July Fourth is back with a boom in South Florida

Start making your patriotic party plans now because July Fourth is back in a big way after COVID-19shut down public — and even backyard — events last year. From the shores of Fort Lauderdale to the streets of Sunrise, patriotic parades and booming fireworks displays are on the schedule as cities celebrate the nation’s 245th birthday — and the unofficial end of the pandemic.

Here are the events planned in Broward and Palm Beach counties:

BROWARD

Coral Springs

Grab your kids’ bathing suits and towels for a water splash zone run by the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department during the Fourth of July Celebration from 5to 9p.m. July 4at Mullins Park, 10000Ben Geiger Drive. Other activities include a game zone with cornhole, entertainment by Alexander Star and The Golden People, and DJ Reré and emcee Andres. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Fireworks will be set off at 9p.m. Text 888-777with the keyword CSFIREWORKS for information. Free parking and admission.

Davie

The town will have its annual Independence Day Fun on the 4th event at the Bamford Sports Complex/Pine Island Park, 3801S. Pine Island Road, from 6 to 9p.m. July 4. The event will only be open to registered Davie residents from 5to 9p.m. The Fitness and Aquatic Center and the Pine Island Multipurpose Center will be closed for the event. Admission is free. To register, call 954-327-3941to receive a unique username and password to an online portal. One ticket will be available per household/vehicle for entry and individual tickets will be emailed before the event. Tickets are non-transferable. Walk-ins will not be permitted. Upon entering, visitors must present the ticket and provide proof of Davie residency with a state-Issued driver’s license or ID featuring a matching address. All vehicles must park at the designated parking lots within Bamford Sports Complex/Pine Island Park. From 6to 9p.m., there will be live music from New Shadow Creek and JD Danner Band, games and food trucks. Starting at 9p.m., there will be fireworks and patriotic music.

Deerfield Beach

The city and Broward County Parks will have a Drive-In 4th of July Firework Show at Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Road. No vendors or entertainment will be on-site. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks. Residents will have early entry into the park through the Powerline Road entrance starting at 3p.m. July 4. Residents are encouraged to come early to reserve their spot; proof of residency is needed. Nonresidents will be able to enter the park starting at 5p.m. through the Powerline Road entrance. Free. Call 954-480-4429. Hollywood

Celebrate the nation’s 245th birthday on Hollywood Beach from 5to 10:30 p.m. July 4at the annual Star-Spangled Spectacular 4th of July Celebration. Sponsored by the city of Hollywood Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts and the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency-Beach District, the annual event features musical entertainment beginning at 5p.m., highlighted by an offshore fireworks display at 9p.m. Longtime Hollywood resident and NFL player Marquis “Hollywood” Brown will accept an honorary Key to the City and Proclamation for his dedication and leadership at 6:30p.m. at the Hollywood Beach Theater, 200Johnson St. and the Broadwalk. For information about parking and free shuttles, visit hollywoodfl.org/867/Event-Details. Fort Lauderdale

The Beach Boys will take you to Kokomo without leaving Fort Lauderdale during the city’s 4th of July Spectacular on the beach at 300S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. The iconic American band will perform from 7:30 to 9p.m. July 4, but the free event kicks off at noon with entertainment and a family zone with water slides, arts and crafts, face painting, games and contests along A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. The fireworks show will light up the sky at 9p.m. Visit fortlauderdale. gov or call 954-828-5363. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Sponsored by the town and Volunteer Fire Department, the event begins with a July Fourth parade at 10a.m. July 4, starting on Bougainvilla Drive behind Town Hall, 4501N. Ocean Drive, heading north to Pine Avenue, east to El Mar Drive and then south to Hibiscus Avenue. The parade will feature Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam on stilts, as well as various police and fire department vehicles, residents on bikes and parade entries from businesses. According to the town, the parade also will feature its oldest grand marshal ever, 100-year-old Paula Mangano. A longtime resident and business owner, Mangano moved to the town in 1953 from Ohio. There are also family activities from 11a.m. to 3p.m. in El Prado Park, 4500El Mar Drive, including face painting, a waterslide, music and food. Fireworks will be shot off the beach north of El Prado Park at 9p.m. Call the town’s Public Information Office at 954-640-4209.

Margate

The city of Margate has a variety of events planned for July 4. The parade with march down Margate Boulevard eastbound from 76th Avenue to State Road 7from 9to 11:30a.m. Immediately following the parade, the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency will provide post-parade refreshments and bounce houses. The city of Margate Parks and Recreation Department will have a Fourth of July Pool Party from 1to 5p.m. featuring a steel drum band at Calypso Cove, 6200 Royal Palm Blvd. Admission to Calypso Cove is $4for Margate residents and $7for nonresidents. The Fourth of July Extravaganza will take place from 5to 9p.m. with food trucks and obstacle courses at the northwest corner of Margate Boulevard and State Road 7. The band 30Vice will take the stage at 6p.m. and the fireworks display will begin at 9p.m.

Miramar

You won’t have to “prove your love” for America, music, food or fireworks when ‘80s pop icon Taylor Dayne takes the stage for the city’s Independence Day Concert and Fireworks Display at Miramar Regional Park, 16801Miramar Parkway, on July 4. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and no entry will be allowed after 8p.m. Morgan Heritage and TimbaLive also will perform. Food and beverages will be sold. Attendees must register in advance at bit.ly/3qit2wK. Vouchers are required for entry. Call 954-6023178.

Pembroke Pines

The city is inviting Pembroke Pines residents only for an Independence Day family picnic and fireworks display at the Pines Recreation Center Festival Grounds, 7400Pines Blvd., on July 4. The picnic grounds will open at 7p.m. with a fireworks show at 9p.m. Tickets will need to be picked up in person before the event; there will not be any online or emailed registrations. Free tickets will be issued on a first-come, firstserved basis. Residents must bring a current driver’s license (which lists the Pembroke Pines home address) and one proof of residency. Proof of residency can be in the form of a current city of Pembroke Pines water bill, FPL bill, or an auto insurance bill. Tickets can be picked up at Pembroke Lakes Tennis Center, 10500Taft St., and the Charles F. Dodge City Center, 601 City Center Way. There will not be any concessions stands or food trucks at the event so residents are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks. Visit ppines.com/specialevents for the hours of operations for each location. Plantation

The city and Baptist Health will present, Land That I Love, an Independence Day Celebration, on July 3. The Independence Day Parade begins at 9a.m. at the corner of West Broward Boulevard and Northwest 46th Avenue. The parade heads west to Northwest 69th Avenue, turning right on Northwest Fourth Street, ending at City Hall, 400NW 73rd Terrace, with an awards ceremony. The concert and fireworks will take place at the Plantation Central Park Ball Fields, 9151NW Second St. The concert begins at 7p.m., featuring the Shane Duncan Band. The fireworks follow at 9p.m. featuring Zambelli Fireworks. Food is available for purchase during the evening program. Admission is free for all activities. Call 954-4522510.

Pompano Beach

The city will be celebrating with a Fireworks Extravaganza on July 4, with two options to participate: in-person on the beach or virtually. For those coming to the beach, the event will start at 5:30p.m. with live music from the JazhillaGroup, a reggae band. At 7 p.m., the VAM band, a top 40pop band, will perform on stage. All live music will take place just south of the Fisher Family Pier, 222N. Pompano Beach Blvd., on the beach. The virtual event will be live streamed at 8:30p.m. and viewed from the city’s website, Facebook, Ch. 78and the city’s YouTube channel. At 9p.m., everyone can watch the fireworks light up the sky as they launch from a floating barge in the ocean off of the end of the Fisher Family Pier. Parking is available at the end of Atlantic Boulevard and A1A as well as the pier garage.

Sunrise

Themed floats and marching units will travel west along Sunset Strip from Northwest 12th Street to City Park, 6600Sunset Strip, for the Parade of Stars & Family Fun Day from 9a.m. to noon July 4. At the park, there will be free refreshments and a children’s fun zone. Call 954-747-4642. Afternoon and evening activities move outdoors at the BB&T Center, One Panther Parkway, from 3:45to 9:30p.m. with a children’s fun zone and food and beverage vendors. The entertainment lineup includes three bands, a music mix by DJ Holiday of 102.7The Beach along with a fireworks display at 9p.m. Parking and admission are free. Call the city of Sunrise Leisure Services Department at 954-747-4600.