July 4 is a public holiday in the United States of America. Traditionally, Americans celebrate the Declaration of Independence and freedom from British rule with extravagant fireworks displays. It is estimated that around 14,000 fireworks displays take place every year on the Fourth of July.
It is a really exciting holiday to be in the USA to experience and you don’t need to be in the theme parks to see a great show.
If you’re staying with us this year on July 4, here’s our list of some of the best local displays you can enjoy in and around Orlando and the Central Florida region as well as what’s happening at the parks.p>
If you’d like to stay with us this time next year, we still have availability, so please view our homes online here.
Kissimmee
Kissimmee’s annual Monumental July 4th Celebration takes place at the Kissimmee Lakefront Park on July 4, 2016. Festivities kick off at 5pm and culminate with a spectacular fireworks display at 9.30pm over Lake Tohopekaliga.
This year’s celebration features live concerts on the Event Lawn including:
- 10pm – 5.55pm Doubting Abby
- 6pm – 6.50pm The Supervillains
- 7pm – 7.50pm Ken-Y
- 8pm – 8.30pm Tone Loc
- 30pm – 9.30pm Soul Asylum
- 30pm – 9.50pm Fireworks over Lake Tohopekaliga.
Join MIX 105.1 and 101.9 AMP Radio at the Beltway, between the Otter and Panther Pavilions in the Lakefront Park, as they bring the entire community together to form a human replica of our great American flag. The first 600 participants will receive a free red, white, or blue t-shirt – 100% cotton and 100 % made in the U.S. A. – and will be a part of a spectacular aerial photo. Don’t miss out on the once in a lifetime, free experience for the entire family. Registration begins at 4:00 p.m. with the flag waving at 6:30 p.m.
Celebration
Celebration Town Center is celebrating the Fourth of July with food, fun, activities for the kids, and fireworks. The day kicks off at 9am with the annual parade through town. At 4pm DJ Joe Magic will get things going, before the Celebration Community Chorus offers up a patriotic salute at 6pm. CMA Musician of the Year, Mac McAnally, will be on stage at 7.30pm before the skies over Celebration are illuminated by the town’s annual fireworks display at 9.15pm.
Downtown Orlando
Lake Eola Park plays host to Orlando’s 39th annual Fireworks at the Fountain on Monday, July 4, 2016. Festivities start at 4pm with activities for children, live music, and food and beverages available for purchase. The evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display at 9.15pm. If you can’t make it to the event, you can watch it live on News 6.
Performance Schedule at the Walt Disney Amphitheatre
- 30pm Lucy Iris
- 8pm Orlando Concert Band
- 9pm Mayor Buddy Dyer
- 15pm Fireworks Display
The Ukeladies will perform on the 98.9 WMMO Stage starting at 5:30 p.m.
Altamonte
The City of Altamonte Springs is hosting its 21st Independence Day celebration, Red Hot & Boom, on Sunday, on July 3 from 4pm until 11pm in conjunction with XL 106.7 FM. Free and open to the public, Altamonte Springs is promising an unforgettable night of great performances, mouth-watering eats and beautifully synchronized fireworks. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9.30pm (weather permitting) and live music acts on the night will include Katelyn Jae, Frequency, Ben Rector, R. City, Daya, and Ruth B.
Disney
Each of the parks at Walt Disney World Resort is offering its own take on Independence Day celebrations on July 4, each included with the cost of regular park admission.
“Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” at Magic Kingdom will start at 9pm.
The holiday-inspired “IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth” at Epcot will start at 10pm.
A special July 4 fireworks presentation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will start at 10pm.
Universal
Guests to Universal Studios on July 4 can enjoy a special version of the popular Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular, a cinematic adventure that combines cutting-edge projection technology with lasers and pyrotechnics to bring movies to life like never before.
SeaWorld
On July 4, as part of SeaWorld Orlando’s Summer Nights, SeaWorld will present a special Fourth of July Reflections show featuring an expanded fireworks show timed to patriotic music, included in regular park admission.
Legoland
There is a special LEGOLAND® Night Lights event on July 4. The event is perfect for little ones, and lets kids party past their bedtime with extended park hours and is included with Park admission.
The event features an all-new fireworks spectacular featuring LEGO® NINJAGO™ at 9pm, new character meet-and-greets, a new LEGO® Friends show, a mini-figure mural build, a LEGO® scavenger hunt, a DJ glow dance party and the opportunity to build a giant American flag out of super LEGO® bricks.
Busch Gardens
Visitors to Busch Gardens in Tampa can celebrate July 4 with extended hours and nightly fireworks included within the normal admission costs for the whole week leading up to Independence day. An extension of its Summer Nights programme, guests are invited to celebrate the red, white and blue all day, and even after dark, all summer long with an energetic acrobatics show, live entertainment and much more. Test your courage as you take on Busch Gardens’ world-class roller coasters in the dark, including Florida’s first triple-launch coaster Cheetah Hunt®.
Its website states that the best views of its incredible nightly fireworks display are to be had from Gwazi Park, right after the nightly Kinetix show, but emphasises that the fireworks are visible from all over the park.
If we’ve whetted your appetite for celebrating Independence Day in the USA, why not join us next year? View and book our homes online here.
Or for more information about other events happening in and around Orlando, visit our Events page.
