Multiple Fourth of July celebrations are on tap next weekend in North Central Florida.
From Starke to Cedar Key, communities are set for parades, music and fireworks to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of America’s independence.
Here’s a list of events that are planned in chronological order:
WILLISTON
Williston Pre-4th Extravaganza Independence Day Celebration
Date: Thursday, July 3, at 5 p.m.
Location: Horsemens Park, 803 SW 19th Ave.
The city of Williston will present its Independence Day Celebration beginning with a parade at 5 p.m. Following the parade at 7 p.m., the public is invited to Horseman’s Park for an evening of music, food and crafts, followed by fireworks at dark.
GAINESVILLE
Date: Thursday, July 3, at 6 p.m.
Location: UF Bandshell at Flavet Field, 605 Woodlawn Dr.
WUFT will present an evening that includes performances by Now Leaving Space, Sooza Brass Band, The Savants and the Gainesville Community Band and Gainesville POPS. Bring a chair or a blanket and multiple food trucks will be available on site. For safety reasons, no dogs, sparklers, alcohol or drones are allowed. The fireworks display is scheduled to start around 9:30 p.m.
TRENTON
Date: Thursday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Tri-County Nursing Home, 7280 SW State Road 26
Free community event will feature live entertainment, games, food and fireworks.
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS
Date: Friday, July 4, at 8 a.m.
Location: Keystone Heights Beach Park, 555 S. Lawrence Blvd.
Start the day with the Freedom 5k (Cost: $38.10), which benefits the Jordan Cooper Memorial Scholarship Fund, an all-volunteer non-profit organization that gives scholarships to Keystone Heights High School graduating seniors. Events run from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Keystone Heights and include a dunk tank, cowboy reenactment, hot dog eating contest, baby crawling contest, pie baking contest, along with food trucks, live music, vendors, a parade at 11 a.m. and fireworks. The cost is $1 for residents and $2 for non-residents in advance and $3 at the gate.
CEDAR KEY
Date: Friday, July 4, at 10:45 a.m.
Location: 434 2nd St.
The golf cart parade starts at 10:45 a.m., with the fireworks starting at 9:15 p.m.
MICANOPY
Date: Friday, July 4, at 11 a.m.
Location: Throughout Micanopy
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. along Cholokka Boulevard, and the Ballpark Fun at Carson Roberts Sports Complex (702 NW Eestaulkee 3rd Ave.) will include music, food trucks and a blow-up obstacle course starting at 5:30 p.m. Bring chairs, blankets and bug spray. Fireworks launch at dusk around 8:45 p.m.
BRANFORD
Fourth of July River Reunion Festival
Date: Friday, July 4, at noon
Location: Branford Greenway, 502 SW Suwannee Ave.
The festival runs from noon to 7 p.m. The Rotary Duck Race on the Suwannee River starts at 2 p.m. Events will include a car show, children’s activities, watermelon eating and seed spitting, live music by DJ Trapper Griffith, a cornhole tournament, a parade at 7:30 p.m. along with craft and food booths. The fireworks will launch around 9:30 p.m.
LAKE CITY
Lake City & Columbia County 4th of July Celebration
Date: Friday, July 4, at 5 p.m.
Location: Florida Gateway Fairgrounds, 164 SW Mary Ethel Lane, Lake City
The city of Lake City and Columbia County will host its free inaugural 4th of July Celebration with food trucks, live music, craft vendors, a kid zone, a hot-dog eating contest, a watermelon-eating contest, antique vehicles, a dunk booth and an old-fashioned family field day followed by a fireworks show starting around 9 p.m. Cooling fans and shaded tents will be available, just bring your chair.
ALACHUA
Alachua Fourth of July Celebration
Date: Friday, July 4, at 5 p.m.
Location: Legacy Park at 15400 Peggy Rd.
The free event will begin at 5 p.m. with fireworks set to start at 9:30 p.m. Dubbed “The Largest Small Town Fireworks Display in America,” Alachua’s annual event will feature live music and food trucks.
LIVE OAK
Date: Friday, July 4, at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Millennium Park at 115 W. Howard St.
Live Oak will celebrate Independence Day with live music, bounce houses, a game zone and food trucks with the street festival starting at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks will begin around 9 p.m.
STARKE
Starke Spangled Splash Bash (2 days)
Date: Friday-Saturday, July 4-5
Location: Bradford County Fairgrounds at 2300 N. Temple Ave.
The Starke Spangled Splash Bash will last two days this year, starting at 9 a.m. with a parade in downtown Starke on Friday, July 4. At noon, listen to the latest in the Sounds of the Grounds Concert Series, the Faster Than Flash from 5 to 9 p.m., a Gold Star Recognition Ceremony at 9 p.m. followed by a special rendition of the National Anthem and fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m. Gates open at noon on Saturday, July 5, and will close at dusk.
LAKE BUTLER
Independence Celebration at Lakeside Park
Date: Saturday, July 5, all day
Location: Lakeside Park, 155 NW 3rd St.
The Tommy Spires Memorial Fishing Tournament kicks off the day’s events at 4 a.m. (for registration, launch begins at daylight). The day will be highlighted by the annual Lake Butler Rotary Independence Day Car Show that is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fireworks will begin around 9 p.m. with musical accompaniment.