Wondering where you can go to celebrate July Fourth this year? Look no further — opportunities to see fireworks and have fun with the whole family are happening across the county.
DeLand
The City of DeLand will host its annual Firecracker Festival 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Earl Brown Park, 751 S. Alabama Ave. The event will feature fireworks, food trucks, and plenty of entertainment for kids. Live entertainment will be provided by the band The Pop Culture Poets. Though the festivities begin at 6 p.m., attendees can expect fireworks to start at dusk.
Orange City
Orange City’s annual “Fireworks & Fun” event kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at Valentine Park, 1595 W. French Ave. This celebration will feature live music, food and other vendors, and, per the city, “the best fireworks display in town.” Personal fireworks and coolers are prohibited. The event will run until 9:30 p.m., and fireworks will kick off at 9:15 p.m.
Deltona
“Deltona’s All American Blast!” kicks off at 5 p.m. Monday, July 4, at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex, 1200 Saxon Blvd. The All American Blast will run until 10 p.m. and feature music, bounce houses, games, vendors and, of course, fireworks. Fireworks kick off at 9:15 p.m.
Looking for a quieter July Fourth event? Lyonia Environmental Center will host “Fireworks and Wildlife,” a lecture by Volusia County Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan Manager Alexa Putillo. Fireworks are fun, but they leave a lot of litter on the beach, and Putillo will talk about how this and other pollution affect sea turtles and other wildlife. Participants will also learn about how they can get involved in beach cleanups and other conservation activities.
This event will take place 10-11 a.m. Sunday, July 3, at Lyonia Environmental Center, 2150 Eustace Ave. in Deltona.
Reservations are required. To reserve your spot, call 386-789-7207, ext. 21028.
Lake Helen
Lake Helen’s bombastic July Fourth celebration will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, with an Independence Day parade. The parade will begin at Fox Glass, 520 W. Main St., and travel east on Main Street, turn south on Lakeview Drive, and end at Blake Park, 493 S. Lakeview Drive. At 11 a.m., the celebration will continue at Blake Park with food trucks, slip-and-slides for kids, craft vendors, a watermelon-eating contest, and live music provided by the Tommy Mac Band. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
Pierson
Pierson will celebrate July Fourth 4-9:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, at the Chipper Jones Family Sports Complex, 128 W. Washington Ave. This event will feature arts and crafts vendors, a clown, inflatables, a choo-choo train, service and product vendors, and food for purchase at the town’s concession stand. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
DeBary
DeBary’s “Freedom Fest” will run 4-11 p.m. Monday, July 4, at Gemini Springs Park, 37 Dirksen Drive. The Freedom Fest will feature live entertainment, fun for the kids, and food for purchase. Fireworks and a laser display set to music will begin at 9:15 p.m. Coolers are allowed, but no glass, grills or personal fireworks.
On the east side
There are plenty of July Fourth festivities on the east side of Volusia County, too, including concerts at 7:15 p.m. July 2, 3 and 4 at the Bandshell, 70 Boardwalk in Daytona Beach.
The concert on Saturday, July 2, features The Boxers, a Simon & Garfunkel tribute group, and Southern Cross, a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tribute band. Fireworks will be at 9:45 p.m.
On Sunday, July 3, U.S. Bee Gees, a Bee Gees tribute band, will perform.
Then, on Monday, July 4, The Alter Eagles, an Eagles tribute band, will perform.
There will be fireworks at 9:45 p.m. after the concerts on July 2 and 4.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.daytonabandshell.com.
For people looking for something a little quieter and environmentally-minded on the east side, beach cleanups are planned across East Volusia Tuesday, July 5.
Sea turtle season began May 1, and Volusia County wants to ensure the beaches are clear of fireworks debris.
Cleanups will take place from 8:30-10:30 a.m. July 5, at Tom Renick Park, 1565 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach; Sun Splash Park, 611 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach; and Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, New Smyrna Beach. Participants are asked to bring a bucket or trash bag, as well as grabbers and gloves, if they have them, to assist in trash cleanup.
