ORLANDO, Fla. — From the theme parks to municipalities, fireworks will dance across the sky and residents will gather to celebrate the Independence Day holiday in their own ways. There are plenty of options for family activities. Most events are free unless otherwise noted. Times for fireworks may shift, based upon the weather. Check out our event guide below:
Flagler County
- United Flagler 4th Community Celebration
July 4, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Various locations
The day gets started with the Stars and Stripes Parade at 9 a.m., with the route traveling along A1A from North 6th Street to South 6th Street in Flagler Beach. Live music by DJ Vern performances begin at 10 a.m. at Veterans Park in Flagler Beach, and activities will take place until 5 p.m., including hula hoops, cornhole toss, limbo, activities for children and a Kona Ice brain-freeze contest. Food and drink vendors, including a beer garden, will be part of the events. At 7 p.m., the event moves to Flagler Executive Airport for a recital of the Declaration of Independence and the national anthem. Park off Fin Way, No FPC parking. Fireworks will be shot up over the airport runway at about 9 p.m.
Lake County
- Freedom on the Waterfront
July 3, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Elizabeth Evans Park, Mount Dora
The bands Inner Circle and All-4-One will perform on the park's stage, and the WeFlip Acrobatic Show will perform at Simpson Cove multiple times during the day. DJ Sarah Masters will spin tunes in the kids' zone. Real Radio 104.5 will bring live shows at the park all day. Games, face painting, food trucks and vendors will also be featured. At 9:15 p.m., fireworks will light up the sky. Parking is available at First Baptist Church of Mount Dora, St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Golden Triangle Shopping Center and the Highland Street parking lot. Six buses will shuttle people from the parking sites to the park from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Drones, unauthorized weapons, large coolers and coolers on wheels, personal fireworks, glass containers and bottles and drugs are prohibited. Grilling, either with propane tanks or open flames, is also prohibited. - 4th of July at Lake David
July 4, 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Lake David Park, Groveland
A Firecracker Pageant will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Entry in the pageant costs $75 if you haven't already signed up. Starting at 4 p.m., the festivities feature live entertainment, a car show, food trucks, vendors and fireworks. The performers include Chas Collins and John Michael Carroll. The fireworks are scheduled to start at 9 p.m. - Leesburg's Star Spangled Spectacular
July 4, 4 p.m. | Ski Beach in Venetian Gardens
The celebration includes live music, carnival rides, a water ski show, food and fireworks. Musical performers are Licorice Sticks Dixieland Band and The O'Gilvie Trio. The fireworks are scheduled to start at 9 p.m. - Tavares 4th of July Parade and Fireworks
July 4, 4:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Wooten Park
A street party on Main Street kicks off the festivities before the parade. At 5 p.m. a seaplane will fly over Main Street, and then the parade will start, heading east on Main Street from the courthouse past City Hall to St. Clair Abrams Avenue. Other activities will begin after the parade — including live entertainment, food trucks, a kids zone, stilt walkers and games. A kids dance party with an interactive Live DJ starts at 6 p.m., and the band Groove Slayers will take the main stage. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
Marion County
- Patriotic Pizza Party and Storytime with the Mayor
July 2, 5 p.m. | Belleview Community Center
Mayor Christine Dobkowski will read to children. In celebration of Independence Day, pizza will be free. - Patriotic Skies: A Fourth of July Drone Experience
July 4, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Tuscawilla Park, Ocala
The Independence Day event begins at 5:10 p.m. with a presentation of the colors and the national anthem. Live entertainment follows, starting at 5:30 p.m. with Noah Hunton, then Chris McNeil at 7 p.m., and the Ocala Symphony Orchestra caps the music at 8:45 p.m. The drone show by Sky Elements, accompanied by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, starts at 9:30 p.m. It replaces the traditional fireworks. Food trucks will be on site throughout the day. Guests are encouraged to utilize four locations that will offer free shuttle rides — from Marion Technical Institute, Ed Croskey Recreation Center, Ocala City Hall and the Marion County Parking Facility at 346 NW 2nd St.
Orange County
- Liberty Weekend Concert
June 29, 6:30 p.m. | Level 2 Terminal C, Orlando International Airport
The Central Florida Community Arts Choir will sing a selection of familiar tunes in a prelude performance. At 6:45 p.m., the Colonel Joe Kittinger Award will be presented to a distinguished local veteran for service and contributions to aviation, the country and the Central Florida community. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a musical program that includes patriotic favorites and American classics. The event is free, including three hours of complimentary parking. Follow the blue roadway signs to the Terminal C parking garage, and pull a parking ticket when entering Parking Garage C. Attendees will be given a validated ticket at the event. Validation does not apply to valet parking, E-PASS/SunPass or Reservation Parking. - MusicWORKS Independence Day
July 3, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | MetroWest Golf Club
Live music, food trucks, vendors and fireworks are all part of the community celebration. The live entertainment will start with Stella Beat, a Latin/Top 40 party band based in Orlando, and also will include the Flutie Brothers Band featuring football legends Doug Flutie and Darren Flutie and special guests saxophonist Mike MacArthur and guitar legend Pat Travers. Team Fastrax, the largest professional skydiving team in the world, will dive into the event with a 2,000-square-foot American flag. - Baldwin Park Independence Bash
July 3, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Harbor Park at 4990 New Broad St., Orlando
The event is a community street party, followed by a fireworks show near the end of the evening. - Winter Park's 4th of July Celebration
July 4, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Central Park
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio will make opening remarks from the main stage, followed by the national anthem. Music from the School of Rock Winter Park and a patriotic performance by the Bach Festival Choir and Brass Ensemble led by Dr. John Sinclair will continue the festivities on the main stage. Meanwhile, on the West Meadow, activities will feature a kids zone in with carnival midway games, bounce slides, balloon artists and Kona Ice. The annual bicycle parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Children can bring their bicycles already decorated or decorate them at the corner of Park and Morse avenues. The Electric Utility Department will provide free individual mini pies, cookies and water (while supplies last). - Morse Museum Independence Day Celebration
July 4, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park
Special objects from the Morse are on view, including a 1798 cream jug by American silversmith and patriot Paul Revere (1735–1818) and a baseball signed by Babe Ruth (1895–1948), Ty Cobb (1886–1961), and Lou Gehrig (1903–41), legends of America’s pastime. Its galleries are open, too. Admission is free for the day. - 47th Annual Fireworks at the Fountain
July 4, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; fireworks about 9:10 p.m. | Lake Eola Park, Orlando
Live entertainment, family fun and food and beverages available for purchase from vendors will fill the park. After the sun goes down, a fireworks spectacular will illuminate the park, accompanied by a live patriotic performance by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. You are not permitted to stake items like umbrellas and tent into the ground or bring in alcohol or personal fireworks. - Universal Fourth of July Festivities and Pyrotechnics Display
July 4, 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. | Universal Orlando
At 5 p.m., music from a DJ and live bands American Sirens and Rexine will perform at the Plaza and Waterfront stages at Universal CityWalk, and patriotic stilt walkers will roam throughout Universal CityWalk’s Promenade. Free self-parking is available starting at 6 p.m. At Universal Studios, entertainment kicks off at 6:15 p.m. with a live DJ at the Music Plaza Stage and meet-and-greets with characters and patriotic stilt walkers. A festive pyrotechnic display over the Universal Studios Florida lagoon to cap off the celebration at 10 p.m. The events are included with park admission. - City of Apopka July 4th Celebration
July 4, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. | Apopka Amphitheater
Entertainment for this year's festivities are coming all the way from Nashville, Tenn. David J. infuses country music with a fresh edge that could cross over to pop, and Emily Henline, an acoustic performer and storyteller. Food and craft vendors will be on site, and activities such as face painting, a climbing tower, balloon artistry, a bungee trampoline and bounce houses will provide some fun. Fireworks will begin after the concert, about 9 p.m. Parking is available within the Northwest Recreation Complex.
Osceola County
- Monumental Fourth of July
July 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Festival Lawn, Kissimmee Lakefront Park
The celebration features live performances on the Festival Lawn, KUA Kids Zone on the Veterans Lawn, food trucks, beverage concessions and fireworks to wrap up the night. Parking is available in the Osceola County Garage and surface lots off Bryan Street. ADA parking is available in the marina lot,
Seminole County
- 27th Red Hot and Boom
July 3, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs
The annual Night Before Fourth of July party features live music, food vendors, a beer garden and fireworks. Bands are scheduled to perform in the following order: The Intracoastals (which originated in New Smyrna Beach), Voodoo Moonshine, Orlando-based Blue Circle Stone, No Lonely Hearts (out of Orlando) and Relic, another Orlando band. Drones, unauthorized weapons, large coolers and coolers on wheels, personal fireworks, glass containers and bottles and drugs are prohibited. Grilling, either with propane tanks or open flames, is also prohibited. Event parking is available at the Altamonte Mall and surrounding areas. Many roadways are closed or have different traffic patterns ahead of the event. - Winter Springs Celebration of Freedom
July 4, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Central Winds Park
The festivities will include live entertainment, a kids zone, food trucks, vendors and a fireworks display. Enter the event for parking from State Road 434 and Central Winds Drive. Lots will open at 5 p.m. Additional parking will be available at Winter Springs City Hall and Winter Springs High School. Pets other than service K-9s, drones, fireworks, sparklers, pop-up tents, barbecue grills or other cooking devices, weapons, glass bottles and containers, alcohol brought in from outside and coolers larger than six-pack size are prohibited. - Star Spangled Sanford 4th of July on the Riverwalk
July 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Seminole Boulevard
Ahead of the fireworks, K92.3’s Jay Edwards will provide musical accompaniment and live entertainers will perform along Seminole Boulevard as crowds enjoy the food and drink stations and other vendors. Children can enjoy the park playground, and the splash pad in Ft. Mellon Park, but the green space is closed because of construction. The festivities will end with a pyrotechnic show choreographed to patriotic music over Lake Monroe at about 9:15 p.m.
Volusia County
- Freedom Festival
June 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Riverfront Esplanade on Manatee Island
Activities will kick off with a veteran’s ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by family-friendly games, a cornhole tournament, face painting, water slide, live music, food trucks and beverage vendors. Veterans with ID will receive free meals, while food lasts. Live entertainment will be provided by Live entertainment by Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes & Drums and the band CHEG. The Freedom Festival replaces Daytona Beach’s traditional Fourth of July parade on Main Street. The entry fee for the cornhole tournament is $20. People can register in advance for the tournament online or on site starting at 11 a.m. The tournament begins at noon. - EDGEfest 4th of July Celebration
July 4, 6 p.m. | Edgewater City Hall complex and Menard May Park
The city of Edgewater will have activities at two locations. At City Hall, food trucks, vendors, a DJ for music and various activities will be set up to provide a relaxed environment and easy access to the celebration. A close view of the fireworks will be available. Menard May Park festivities will include live music, food trucks, face painting, vendors, a beer tent, an inflatable obstacle course, games and other activities. If you go to the park, you can get a riverfront view of the fireworks, which will illuminate the sky just after dusk.