Fourth of July Celebrations

Fourth of July Celebrations

Baldwin

Baldwin’s Celebration of Freedom will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m., U.S. 90 West, downtown Baldwin. Includes parade 11 a.m., celebration ceremony 12:30 p.m., live entertainment 1-7 p.m., arts and crafts, booths and games. (904) 266-5030.

Fernandina Beach

Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Central Park, Fernandina Beach; Sounds on Centre concert, 100 block of Centre Street; "Art"rageous First Friday with art, food and entertainment, various galleries in the historic district. Festival includes a Touch-A-Truck public safety display, arts and crafts, live entertainment, contests and a children's playground. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m., at the foot of Centre Street. (904) 753-4467

Hilliard

The annual Hilliard Fourth of July Celebration will be at the Hilliard Airpark beginning at 4 p.m., starting with the flag raising by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10095. Food, games and arts and crafts booths will be open. Fireworks will begin at dark.

Jacksonville

Kids Kampus Family Freedom Fest 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Kids Kampus next to Metropolitan Park. Includes patriotic crafts, entertainment and activities for children 12 and under. (904) 630-5437

Country Concert and Fourth of July Celebration

Metropolitan Park - gates open, 4 p.m.; opening ceremony, 4:30 p.m.; concert, 5 p.m.; Freedom, Fanfare and Fireworks Skyblast 2008 9:45 p.m.

Jacksonville Beach

Liberty Celebration 4-10 p.m., SeaWalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach. Includes music by Dot Wilder and the St. Johns River City Band's Satin Swing 4:30 p.m., Sugar Bear 6:15 p.m., Diggin' Rhythm 8 p.m.; skydivers, 6 p.m.; fireworks, 9:30 p.m. (904) 247-6100, press 3

Keystone Heights

Our Country Day, the lake area’s annual celebration of the Fourth of July, will begin on Thursday, July 3, with the Street Dance starting the festivities from 8 p.m. until 11:30 p.m in the parking lot of Keystone Village Plaza on SR-100.

On Friday, July 4, a full slate of events and activities are scheduled throughout the day leading up to a spectacular fireworks display at dusk.

• An arts and crafts fair with food vending will be stationed in the Theme Park next to city hall from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The ever-popular and irresistible Baby Crawl races in at 10 a.m. in the Theme Park.
• The Florida 1st Artillery Living Historians will host a display area in Nature Park A children’s "Fun Zone" will be located in the Nature Park.
• The 150th celebration will be hosting 3 bands at Keystone Beach throughout the day
• The parade begins at 11 a.m. down South Lawrence Boulevard. The Parade will be lead by Grand Marshall Colonel J.M. Duren of Camp Blanding. Plan to see possibly the largest number of Shriner units that Keystone has ever had participate in the parade along with patriotic floats and historical military vehicles.
• Starting at 2:00 p.m. National recording artist George Britt will be performing songs of the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the present at the Theme Park

Lake City

Fourth of July Celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. with a lineup of musical performers including the Grace Harbor Praise Band and Columbia County’s Denise Hingson, country music vocalist and emcee for the evening’s entertainment.

The 9:20 p.m. fireworks display will again be on the shores of Lake DeSoto. In addition to the fireworks festivities, food vendors and entertainment will be available.

Orange Park

American Pie Fourth of July Festival to benefit the Black Creek District Boy Scouts of America, 11 a.m., Moosehaven, U.S. 17, Orange Park. Includes arts and crafts, live entertainment, games, prizes, free amusements, a parade along River Road at 2 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. (904) 472-9099

Ponte Vedra Beach

Independence Day music and service, patriotic singalong 9:45 a.m., special patriotic worship service 10 a.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, enter from Golf View Drive. (904) 285-6127.

St. Augustine

Fireworks Over the Matanzas Concert by the 13th Army Band, 6 p.m., Plaza de la Constitucion, by the Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine. Traffic detours begin 8:30 p.m. Fireworks 9:30 p.m. (904) 825-1004.

Union County

Hot air balloon rides are the new attraction at this year’s annual Fourth of July celebration at Lakeside Community Center in Lake Butler. Some of the festivities for the day include two early morning runs: the Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K run at 8:30 a.m. Car show registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.

There will also be attractions such as karaoke and bluegrass music, hot air balloon rides, petting zoo, bounce houses, portable water slides, pony rides, watermelon eating contest and a greased-pole climbing contest. Booths will open around 9 a.m. and will have food, games and entertainment for everyone. Fireworks show will begin at dusk.