon before the main event begins. The celebration includes live music, live performances from Tampa Funk Machine and Second Rodeo, carnival games, a field day zone with a rock wall, bungee trampolines and water slides. It also includes a water ski show, views of the boat parade turnaround and fireworks from 9-9:15 p.m. The main event runs 5-10 p.m. at 1910 N. Ola Ave. in Tampa. More information: armatureworks.com
July 12
— Salute to Service and Shared Heritage: Centro Asturiano de Tampa will host an America250 event celebrating history, service and shared heritage with barbecue, music and a tribute to military service. The event highlights Spain’s role in the fight for independence. The event runs 4-7 p.m. in Tampa. More information: www.centroasturianotampa.org
The post From Liberty by the Bay to Plant City, Hillsborough celebrates America’s 250th appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
