Area Fourth of July events planned

There are many events happening in Southwest Florida for America's 231st anniversary on Wednesday. Here are the planned celebrations:

Charlotte County

* Freedom Swim

About 16 years ago, Punta Gorda attorney Michael Haymans and a couple of friends decided to swim across Charlotte Harbor on the Fourth of July. Now it's an annual event as hundreds get their fill of the harbor and the mix of the fresh and salt water. The 2007 Freedom Swim starts at 8:30 a.m. at the public beach on Charlotte Harbor at the west side of the north end of the U.S. 41 bridge. Parking is available on the public land on the east side of the north end of the bridge. The landing will be at Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda. The Charlotte County Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol will provide direct support to the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 98, and local law enforcement agencies for the protection of swimmers participating in the Freedom Swim. The squadron will provide aerial monitoring and coordination utilizing its new red, white and blue painted Cessna 182 and satellite digital imaging system to provide photographic imaging of the event.

* Fireworks display at Gilchrist Park

The Punta Gorda Kiwanis Club is ready to light the park from a barge in the river. The 29-year event starts at 4 p.m. with food, refreshments and music by The BoogieMen until the fireworks showtime at 9 p.m. They will be set from a barge more than 800 feet offshore. This year the club spent $30,000 on the fireworks, $10,000 more than what the Kiwanis spent for fireworks for any show in the past decade, they said. That fund was helped with a donation from Harpoon Harry's.

* Fireworks at the stadium

There will be fireworks following both Charlotte County Redfish games against the Bradenton Juice at Charlotte Sports Park on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday is also Ladies' Night; all women will receive discounted tickets to the game, and there will be an on field competition to win a date with one of the Redfish players and a chance to win a "Girl's Night Out" in one of the Redfish suites. Tuesday nights are always "Two for Tuesday" at the Redfish games; tickets and hot dogs are two for the price of one.

* Party at Fishermen's Village

Fishermen's Village has its annual Fourth of July celebration from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. Entertainment and parking are free. Guests can bring chairs because center court seating is limited. It ends with the annual show over Charlotte Harbor. Call 941-639-8721 for more information.

* Englewood fireworks display

The Englewood Jaycees have adopted the slogan, "Pioneering Englewood Past into the Future" for 2007. This year's show will be at Middle Beach and is dedicated to the men and women who have or are currently serving in the armed forces, and in memory of late Englewood Herald Editor Micki D'Amico. The fireworks show will start around 9 p.m. Call 941-475-2380 or visit www.englewoodjaycees.com.

* South Gulf Cove celebration

A children's parade starts at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Park in South Gulf Cove. It goes down Ingraham Boulevard to the community property, where there will be awards for decorated bikes, floats and costumes. There will be games and hamburgers, hot dogs and sides. Call 941-698-4059.

* Veterans home celebration

The Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home at 21281 Grayton Terrace, Port Charlotte, will have entertainment all day long, and AMVETS Post 1999 will have a barbecue for residents and their families on July 4. AMVET John Relyea conducts the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and Harold Marcou gives the invocation. Alice Jenkins will lead "The Pledge of Allegiance," sing the national anthem and "USA Stand Up." John O'Connor will lead "God Bless America." Guest speaker Clyde Prier, a retired Marine, introduces Staff Sgt. Eleanor Knollhoff for the 48-star flag dedication. Taps will be played by Gregory Bevins, and Chaplain Harold Marcou gives the benediction. Call 941-613-0919.

Sarasota County

* North Port fireworks festival, parade      

The city of North Port Parks and Recreation Division will hold its fourth annual Freedom Festival. The festivities begin with a 5K Run/1-mile Fun Walk at Dallas White Park. The race begins at 8 a.m. The parade follows at 10 a.m. and will begin on North Port Boulevard on Price Boulevard and finish at Dallas White Park. Culminating the day will be the festival and fireworks display at North Port High School; gates open at 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets; no alcoholic beverages or coolers allowed. Parade and 5K Run registration forms are available on the Parks and Recreation Web page or at City Hall, George D. Mullen Community Activity Center and the North Port Library. For further information, call 941-240-8120 for parade information or 240-8121 for festival or 5K Run information.  

* Stars and Stripes performs

The 15-member Sarasota Star Spangled Band featuring singer Michelle Amato will honor the armed forces. Tickets are $15 to $20 for the 7:30 p.m. show at the Van Wezel Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Call 941-953-3368 or 800-826-9303 or go to vanwezel.org .

* American Brass concert

The American Brass performs at 5:30 p.m. in a veterans tribute to be held at Island Park in Sarasota. It takes place before the annual fireworks display. Veterans and military groups will be there, and seven color guards will participate. Food and beverages will be available. Visit www.POPSExtras.org or call 941-362-7632.

* Fourth of July celebration

Gillespie Park in downtown Sarasota at 10th Street Gillespie Avenue, will have an event from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Patriotic music, an honor guard and refreshments are part of the free program. Call 941-377-5965.

* Tropical holiday at Selby

Live Zydeco music highlights Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Tropical Fourth of July celebration. It gets under way at 6 p.m. and has children's games, the Gumbo Boogie Band and prizes for the best patriotic costumes. Selby Gardens is at 811 S. Palm Ave. Tickets are $15 for Selby Gardens members and $18 for nonmembers. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. Call 941-366-5731 or go to www.selby.org.

DeSoto County

* Rodeo parade highlights day

Monday is the deadline to sign up your float for the annual Fourth of July parade in downtown Arcadia. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Oak Street and Orange Avenue. Awards will be presented for the best marching units, floats, vehicles, horses and carriages. Call 863-993-0083.

* Bull-A-Rama Extravaganza

The July 4th Arcadia rodeo starts at 2 p.m. and features bull riding, barrel racing, junior steer riding, mutton busting, a calf scramble and a shootout. Barbecue lunches will be available. Ticket windows open at 9 a.m.; gates open at 11 a.m. after the downtown parade. The shootout performance starts at 1 p.m. in the rodeo arena. Tickets are $20 to $25. Reserved tickets are $17 ($15 in advance). Call 800-749-7633 or go online to www.ArcadiaRodeo.com for more information.

* Fireworks at the Turner Center

The city of Arcadia and DeSoto County plan to have a celebration with $5,000 worth of fireworks. It is set for 9 p.m. near the Turner Agri-Civic Center, 2250 N.E. Roan St. The festival begins at 4 p.m. and there will be a concert by Wildfire at 6 p.m. People can bring lawn chairs and tailgate. Call 863-494-4114.

Lee County

* River Fest 2007

Fort Myers' biggest Fourth of July festival gets under way at 5:30 p.m. in Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. It's on the Caloosahatchee River, and entertainment includes the Kevin Fort Band, Both Hands and the Ronnie Morgan Band. Fireworks are set to fly at 9 p.m. The festival is free. Bring blankets and chairs. Call 941-229-8526.

* Red, White and Boom in Cape Coral

The annual event on Cape Coral Parkway features live music, festival foods and fireworks. Fireworks are to be set off at the foot of the Cape Coral bridge between 9:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The festival begins at 4 p.m. There will be free trolley service stops at Publix and Sweet Bay on Leonard Street, Club Square, Iguana Mia's and Big John's. The Cape Coral Bridge will close at noon Wednesday and reopen at 3 a.m. Thursday. People cannot bring coolers, pets or fireworks, but they can bring chairs.

* Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade

The annual parade starts from Sunshine Ace Hardware on Pine Island and makes its way to Three Oaks, where there's a party from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Punched Onion will play, and there will be carnival games, horseback rides and food vendors. Call 941-410-1161 or 941-283-4842

* Freedom Family Festival

Organizers say it's a day filled with games, food, music contests and fireworks. It runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Veterans Community Park, 55 Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres. Call 941-369-5818.

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