BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — There are several events around the Panhandle to celebrate Independence Day this upcoming Tuesday.
Panama City Beach
The City of Panama City Beach will be hosting its ‘Fourth of July Happy Birthday USA Ceremony‘ starting at 9 a.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial in Aaron Bessant Park. The event is sponsored by the VFW Post 10555 and American Legion Post 402. The color guard will be filled by JR Arnold High School JROTC, and U.S. Coast Guard Commander Justin Irwin will be speaking at this event. The public is encouraged to attend to celebrate our nation’s independence.
Also, the city’s Real Fun Fourth fireworks display will be at 9 p.m. every night from July 2-July 4.
Panama City
The City of Panama City will be hosting its ‘Salute to Freedom‘ July 4th event starting at 11 a.m. at the Destination Panama City Visitors Center located at 101 W. Beach Drive. There will be live music performances by ‘Last Left,’ ‘Sons of Saints,’ and the ‘Disciples of Music,’ a kid’s zone with face painting, and inflatables, along with plenty of vendors and mouthwatering food options.
The event is free, but VIP tickets are available for $50 if you wish to have access to the Destination Panama City Visitors Center Deck, private, air-conditioned restrooms, and their catering and VIP bar. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
Walton County
There are several events taking place in Walton County.
Grayton Beach will be hosting a 4th of July Parade starting at 70 Hotz Avenue at 8:30 a.m. The event is free, everyone is welcome to attend and no registration is needed. After the parade, there will be a meet-up at Grayton Coast Properties for popsicles, watermelon, and lemonade.
The Red, White, and Baytowne celebration will begin at 7 p.m. at 9100 Baytowne Boulevard in Miramar Beach. Live music will be provided by TRIPPP on the Events Plaza Stage, a fireworks display will begin at 9:15 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf will be hosting kids’ activities, including crafts, face painting, and balloon sculpting.
Seaside will be hosting their ‘4th of July Concert and Fireworks‘ with a block party in Central Square at 4730 Highway 30A, beginning at 9 a.m. There will be a REP Theater performance, Huck and Lilly with a musical performance, Wild Bill’s hotdog eating contest, and more. Fireworks over the Gulf of Mexico will begin at 8:30 p.m.
Alys Beach will be hosting a Concert & Fireworks Show from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Alys Beach Amphitheater. There will be food and drink available for purchase and live music by the ‘Bay Kings Band.’
Gulf County
The Gulf County TDC and The City of Wewahitchka are hosting a 4th of July firework celebration. The display will take place at Lake Alice Park in Wewahitchka at 10:00 p.m. EST and fireworks are scheduled to begin at dark.
Also, The Gulf County TDC and The City of Port St Joe will also be hosting a 4th of July firework celebration at 10:00 p.m. EST. Organizers state that attendees will be able to view the show from the Port St. Joe downtown area and George Core Park area.
MARIANNA
Marianna’s Independence Day Celebration begins at 5 p.m. at the Mere Complex on Caverns Road with fireworks at 8:45 p.m.
VERNON
The City of Vernon will hold their annual July 4th Celebration on Saturday, July 1, 2023. The event will kick-off with a parade through downtown at 4pm. Then head on down to the Vernon Sportsplex for arts and craft vendors, inflatables for the kids, and plenty of yummy food trucks! Local country recording artist, Christian Birge, will be taking the stage at 7pm and the night will end in a spectacular fireworks display beginning around 9pm. For more information, contact the City of Vernon at (850) 535-2444.
Lynn Haven
The City of Lynn Haven will be hosting its ‘United We Stand‘ celebration starting at 6 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Lynn Haven Rotary Club at the Senior Activity Club. Events to follow include the opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at 9th Street and Ohio Avenue and a parade at 8:45 a.m. at 5th Street and Ohio Avenue. Additional July 4th activities, including vendors, food trucks, a rock wall, face painting, axe throwing, and a mechanical bull, will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Sharon Sheffield Park.
Lynn Haven will close out the night at A.L. Kinsaul Park with a concert by the ‘Bay Kings Band,’ starting at 5:30 p.m., and a fireworks show at 9 p.m. for the finale.
Mexico Beach
Mexico Beach’s Blast on the Beach Firework Show will begin around 8:30 p.m. CDT. This show can be seen throughout the entire city.
APALACHICOLA
will host an all-day Monday, July 3 Independence Day Eve celebration, featuring all-local food trucks plus food booths hosted by area nonprofits. The Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce’s event at Riverfront Park will have inflatables for the kids, a hot dog eating contest at 3:30 p.m., and the Red, White and Blue parade organized by Franklin’s Promise Coalition at 6:30 p.m. beginning at Lafayette Park. Music from Scratch 2020 and The Ashley Morgan Band will be featured, and then fireworks at dark-thirty.
St. George Island
The city will host a parade on Tuesday, July 4, with the lineup starting at 10:30 a.m. at West First Street and West Pine Avenue, roughly near Mango Mikes. The parade starts at 11 a.m. In the evening there will be fireworks in front of the Blue Parrot Oceanfront Cafe when it gets dark.
