Time to celebrate the red, white and blue! With the Fourth of July around the corner, we are here to share some of the best events, parties and fireworks shows to help you plan your Independence Day celebrations.
If you attend a fireworks show or festival, don't forget to shoot some video and send us an email with your name, where you live and where the celebration was to newstips@wfts.com (or you can tag us on our Facebook page). We may feature your video in our morning newscast on July 5!
Check out the events happening in the Tampa Bay Area:
Hillsborough County
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Fourth of July Parade | July 4 | 10 a.m. | Route begins at Whiteway and Gillette and runs south to Druid Hills and south to Temple Terrace Little League Fields | Parking on side of the street
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Fourth of July Fireworks | July 4 | Evening festivities are from 6-9 p.m. | 1st Fairway of Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club 200 Inverness Ave| Food Vendors and Music | Fireworks 9:15 p.m.
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Tampa Red White and Blue | July 4 | 6-10 p.m. | Cotanchobee Park in Channelside | Appearance of Uncle Sam on stilts | Firework show| Live Jazz Music | Festival Food Court| Patriotic Fashion Show |Best dressed contest | Family Photo booth| American Art lounge | Free face painting | Watermelon eating contest
FREE @TampaStreetcar service to @ChannelsideTPA #July4th Fireworks! Learn more: https://t.co/X93syAoIb3 #UnlockTampaBay pic.twitter.com/xQY2ag5HjO
— TECO Line Streetcar (@TampaStreetcar) June 27, 2017
- Plant City Fireworks | July 4 | 6- 9:15 p.m. | 1810 E Park Road | $5 Parking | Climbing wall | bungee jumps | Air brushing | Balloon art | Bounce house | live music
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Fourth of July at History Center | July 4 | $5 admission | 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Costumed reenactors representing several eras of American military history will be interacting with guests
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Light Up Tampa Bay Independence Celebration at Channelside Bay Plaza | July 4 | 6-10 p.m. | Free admission | Fireworks | live music by Southern Train | Entertainment by DJ Xplicid and DJ Chris Beastly | Food trucks | Face painting | Special appearances by the Tampa Bay Lightning Girls, Thunderbug and Tampa Bay Rays Street Team
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Brandon's July Fourth Parade | July 4 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Brandon 101 E Lumsden Rd.
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Fish, Fireworks and Fun | July 4 | The Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 | Upgrade to a premium view ticket for an additional $10 per person or $8 for Aquarium Members
- American Victory Ship's July 4th Family Funfest | July 4 | 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Aboard the S.S. AMERICAN VICTORY located at 705 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL, behind The Florida Aquarium | Musical entertainment from DJ Ian Paul | Special Kids Zone from 6:30-8:30p.m. | Games | Arts and crafts
RELATED: Fireworks exemption to burn ban a dangerous decision, says Tampa Fire Chief
Pinellas County
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Fireworks at the Clearwater Threshers Game | Monday, July 3 | Gates open at 5 p.m. | The Threshers take on the Tampa Yankees at Spectrum Field in Clearwater. There will be a fireworks show after the game.
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Fireworks at Dunedin Blue Jays Game | Monday, July 3 | Game starts at 6:15 p.m. | The Dunedin Blue Jays take on the Daytona Tortugas. Enjoy post game fireworks after the game.
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City Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration July 4 | 5-9 p.m. | Vinoy Park and North Straub Park, St. Petersburg, FL | Patriotic live broadcast from Q105's Flash in North Straub Park from 5-7 pm and
live music by AudioStar
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Fourth of July Picnic | July 4 | 10-2 p.m. | Craig Park in Tarpon SpringsHot Dog eating contest at noon | Live entertainment and free admission | Live entertainment provided by Rusty Trumpet
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Clearwater Celebrates America | July 4 | Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater | Gates open at 4 p.m. and music will begin at 7:30 p.m. | Fireworks show 9-9:30 p.m.
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Fourth of July Celebration |July 4 | 6- 9:30 p.m. | 101 Central Park Dr, Largo 33771 | Food | Entrainment | Activities for all ages | Enjoy a pie eating contest (free to the first 125 participants) | T-shirt decorating for $5,| Inflatable activities for a $10 wristband | FREE admission | $10 on site parking | Free park and walk at Largo Middle School and Everest University | One Blood donation accepted
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Gulfport's All day July 4th Celebration | July 4 | 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Gulfport Marina’s Fishing Derby at the Michael J. Yakes Recreation Complex’s (5730 Shore Blvd. S.) | Free Family Sand Sculpture Contest |10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. on Municipal Beach
- Safety Harbor 9th annual July 4th Parade | July 4 | 10 a.m. | route will be directly down Main Street from Philippe Pkwy and Bay Shore Drive to 9th Ave South | Bring kids
Polk County
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Bartow Fourth of July Celebration | July 4 | 2:30 - 10 p.m. | The celebration will begin with a patriotic concert from the Bartow Adult Concert Band, at the Bartow Civic Center from 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. | The 4th of July event is set from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Mosaic Park | Firework display at 9:30
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Davenport 4th of July Celebration |July 4 | 2-9:30 p.m. | Lewis Mathews Sports Complex - 400 Palm Street, Davenport
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Thunder on the Ridge |July 4 | 3- 9 p.m. | Lake Eva Park | Food and Beer | Live Entertainment | Corn Hole tournament | Helicopter Tours by Tampa Bay Aviation
- Red White & Kaboom | July 3rd | 6-9 p.m. | Live concert featuring Jah Movement | Food Trucks | FREE admission |
Pasco County
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Sparklebration at a Glance | July 4 | Pasco County Fairgrounds | Fireworks show at 9:15 | Admission $5 | Kids 12 and under FREE | $5 Parking | Bounce Houses | Watermelon eating contest | pony rides and petting zoo | hot dog eating contest | food court | blood mobile| Dennis lee show | Free face painting and balloons | Elvis tribute and Karaoke contest with cash prizes
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Wesley Chapel July 4th | July 4 | 5-9 p.m. | 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 | FREE | Apple Pie Bake-Off | Bike Parade | Wet and dry slides | Stilt walkers | vendors | Food trucks
Manatee/ Sarasota County
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All American BBQ | July 4 | 6-10 p.m. | Selby Gardens - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 900 S Palm Ave, Sarasota, Florida 34236 | Tickets: $25 Members, $35 Non-members, $10 Children 4-11, FREE for kids 3 and under
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Annual Freedom Fest Parade | July 4 | 9 a.m. | Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road. Commissioners | police and fire rescue personnel are in the parade along with children who wish to dress up and walk with their pets | Parade lineup begins at 8:30 a.m. on Bay Isles Rd. Activities | Food and Drinks | Children's games after parade in Bicentennial Park, next to Town Hall | 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
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Anna Maria Island July 4 Parade | July 4 | 10 a.m. | South at Coquina Beach to North Anna Maria City Pier | . | Anyone joining the parade must have own method of transportation such as cars, bikes or sports cars.
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Palmetto 4th Festival / Fireworks | July 4 | 5-11 p.m. | Will feature 2015 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees, The Oak RIdge Boys in the outdoor Pavilion at historic Sutton Park for a free concert | Food vendors | Fun activities at Lamb Park for the children with family friendly rides and games starting at 1 p.m. | Firework Show at The Manatee River| Sutton Park: 1006 6th St W, Palmetto | Free and paid parking in the area
- Venice Fourth of July | July 4 | 9 p.m. | View fireworks show from beaches from Caspersen to Nokomis | Fireworks can be viewed from water | Venice Inlet will be closed to boat traffic at 8:45 p.m. until about a half-hour after the display's grand finale
Hernando County
- Firecracker Smash'm up | July 4 | 4 p.m. | Hernando County Fairgrounds | music | concerts | games | food | $10 parking |
Citrus County
- Iverness Patriotic Evening | July 3rd | 6-10 p.m. | Liberty and Wallace Brooks Parks | 286 N. Apopka Ave Inverness, FL 34450 | FREE concert | Food trucks | Vendors |
