Red, white and you

Where will you celebrate the Fourth of July?

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 30, 2000

[Times file photo ] Fireworks will fill the air up and down the Suncoast in organized events from Crystal River to Tampa to St. Petersburg.

Summer thunderstorms are a matter of course these days, but the legacy of the long drought lives on. A number of local governments have banned private fireworks, and some public fireworks displays have been canceled.

Still, there should be enough big bangs out there so that nobody forgets that this is Independence Day weekend.

Most of the fireworks displays are on Tuesday, the Fourth of July, but there are some shows earlier in the weekend. Our guide to the weekend's patriotic fun is organized by area, and there's a separate list of fireworks for those who don't want to miss a single sparkle.

Whichever display you choose, remember that crowds are always big for the fireworks and likely to be bigger since options are more limited than usual. So arrive early and bring all the food, water, blankets, bug spray -- and patience -- you need to make the holiday memorable in the best way possible.

ST. PETERSBURG

SUNDAY: St. Petersburg's first crack at Independence Day fireworks comes Sunday after the St. Pete Devil Rays take on the Fort Myers Miracle at Florida Power Park. The game starts at 7 p.m.; fireworks will last 11-13 minutes. Game tickets are $5 for box seats and $3 general admission. Call (727) 825-3284.

Your fireworks guide This brief guide tells you only when and where to go for the fireworks. Some times are a little vague, but that won't really matter, since you'll need to get there well before dark in order to find parking and a good spot to sit. Consult the main list for details.

TUESDAY: On the Fourth of July, two downtown locations will host live music and family activities from noon to 8 p.m., capped off with performances by teen band C-Note and the all-grown-up Deborah (remember when she was Debbie?) Gibson. Fireworks will be shot over the water at 9 p.m.

The Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE:

Noon: indoor family fun with clowns and games.

2 p.m.: Prymary Colorz; Dreamtime 3 p.m.: Playin' Jane 3:45 p.m.: Stryke 5

4:45 p.m.: Olive Carpet

5:20 p.m.: Kimberly Thach

6 p.m.: Tara MacLean; Dreamtime

7 p.m.: C-Note

8 p.m.: Deborah Gibson

North Straub Park:

6 p.m.: Northeast Christian Choir

7 p.m.: Kimberly Kay and Swing Fever

8 p.m.: Bombed Out Cat

FIREWORKS: Best viewing positions for the Tuesday fireworks show, which begins at 9 p.m., are from The Pier, South Straub Park and anywhere along the downtown waterfront. Tune in to WMTX-FM 100.7 for simulcast music. If you go, go early: City officials estimate about 100,000 people will be joining you.

CLEARWATER

Clearwater salutes Independence Day 2000 with three days of fun capped off with a fireworks explosion Tuesday in Coachman Park. There's plenty of music on offer, ranging from the Mostly Pops Orchestra to a Grand Funk Railroad alum. A Taste of America Food Expo runs throughout the festivities, from 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 4 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Get there early each day for a good viewing spot for live entertainment:

SUNDAY: 5:30-9:15 p.m.: Dan O'Brien, Monique and Walter Beazley

MONDAY: 5-9:15 p.m.: the Sevilles, Gary Lewis and the Playboys and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad

TUESDAY: 7:30-9:30 p.m.: the Mostly Pops Orchestra featuring John and Mary K. Wilson.

FIREWORKS: The GTE Americast Blast takes over the sky Tuesday night for a 25-minute fireworks display that begins at 9:30 p.m.

TAMPA

MONDAY AND TUESDAY: Rock around the clock at Independence Fest 2000 from 7 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday in the historic Cuban Club, 2010 Republica de Cuba, Ybor City.

Four arenas provide room for more than 23 live bands including Prophecy, Rick West, Andy Hughes, Sandy, Mike and Charlie, Dread and many more.

Tickets are $20 and are available until midnight the day of the show. Proceeds benefit Refuge Ministries, the First Amendment Legal Fund, Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Police Athletic League.

TUESDAY: A 25-minute fireworks display begins at 9:15 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Park on Ashley Street in downtown Tampa. You can set up a picnic on the lawn as early as 7 p.m. Christian radio station WLPJ-FM 91.5 will broadcast patriotic music during the fireworks, sponsored by Metropolitan Ministries and Living Water Church.

FIREWORKS AND SOCCER: The Tampa Bay Mutiny will have a post-game fireworks extravaganza Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Admission to watch the Mutiny take on the D.C. United and see the fireworks display is $12-$21. Game starts at 7 p.m. Half of the fireworks will be best viewed from inside of the stadium. The latter half will be set off from the north parking lot for an aerial display visible inside and outside the stadium.

ST. PETE BEACH

TODAY-SUNDAY: The Independence Day Comedy Festival will provide a different way to celebrate the holiday, at 9:30 tonight through Sunday at Coconuts Comedy Club at Howard Johnson's, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Entertainers include Carl Faulkenberry of Showtime, Steve Arik of MTV, Lou Angelwolf of Comedy Central and Kivi Rogers, who has been on The Tonight Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, Dharma and Greg, Home Improvement and programs on HBO and BET. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations required. Call (727) 360-5653.

FIREWORKS: The City of St. Pete Beach will hold its display at about 9 p.m. Tuesday behind the Lido Condominium Complex. Parking is available at the County Access Park, 4100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.

TREASURE ISLAND

TUESDAY: Magic, music, clowns and fireworks fill the day on the municipal beach, Gulf Boulevard and 112th Avenue, from 1 to 9 p.m. Events include the Key West George band, clowns, magic by Paul Espo, Dixieland, swing and blues by the Clam Bayou Jazz Band and stilt walking.

The Charlie Morris Band kicks up '50s and '60s music from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the County Beach.

FIREWORKS: A 20-minute display is scheduled for approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday on Treasure Island's municipal beach. Blankets and coolers are welcome. Glass containers are prohibited.

REDINGTON SHORES/NORTH REDINGTON BEACH

TUESDAY: Two beach towns combine efforts for a parade, picnic and fireworks beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Join the community for hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas in Radcliffe Park.

FIREWORKS: The Tuesday night fireworks show begins at dusk.

GULFPORT

TUESDAY: Zack Hill and Ocean Sports will flip, spin and fly through the air in skating demonstrations at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Recreation Center at Shore and Beach boulevards. Bring along your skates to join the fun between demonstrations.

Other activities include a sand-castle contest, basketball games, bouncy boxing, live music and a parade.

FIREWORKS: Start at 9 p.m. Tuesday near the Gulfport Pier.

DUNEDIN

TUESDAY: Music and family fun highlight the Dunedin Independence Day festival from noon to 7 p.m. in Edgewater Park at the Dunedin Marina, Alt. U.S. 19 and Main Street.

The day begins with the city's traditional pipe band. Entertainment by Elvis impersonator Bill Beck, the Clam Bayou Band, Soul Proprietor and Flashback follows.

There will also be plenty of food, an arts and crafts display, games and and pony rides.

No fireworks are planned.

LARGO

TUESDAY: The Largo Recreation and Parks Department celebrates with music, food and games from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Largo Central Park, corner of East Bay Drive and Missouri Avenue.

The Summit Orchestra and Singers will provide the patriotic tunes, and thrills will come via games and rides.

Stageside tables for four are available for $20; blanket seating is free. Kids can play unlimited games with the purchase of a $5 wristband. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Alcohol, personal fireworks and pets are not allowed in the park.

No fireworks are planned.

SEMINOLE

TUESDAY: The Pinellas County Parks Department and the city of Seminole will dedicate Boca Ciega Millennium Park, 6999 125th St. N in Seminole, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. Entertainment includes juggling, unicycle riders, dancing, magic, singing and an old-time picnic. Take a moment to walk the park's scenic nature trails.

No fireworks are planned.

NEW PORT RICHEY

SATURDAY-SUNDAY: The Rally by the River Independence Celebration will rock downtown's newly refurbished Sims Park from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Entertainment at Saturday's Classic Rock All Stars Concert includes members of rock bands Rare Earth, Iron Butterfly, the Blues Image, Sugarloaf and Cannibal and the Headhunters.

Admission to Rally by the River is free. Gates close at 7 p.m. Saturday and reopen at 7:30 p.m. with a $10 admission for the Classic Rock All Stars Concert and laser show.

No fireworks are planned.

PORT RICHEY

TUESDAY: Gulf View Square Mall in Port Richey will hold the Red, White and Boom Festival, starting at 11 a.m. and ending with a fireworks display at 8:45 p.m. An antique car show will open at 11 a.m. near the front entrance to the mall. A moonwalk will open for kids at 4 p.m. Singers and singing groups will perform on the front parking lot stage from 4:30 to 8:45 p.m. The mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

FIREWORKS: 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in the rear parking lot of Gulf View Square Mall.

HUDSON

SATURDAY: Neil Diamond impersonator Bobby Palermo will be the headliner at the Hudson Boom Bash 2000 at Port Hudson Marina. Activities start at 4 p.m. with street dancing and entertainment. At 9:30, Palermo will sing Coming to America during a 20-minute fireworks display. The event includes at car show and swimsuit competition. Admission is free, but parking at the marina is $5. To reach the marina, go west on Hudson Avenue off U.S. 19, then turn north on Pine Street.

FIREWORKS: 9:30 p.m. Saturday (after Boom Bash) at Hudson Marina.

DADE CITY

TUESDAY: Sparklebration is the annual Dade City fireworks display, put on by the Rotary Club of Dade City. The event runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, along State Road 52 in Dade City. The day includes a rock-climbing wall, helicopter and tethered hot air balloon rides, live entertainment, a flag brought in by the U.S. Skydiving Team, Rick Osbourne "The Yo-Yo Man," the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Express mobile baseball museum, and fireworks at dusk. Admission is free, parking is $5.

FIREWORKS: At dusk Tuesday at the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City.

BROOKSVILLE

TUESDAY: The horns and hooves will fly at the sixth annual Fourth of July Bullriding Blowout. Thirty-five professional bull riders from throughout the Southeast will compete at the Hernando County Fairgrounds for $5,000 in prize money and to qualify for the Professional Bull Riders Finals, set for January in Montgomery, Ala. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and bull riding begins at 7. Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the gate. Admission for children ages 5 to 12 is $6, and children younger than 5 get in free. The fairgrounds are on U.S. 41, just south of Brooksville. Call (352) 754-4433.

No fireworks are planned.

CRYSTAL RIVER

TUESDAY: The city celebrates Independence Day with the Family Freedom Festival at Hunter Springs Park. Food, games, train rides and a moon walk in the park. Prime viewing spots for fireworks are Hunter Springs Park or just about any parking lot or side street west of U.S. 19. The closer to Kings Bay, the better.

FIREWORKS: 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hunter Springs Park.

THEME PARKS

Cypress Gardens celebrates Independence Day with a British invasion of the musical kind, featuring the Revolution and a Beatles Tribute, plus fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday and the usual Cypress Gardens attractions. Admission is $20 adults and $14.95 children 6-12. Cypress Gardens is located off U.S. 27, 22 miles south of I-4 between Orlando and Tampa.

Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk set off a combined fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. One day/one park admission to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure or CityWalk are $46 adults, $37 children ages 3-9.

Disney gets into the act with a choice of three fireworks displays and extended park hours on Tuesday.

The Magic Kingdom presents the "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks display at 9 p.m. The park remains open until 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Disney-MGM Studios presents two showings of the water and fireworks show "Fantasmic!" at 9:15 and 11 p.m.

Epcot presents "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" fireworks and laser show at 9 p.m.

-- One day/one park general admission to Disney theme parks is $46 adults and $37 children ages 3-9.