Fireworks, parades, cookouts and concerts: How to celebrate the 4th of July in Brevard
UPDATE JULY 2: The fireworks display and street party planned for Port Canaveral Sunday night has been canceled, according to an email from Port officials sent Sunday afternoon. No reason was given for the cancelation.
The Port later tweeted that the display was being canceled over safety concerns "due to unforeseen circumstances affecting technical difficulties in executing our fireworks display."
Make your plans now to celebrate Independence Day. From fireworks to concerts to cookouts, here's a list of some of the events planned for the Space Coast.
Due to potential changes and cancellations, we encourage you to check with presenting organizations about the status of their events. Please note that these events do not all take place on July 4.
Cocoa
Symphony Under the Stars in Cocoa: Brevard Symphony Orchestra will give a free concert at Riverfront Park, Cocoa, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. Fireworks will follow the concert at 9:15 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. Admission is free, but VIP tickets that include a BBQ dinner and reserved seating are available for $60 for Brevard Symphony Orchestra subscribers, $75 for non-subscribers. Visit brevardsymphony.com/symphonyunderthestars.
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach Fireworks: The City of Cocoa Beach will host a fireworks display at Fischer Park Beach, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., starting at 8:45 p.m. Monday, July 3. The park will be closed to pedestrians and cars all day. Visit cityofcocoabeach.com.
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Indialantic
'Salute to America' concert: The Melbourne Municipal Band and Eastminster Choir present a musical celebration of America at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 106 N. Riverside Drive, Indialantic on July 4 at 7:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to stay after the concert for ice cream, fellowship and fireworks. Visit mmband.org.
Melbourne
Firecracker 5K: The 5K run will start at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 4 in the Eau Gallie Arts District. It begins on Highland Ave. at Eau Gallie Square, travels east over the Eau Gallie Causeway and returns to Eau Gallie Square. There will be red, white and blue popsicles for all finishers, as well as finisher medals, a light breakfast and free beer for ages 21 and older. The cost is $35 for adults or $20 for participants 12 and younger. Visit runsignup.com.
July 4 Celebration: Jesus is the Key Church hosts the event at Wickham Park Amphitheater, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, on Tuesday, July 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will include a parade of state flags, jump castles, raffles, hot dogs, ice cones and more. Admission is free. Call 321-773-1489 or visit jitk.org.
MelBOOM 2023: The City of Melbourne hosts a fireworks celebration on Tuesday, July 4 starting at 9 p.m. at Claude Edge Front Street Park, 2205 Front Street, Melbourne. Food and fun await with fireworks set to go off at 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to park at Melbourne Auditorium, 625 Hibiscus Blvd., and use a free shuttle service to Front Street Park. Three buses will run continuously from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Bus service will resume after the fireworks show and will run until 11 p.m. In the event of rain, the fireworks display will be rescheduled to July 5. Admission is free. Call 321-608-7420 or visit melbourneflorida.org.
Fireworks viewing at Green Gables: Green Gables, 1501 S Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, will host fireworks viewing on Tuesday, July 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. Bring a lawn chair. The cost is $10 per car in advance or $15 per car at the door. Cars must show eventbrite ticket to enter. In addition, tours of the historic house will be available for $10 from 7 to 8 p.m. No smoking or alcohol is allowed. Visit greengables.org.
Merritt Island
Independence Day parade: The Veterans Memorial Center hosts the parade on July 4 at 10 a.m. It starts at Merritt Island High School, proceeding south on Courtenay Pkwy., then east on Merritt Ave., and ends at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High. After the parade, a celebration with food trucks will take place at the Veterans Memorial Center, 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy., Merritt Island. Visit veteransmemorialcenter.org.
Palm Bay
Independence Day Celebration: Palm Bay’s annual Independence Day Celebration returns to Eastern Florida State College, 250 Community College Parkway SE, Palm Bay, on Sunday, July 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. It will feature food trucks, vendors, a kids’ zone with free inflatables, games, face painting and more. There will be live music by Joseph Jevanni and Intensity Live. Fireworks will start around 9:15 p.m. Bring your own chairs or blankets, but coolers, pets, fireworks, sparklers, drones and alcohol are not allowed. Admission is free. Call 321-952-3443 or visit palmbayflorida.org.
Port Canaveral
Smoke on the Water & Fire in the Sky: Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and had to the Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral, 670 Dave Nisbet Drive, Cape Canaveral, for a celebration on Sunday, July 2 at 5 p.m. The family-friendly event will include a kids zone, a DJ, face painting, ice cream, food trucks and local vendors. Fireworks will launch at 9 p.m. Admission is free, but parking costs $10. Visit facebook.com/events/188720164161810.
Port St. John
Thunder over the Indian River: The Port St. John Community Foundation hosts this annual event at the OUC Indian River Plant, 7800 S. US1, on Saturday, July 1 starting at 4 p.m. The gate to the event is on Kings Highway, directly across from Capron Road. A fireworks display will start at 9:15 p.m. There will also be live entertainment, bounce houses, games, prizes and more. Admission is free, but for a $10 ticket guests may purchase a wristband for the Red, Hot & BBQ contest from 5 to 8 p.m. In the event of rain, the event will be postponed to Sunday, July 2. Visit portstjohncommunityfoundation.com or facebook.com/PSJCF.
Rockledge
Independence Day picnic in Rockledge: The City of Rockledge will host an Independence Day picnic at McLarty Park, 790 Barton Blvd., on Tuesday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a hamburger or hot dog, chips and a drink for just $1.The community event also features activities, games, music and more. Admission is free. Call 321-221-7540 or visit cityofrockledge.org or facebook.com/CityOfRockledge.
Suntree
Suntree Stars & Stripes picnic and concert: Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, hosts a free community picnic and patriotic concert on Sunday, July 2. There will be games at 4:30 p.m., food at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call 321-242-2585 or visit suntreeumc.org.
Titusville
Red, White and Boom in Titusville: The City of Titusville will host a free family event in conjunction with the fireworks display on Tuesday, July 4 starting at 7 p.m. Enjoy music, food, business vendors and other family friendly activities in Chain of Lakes Park, 2300 Truman Scarborough Way, Titusville. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. Visit members.titusville.org.
Viera
Great American Celebration: A spectacular fireworks display is the highlight of this event at the USSSA Space Coast Complex, 6091 Stadium Parkway, Viera, starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. Visit vieracommunityinstitute.com or call 321-255-4500.
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Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: July 4th fireworks in Brevard: Here's where to watch the shows
