On The Town: July 2017
12 4th of July events, 14 special events and 3 fundraisers happening in the month of July
4th of July EVENTS
RED, HOT AND BOOM
July 3: Get an early start on Independence Day the night before with live music, games, vendors, food and a 25-minute fireworks display synchronized with patriotic and contemporary music. Free. 4-11 p.m. Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs. 407-571-8180. altamonte.org
BALDWIN PARK INDEPENDENCE DAY BASH
July 3: Start the evening with a walk through the town center as artists and craftsmen sell their wares. Also available: food trucks, live music, carnival games, and more. Then get a good spot at Harbor Park to see the fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free. 6-11 p.m. New Broad Street, Baldwin Park town center, Orlando. baldwinparkevents.com
FIREWORKS AT THE FOUNTAIN
July 4: There’s always a big crowd around Orlando’s Lake Eola on the Fourth, so come early and enjoy the live music, games, food and drink before the city’s 40th annual patriotic fireworks start at 9 p.m. 4-10 p.m. Free. Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St., Orlando. cityoforlando.net
A SCI-FI 4TH OF JULY
July 4: Celebration Town Center’s annual Independence Day celebration starts with a morning parade through the community and resumes that afternoon with games, live music and shopping before winding up with nighttime fireworks synchronized to music. Free. Parade at 9 a.m.; other events 4-9:15 p.m. 407-566-1200. celebrationtowncenter.com
STAR-SPANGLED SANFORD
July 4: This city’s waterfront is jumping on Independence Day with live entertainment, food and drink, the Fort Mellon Park Splash Pad, children’s activities and, after sunset, a fireworks display over beautiful Lake Monroe. Free. 4-10 p.m. Fort Mellon Park, 600 E. First St., Sanford. sanfordfl.gov
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
July 4: The City of Winter Park offers patriotic music by the Bach Festival Brass Band and Choir, a bike parade, free hot dogs and watermelon, games and more. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. Central Park, Park Avenue, Winter Park. 407-599-3463. cityofwinterpark.org
OVIEDO INDEPENDENCE DAY
July 4: Live music, children’s activities, vendors, and fireworks at Oviedo Mall. Free. 5-10 p.m. 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd., Oviedo. cityofoviedo.net
WINTER GARDEN PARTY IN THE PARK
July 4: Enjoy live music, family activities, food and more, followed by fireworks. Free. 5-9:30 p.m. Newton Park, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden. 407-877-5432. cwgdn.com
INDEPENDENCE DAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
July 3-4: Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios each have special fireworks shows for the Fourth of July. “Disney’s Celebrate America” fireworks, which paint the sky red, white and blue and fill the air with patriotic music, are shown at Magic Kingdom on both July 3 and July 4; the other parks do their Independence Day fireworks on July 4 only. Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista. disneyworld.disney.go.com
INDEPENDENCE DAY AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
July 4: The theme-park resort offers a special version of its Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular, which combines projection technology with lasers and fireworks. Included in park admission. universalorlando.com
INDEPENDENCE DAY AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO
July 4: The theme park offers a special version of its nighttime Electric Ocean show, with an expanded fireworks display timed to patrioticm usic. Included in park admission. seaworldparks.com
AVALON PARK 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
July 4: This year’s annual Independence Day celebration in downtown Avalon Park includes food trucks, craft vendors, bounce houses, and other community events, topped by an Independence Day fireworks display. Free. 5-9 p.m. Avalon Park East Boulevard, Orlando. 407-658-6565. avalonpark.com
Special Events
COKE ZERO 400
June 29-July 1: The action at Daytona International Speedway starts Thursday with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Xfinity Series practice laps, followed Friday with qualifying laps during the day and the Daytona Firecracker 250 race that evening-—100 laps under the lights. On Saturday, the 59th annual Coke Zero 400 caps the weekend, with the final race starting at 7:30 p.m. daytonainternationalspeedway.com
SEAWORLD’S ELECTRIC OCEAN
Through Aug. 6: Nightly festivities in the theme park include a high-energy Shamu show, DJ music with live performers, and fireworks. Included with regular park admission. seaworldparks.com
DAN TDM ON TOUR
July 1: Daniel Middleton—aka The Diamond Minecart, or Dan TDM—is an English-born YouTube personality and professional gamer whose specialty is the popular video game Minecraft. Now he’s on a worldwide tour with a live, family-style show that involves the audience in an online-style Dan TDM adventure. 2 and 6:30 p.m. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando. 844-513-2014. drphillipscenter.org
KNIGHT LIGHTS AT LEGOLAND
July 1-30: Park guests can stay into the evening to watch Legoland’s weekend-only summertime fireworks display, which features extended park hours, special Lego light displays, opportunities to build with blocks alongside Master Model Builders, and meet-and-greet opportunities with one of the heroes of Lego Nexo Knights. Plus, on the Fourth of July, there’s a themed fireworks show over Lake Eloise and a special patriotic show. Included in park admission. 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven. florida.legoland.com
LAKERIDGE SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: Take a complimentary winery tour, then spend the afternoon listening to live music as a different band performs on the outdoor stage each Saturday. Food and drink are available for purchase. Free. 1-4 p.m. Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, 19239 U.S. Highway 27 North, Clermont. lakeridgewinery.com
ORLANDO BOOK FESTIVAL
July 8: Daylong celebration of books at the Orlando Public Library; book signings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and a keynote address from New York Times bestselling author Adam Silvera. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 101 E. Central Blvd., Orlando. ocls.info/programs/obf/
SANFORD’S ALIVE AFTER FIVE STREET PARTY
July 13: Central Florida’s largest recurring street party, a monthly gathering with live music, local artists, and both food and beverage samples. This month’s AA5 is star-spangled. Free. 5 p.m. 230 E. First St., Sanford. sanfordwelcomecenter.com
THORNTON PARK
2ND THURSDAY WINE + ART WALK
July 13: Artists display works for sale along the streets and inside local businesses. Free, but $15 gets you a glass and a map of more than 25 businesses offering wine tastings. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Summerlin Avenue at Washington Street. thorntonparkdistrict.com
ART & MUSIC IN THE PARK
July 14: Artwork and live music in the park between Casselberry City Hall and Lake Concord, just off U.S. Highway 17-92. Food trucks and other vendors on site as well. 6 p.m. Free. 95 Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry. 407-262-7700, ext. 1507. casselberry.org
SANFORD ART WALK
July 15: Explore galleries and art spaces along historic downtown Sanford’s First Street between Magnolia and Sanford avenues. Discover this river town’s culture and nightlife, food and art each third Saturday of the month. July theme: Aperture (Shutterbugs Out There). 6-9 p.m. sanfordartwalk.com and sanfordwelcomecenter.com
3RD THURSDAY GALLERY HOP & ART WALK
July 20: You’re invited to descend on Orlando’s Downtown Arts District for the evening to celebrate all that is art. 6 p.m. CityArts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave., Orlando. orlandoslice.com
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP
July 22: Soccer powerhouses Paris Saint-German F.C. of the French Ligue 1 and Tottenham Hotspur F.C. of the English Premier League square off in Camping World Stadium as part of the 2017 International Champions Cup, 8 p.m. 1 Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando. 407-440-5700, campingworldstadium.com
FESTIVAL PUERTORRIQUENOS EN SANFORD
July 22-23: Two days dedicated to Puerto Rico and its people, with live music, dancing, food, artisans, and a health fair. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. Fort Mellon Park, Sanford
World of Good
July Fundraisers
WATERMELON 5K, benefits the Track Shack Foundation. Combines a 5K run and watermelon-eating contest. Central Park, Winter Park. trackshack.com
7/12 ORLANDO STORY CLUB, benefits Timucua Arts Foundation and its concert programs. Participants tell five-minute stories based on the evening’s theme: “Is it Love?” The Abbey, Orlando. orlandostoryclub.com
7/22 CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE, benefits the Center for Independent Living, which provides accessibility options for people with disabilities. Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando. cilorlando.org
