Planning Your Fourth of July

The smell of hot dogs and hamburgers cooking on the grill will fill the air. Parades will travel down streets. Fireworks will light up the night sky. As America gets ready to celebrate its 238th birthday, residents will be wearing red, white and blue while flying the American Flag.

There will be many ways to celebrate Independence Day. Here is a list of events taking place:

City of Homestead

The City of Homestead’s annual Fourth of July celebration, “Race to the 4th,” will be hosted for its fifth year at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, July 4th, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will feature family entertainment, live music, mechanical rides for children, food and drinks, games and a magnificent Independence Day fireworks display.

Admission to the “Race to the 4th” is free, with the display and vendor area located outside of the grandstands. Guests will be treated to music from two bands—“Mojo Scoundrels” and “Main Highway.” The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m.

Councilwoman Judy Waldman, Chairwoman to the Parks and Recreation Department, who has spearheaded this event, the Homestead-Miami Speedway and Event Co-Chair.

“This is one of our signature Homestead events! Every year more and more residents and visitors enjoy our free Fourth of July celebration. It is exciting to share our nation’s birthday with the community in a fun family friendly environment,” said Councilwoman Waldman. “This holiday is always a moving experience and serves a reminder of our freedom and those who have fought for it.”

Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer said, “It’s a pleasure to host ‘Race to the Fourth’ at Homestead-Miami Speedway for what has become a great community tradition. It remains a great family event and a fantastic venue to celebrate Independence Day.”

Additionally, a limited number of $20 tickets for guests 13 years old and up for the “4th of July at the Champions Club” event will be available for purchase at the City of Homestead Parks and Recreation Department, 350 SE 6th Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030. The tickets include VIP parking inside the stadium and food and soft drinks served from 6 – 8 p.m. inside the Champions Club, which offers a preferred view of the fireworks from above. Tickets for children from 7 to 12 years old are $10 and children who are under 6 years old can get into the Champions Club for free with a ticket. For more information please contact the Parks and Recreations Department at 305-224-4570.

Homestead Air Reserve Base

Homestead Air Reserve Base will host a free 4th of July celebration in front of the Heritage Hall Conference Center, building 404, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The free celebration features a fireworks show (scheduled for 8:30 p.m.), live music, amusement rides, and food and beverages available for purchase. The celebration is open to all Department of Defense identification card holders, as well as their families and guests. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, sunscreen and bug spray.

For more information call: 786-415-6784 or 7576.

Florida City

Families are invited to Fasulo Park, located on SW 9th Avenue and 5th Street, to celebrate the Fourth of July in grand fashion with activities and entertainment for all ages, leading up to a spectacular fireworks show.

The fun begins at 6 p.m. and will include pony rides, bounce houses, face painting, delicious food and entertainment.

This year’s event will also celebrate Florida City’s Centennial, making it bigger and better than ever.

“This is going to be an enhanced Fourth of July celebration,” said Mayor Otis Wallace. “We are going to have many activities going on, so bring your families out. We are going to make it a true centennial Fourth of July celebration.”

Whispering Pines

A scene described as being similar to a Norman Rock-well painting will unfold in Whispering Pines, as families gather for the annual Fourth of July Parade. Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. at Whispering Pines Park, located at Ridgeland Drive, one block west of 87th Avenue.

The parade will feature homebuilt floats, decorated bikes, costumes and much more.

Live music and entertainment will begin at 10 a.m. at the park. Food stands serving hot dogs and hamburgers will open at 10:30 a.m. Kids will be able to enjoy a waterslide and bounce house as well as other games. At noon free watermelon slices will be available for all guests.

Black Point Park

Celebrate the nation’s birthday with an all-American day at the park followed by a spectacular fireworks display, at Black Point Park and Marina, 24775 SW 87th Avenue, Cutler Bay. Admission is free.

Enjoy the great outdoors while exploring the park’s bikeways, scenic jogging trails, or 1.5 mile long jetty into the Bay where fishing enthusiasts are encouraged to cast from shore.

The day culminates with a spectacular waterfront fireworks show starting at 9 p.m.

Marina boat ramps open at 6 a.m. and the park opens at sunrise. Parking will be limited so there will be no overflow parking available for boat trailers. No golf carts allowed. No fireworks or sparklers allowed. The marina Channel and the basin will be CLOSED from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in preparation of the fireworks and vehicles will not be allowed to enter or exit the park during the fireworks show.

Key Largo

The 39th annual Fourth of July parade co-sponsored by the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce will begin the day of festivities in the Upper Keys. The parade begins at 10 a.m. from the parking lot at Anthony’s Clothing Store, MM 98.2 on the center median of U.S. Highway 1 in Key Largo, and ends at MM 100.

A free-admission community picnic, barbecue, vendor booths, kids’ games and live music are planned to follow the parade and be staged at Rowell’s Marina, MM 104.5 bayside. Parking is free.

The night ends as spectacular fireworks become even more dazzling when reflected in the calm surface of Blackwater Sound. The show will take place on the bayfront in Key Largo at 10 p.m. For the best views, try Sundowners, Senior Frijoles, Caribbean Club or Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort, all located near MM 104 bayside.

Islamorada

Spirit of Islamorada, an old fashioned 4th of July Celebration, is will be taking place at Founders Park (MM 87) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Spirit of Islamorada committee and the Upper Keys Rotary Club are proud to be hosting this community event. The event will be a crowd-pleaser again with live music by local bands and more. The Upper Keys Rotary will have hamburgers and hotdogs for sale as well as drinks. All proceeds will benefit the Upper Keys Rotary’s Scholarship Fund and local schools’ athletic programs.

The celebration will include free admission to the fireworks show for all Islamorada residents. Visitors who are staying at participating hotels will also be admitted free of charge. The free admission wristbands for out of town guests will go into effect at 6 p.m. There will be a ten dollar per car admission fee for non-residents who are not staying at a participating hotel/motel or resort.

Kendall

The Palms at Town & Country, 8888 Mills Drive, is hosting an All-American Fourth of July Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. The evening will begin with raffles and prizes given away in the Palms Plaza, behind Dick’s Sporting Goods. Live entertainment, including a 19-piece orchestra will serenade guests as they gather around the lake.

The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m.