What's Happening: Independence Day events, 'Gentleman's Guide,' author event and more
JULY 1 THROUGH JULY 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENTS: Celebrate the United States around town this week with events planned for July 1-4. The Lake Butler Independence Celebration and Fireworks event is set for all day July 1 at Lakeside Park, 155 NW Third St. in Lake Butler. Lake Butler Rotary Club’s 29th annual event will feature a 5K run, car show, fishing tournament, food trucks, live music, kids activities, fireworks and more. (facebook.com/lakebutlerrotary) An Independence Day Flag Raising is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 1 at Amber Brooke Farms, 3250 NE 140th Ave. in Williston. Tickets are $10 for children and free for adults. Spend the day celebrating the country with the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group completing the flag-raising ceremony and the Mustang Cloggers performing, watermelon-eating contest, kids’ activities and live music provided by Vintage. (bit.ly/idfr23a) A Fourth of July Independence Celebration is set for 6 p.m. July 3 at Horseman's Park, 1610 SW Eighth Terrace in Williston. This celebration will feature fireworks and live music by Fire Creek, Reggie Stacy and Adamrountree. (bit.ly/4jic23) Fanfares and Fireworks, the annual Gainesville tradition, is set for 6 to 10 p.m. July 3 at Flavet Field, University of Florida campus, 605 Woodlawn Drive. WUFT-FM Morning Edition host Glenn Richards will serve as emcee at the event featuring live music and a fireworks display. Musical groups include Matcha, Sooza Brass Band, The Savants of Soul and Gainesville Community Band and the Gainesville “POPS” under the direction of Gary Langford. Food trucks will be on site. For safety reasons, no dogs, sparklers, drones or alcohol. Coolers are allowed, but may be subject to search by UF Police Department. (wuft.org/fireworks) Those who love the outdoors can take part in the Jack Gamble Melon Run from 8 to 11 a.m. July 4 at Westside Park, 1001 NW 34th St. The cost to participate is $15 to $65, and registration is online at runsignup.com/Race/FL/Gainesville/41stMelonRun. The annual Independence Day event features a rolling-hills course where age-group winners receive a watermelon. Age groupings for awards are in 10-year increments. Refreshments will be served to all runners after the race. The Town of Micanopy 4th of July Celebration is set for 11 a.m. July 4 along Northeast Cholokka Boulevard. Micanopy celebrates Independence Day with a traditional parade, music, food, fun and fireworks. Shops and eateries will be open for browsing. (micanopytown.com) The Branford 4th of July River Reunion Festival will begin at 2 p.m. July 4 at the greenway next to town hall, 502 SW Suwannee Ave. in Branford. This celebration will feature a duck race, the national anthem, vendors, food trucks, live music, a car show, a corn hole tournament, a watermelon spitting and eating contest, a bedrock derby, a car show and fireworks. (bit.ly/bfrr23a) The Archer Farmers Market 4th of July Extravaganza will run from 3 to 7 p.m. July 4 at Archer Farmers Market, 16994 SW 134th Ave. in Archer. This event will feature vendors, games, a mini-splash pad, a raffle and live music. (facebook.com/archerhistoricalsociety) The Fourth of July Celebration and Summer Festival is set for 3 to 10 p.m. July 4 at Sansei Shuri International, 1639 Paris St. in Bell. This community event will feature vendors, prizes, food, fundraising, raffles and fireworks. (bit.ly/3r4doq4a) Red White and Boom, another annual tradition, is set for 4 to 9 p.m. July 4 along Archer Road in Archer. This event features an apple pie eating contest, vendors, food trucks, a kids’ area, live music by Big Bad Duo and fireworks. (bit.ly/redwhiteboom23) The Alachua Fourth of July Celebration will run from 5 to 10 p.m. July 4 at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, 15400 Peggy Road in Alachua. The annual event is in its 23rd year, and features live music and fireworks. (bit.ly/afjc23a)
JUNE 30 THROUGH JULY 9
“A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER”: Getting away with murder can be so much fun — and there’s no better proof than the knock-’em-dead hit show that’s earned unanimous raves and won the 2014 Tony Award for best musial: “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder!” The newest production from the Hippodrome Theatre is the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by — you guessed it — eliminating the eight pesky relatives who stand in his way. Monty also has to juggle his mistress (she’s after more than just love), his fiancée (she’s his cousin, but who’s keeping track?), and the constant threat of landing behind bars. Of course, it will all be worth it if he can slay his way to his inheritance … and be done in time for tea. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 9 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets are $35 to $45. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.
JULY 8
“HOW A GREAT THEATRE SAVED A DYING DOWNTOWN”: Learn more about the Hippodrome Theatre at 4 p.m. July 8 at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave., or online via Zoom. Award-winning author Richard Gartee will discuss his book “The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years,” and the program will focus in part on the role the theatre’s move to the old post office building played in the formation of Gainesville’s historic preservation effort and the revival of its downtown business district. Joining Gartee will be former Hippodrome general managers Mark Sexton and Jessica Hurov, who will speak to the positive contribution the Hippodrome’s presence continues to bring to the city and its place as the centerpiece of Gainesville’s artistic community and cultural icon. The event is free, but registration required at bit.ly/gtsd or bit.ly/gtsdzoom. Gartee, a longtime subscriber and patron of the Hippodrome, is an award-winning novelist who has had six novels, five collections of poetry, and 15 nonfiction books published. “The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years” is his 27th full-length book. Learn more about his writing career and books by visiting gartee.com. Sexton acted in Hippodrome plays from 1977 to 2003, and served as general manager during its most explosive period of growth from 1996 to 2004. He is presently the communications and legislative affairs director for Alachua County Government. Hurov began her career at the Hippodrome as marketing director in 2005. She was later promoted to general manager, and became managing director from 2014 to 2018. Hurov is presently tourism development manager of the Alachua County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
JULY 9
WATER PARK COMMUNITY DAY: Camp Kulaqua opens its River Ranch on specific Sundays during the spring and summer at a discounted rate with no reservations required, and it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 9. The venue features a 15,000-square-foot wave pool as well as a lazy river, water slide and volleyball courts. The public is allowed to bring food and coolers, but no glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the water park. Camp Kulaqua requests that modest swimsuits be worn. The water park is located at 23400 NW 212th Ave. in High Springs. The discounted rate is $16.50 per person; free for children ages 3 and younger. Future community days include Aug. 6 and Aug. 13. For more information, visit kulaqua.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Water Park Community Day, Richard Gartee
