Fireworks Transform the Gulf Coast Sky on 4th of July
From big cities to small towns, the Gulf States of America are celebrating the 4th of July on grassy park lawns, sandy beaches, riverfronts, and rooftops
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary to take a roadtrip, grill hot dogs outside, join a parade, and watch colorful explosions in the night sky. Americans should feel impelled to hit the road and go to the Gulf Coast.
Below are just a few of the events happening on the 4th of July or Independence Weekend.
Click each title to see the full Event Listing.
Florida
Independence Day + Monroe County Bicentennial
The Florida Keys puts two celebrations together for one great big party, with food and drinks, kids activities, an amazing fireworks show, and wouldn’t you know it, the World’s Largest Key Lime Pie!
July 3 • Big Pine Key FL
Everglades City Independence Day Celebration
The public is invited to join the parade! So decorate your golf cart, bicycle, or buggy; prizes are awarded for the best entries. After the parade, enjoy food and fun followed by fireworks after dusk.
July 1 • Everglades City, FL
Elevate your Independence Day. Sydney’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden is already known for its panoramic 360˚ view of the city and sunset over the Caloosahatchee River. Add some delicious BBQ, cold bevvies, live music with Rosaline, brilliant fireworks, and you are celebrating the 4th of July in high style!
July 4 • Ft. Myers, FL
Sunset Polo: The Independence Cup
Saturday evening in Ocala is all about polo at the Florida Horse Park in the Official Horse Capital of the World. See you at the divot stomp!
July 1 • Ocala, FL
Pasco County’s biggest, free, family-friendly, all-day celebration of Summer presents a 30-Minute fireworks show over Zephyr Lake to close out the evening.
July 1 • Zephyrhills, FL
Uncle Pookie’s Drag Me 2 Brunch 4th of July Edition
Witness the unifying power of patriotism and drag in the historic setting of The Blocks, the hub of Pensacola’s black community, once known as “the Harlem of the South.” Call up your friends and drag them to brunch!
July 1 • Pensacola, FL
PCB is showing up and turning out for Independence in grand style, lighting up the night skies for three (count ’em: 3!) nights of brilliant fireworks displays in various beach and bayside locations.
July 2 – 4 • Panama City Beach, FL
Red, White & Blues – Blue Angels Air Show
The fireworks may be over, but you can keep celebrating Independence Day with the US Navy’s world-famous flight demonstration squadron (and Pensacola hometown heroes!), the Blue Angels.
July 5 – 8 • Pensacola Beach, FL
Alabama
Rockabilly BamaLama: Red, White & Boom!
Sure there’s baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet. But what’s more American than a weekend of Rockabilly, hotrods, pin-ups, and fireworks?
June 30 – July 2 • Robertsdale, AL
Celebrate Independence Day 2023 in the city that was born to celebrate! Do we need to even ask if the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the USA knows how to throw a party? The fun starts at Mardi Gras Park with a “Kid Zone” complete with a DJ and all manner of kid-friendly action. Then keep your party hat on, because the good times keep rolling a short walk away at Cooper Riverside Park with live music, food, and fireworks!
July 4 • Mobile, AL
Mississippi
Sail out from the Mississippi Maritime & Seafood Museum, home of the Biloxi Schooner! It’s BYO food and drinks, so bring some ginger snaps for the land-lubbers. There’s nothing like watching fireworks in the sky dancing with that reflection in the water.
July 4 • Biloxi, MS
Louisiana
WBRZ Fireworks on the Mississippi
All along the Baton Rouge waterfront, the largest fireworks show in Louisiana can be viewed from either side of the Mississippi River, in Downtown Baton Rouge or Port Allen. And every year for the last half a century or so, the Manship family, owner/operators of BR’s ABC affiliate TV station has proudly hosted this display.
July 4 • Baton Rouge, LA
The Mystic Krewe of Amon-Ra invites you to enjoy the timeless pleasure of double entendres while fundraising for their 59th Annual Gay Mardi Gras Ball.
July 4 • New Orleans, LA
St. Landry Parish lays out an Independence Day Cajun-style spread, with all the appropriate music, food, and fireworks. The Yambilee Ag Arena will be poppin’ with the sounds of Three Thirty Seven and Gerald Gruenig performing live.
July 4 • Opelousas, LA
Red, White, Blue & You
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to this lakeside celebration that includes a free, patriotic community concert and a salute to the Armed Forces followed by fireworks over the lake that will begin after sunset.
July 4 • Lake Charles, LA
Texas
Camp Margaritaville 4th of July Weekend
Need to get some independence from the grind this holiday? No need to keep searching for that lost shaker of salt. Instead, bring your RV down to Camp Margaritaville for three days of beachside concerts and fun on the Bolivar Peninsula. All reservations include concert admission!
July 1 – 4 • Crystal Beach, Bolivar Peninsula, TX
Stars, Stripes & Poolside Vibes – The Laura Hotel
Not just one, but two epic pool parties are happening this extended holiday weekend at the Laura Hotel’s poolside paradise. The party happens on the rooftop with stunning downtown views. Come for the day or have a truly unforgettable vacation at this downtown Houston hotspot.
Bellaire’s Celebration of Independence
Perhaps you prefer festivities on a smaller, sweeter scale? The multicultural melting pot of Bellaire invites you to enjoy their morning Celebration of Independence Parade & Festival. The parade kicks everything off at 9am, followed by a party in the town square with food and live music that goes until noon. You know what that means: You can get home before the heat really kicks in!
July 4 • Bellaire, TX
Hosted by a chatty Facebook group of local islanders, this happy parade allows no flags other than the American flag and the Texas Lone Star flag. A reminder that true patriotism goes beyond political parties: It’s time to unite under Old Glory and celebrate what brings us together.
July 3 • Padre Island, Corpus Christi, TX
Just west of South Padre Island’s Gulfside paradise, barely north of Mexico, and at the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, San Benito has a vibe all its own. Resaca Fest promises plenty of live music with headliner Sunny Sauceda, great food, and fireworks, fully living up the fest’s tagline, “Celebrating the Spirit of America.”
July 1 • San Benito, TX
Independence Day on the island gets going at 9:30am, when everyone is invited to join the walking beach parade that starts at Beach Access #8. Wear your red, white & blue, wave your flag high, then spend the day enjoying all the food and fun the island has to offer. When night falls, find a good viewing spot, and get ready for an especially brilliant fireworks display. There’s a reason South Padre Island is the officially recognized Fireworks Capital of Texas!
July 4 • South Padre Island, TX
