Big Fourth of July week planned

With the exception of Tuesday July 2, every evening during next week’s honoring of 248 years of America’s Independence will have fireworks along the Forgotten Coast. 

On Monday, July 1, the action gets underway in Eastpoint, with the Freedom Festival in Patton Drive Park starting at 5 p.m. sponsored by the Eastpoint Civic Association. There’ll be live music, food and drink and fireworks after dusk.

Nothing Tuesday, but then on Wednesday, July 3 it’s the Apalachicola Independence Eve celebration, sponsored by the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Starting at 3 p.m., the opening ceremonies will be highlighted by a Fly Over from Tyndall Airforce Base with F-35 Lightings. Music starts at 5 p.m. and the Red, White and Blue parade begins at 6:30 p.m. at Lafayette Park and goes to Riverfront Park, where festivities feature food and drink, and the county’s most enormous fireworks display at dark-thirty.

On Thursday morning, July 4, St. George Island will host the Wat and Wild parade, a traditional drenchfest. The lineup is at 10:30 a.m. ET at Third Street and the parade starts at 11 a.m. With a detailed organizational plan and flowchart for traffic, organizers are working to stop the congestion, especially on the bridge, that marked last year’s very well-attended affair. The island’s fireworks display is that evening

The Gulf County Tourist Development Council and The City of Port St Joe will host a spectacular firework celebration at 10 p.m. ET on July 4. The show can be viewed from the Port St. Joe downtown and George Core Park areas.

The Gulf County TDC and city of Wewahitchka are hosting another dazzling firework celebration that night, to take place at Lake Alice Park. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at dark. 

In Mexico Beach, the “Best Blast on the Beach July 4th Firework Show” will begin at 8:30 p.m. and will be visible from any vantage point from the beach. The fireworks show is scheduled to be shot from the jetties at the end of Canal Parkway. The end of Canal Parkway will close past Salt Creek Bridge on July 3 and will remain closed until after the show on July 4. 

“Please be mindful of the Leave No Trace ordinances and we kindly ask that you remove all your belongings, including trash, with you at the end of the celebrations,” said Joe Whitmer, president and CEO of the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday, July 5, Carrabelle will have its Celebration of Independence, opening at 5 p.m. ET with the First Friday celebration,  showcasing food, art, music and shopping. A golf cart, scooter and bike parade will kick off from Sands Park, with lineup at 5:30 p.m. and start at 6 p.m.  The city’s fireworks display along the waterfront ignites at dark-thirty.