by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
There’s only one place to see the largest fireworks display in Jacksonville July 4, and that’s Downtown.
In previous years, the City of Jacksonville has put together a concert at Metropolitan Park to celebrate Independence Day, but this year the City has skipped the country concert and created a two-day celebration of fire dancers, a movie night, and entertainment on both banks of the St. Johns River. Even the fireworks have been changed for the City’s “Freedom Fanfare and Fireworks 4th of July Celebration.”
“We need to be family friendly,” said Theresa O’Donnell, director of special events for the City. “It’s (the event) very family oriented. A lot of the activities are meant to bring the families together.”
The celebration kicks off July 3 with “Movies at Met.” The free showing of “Madagascar” starts with an interactive animal show, a fire dancers performance, a dusk fireworks display and then the movie at 8:45 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the public can bring a picnic, but not drinks in an effort to prevent glass from polluting the Park, said O’Donnell. Food vendors, glow items, balloon sculpture artists, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be sold at the celebration.
“It gives families the opportunity to stay up a little later with the kids,” she said.
There may not be a country singer at Metro Park July 4, but both sides of the river will be filled with crafts people, entertainment performers, merchandise vendors and artists. The change came as a way to expand the festivities from just Metro Park and allow more activities, said O’Donnell. Both the Northbank from the Hyatt parking garage to the Yates YMCA, and the Southbank from Friendship Fountain to the Chart House, will have a variety of vendors and activities starting at 4 p.m. O’Donnell said they wanted to start later in the day this July Fourth because of the heat and many people enjoy going to the beach before coming Downtown.
The Northbank will include performances by Fire Dancers, the Daredevil Chicken Club, The Swamp Dogs Jazz Band and spray paint and charcoal artists. A sandscape that will take a week to build will be on Pearl Street. The Southbank’s Friendship Fountain will have more events targeted for children including face painting, and games such as sack races and tug-o-war, temporary tattoos and water activities. Trolley transportation will also be available to take people to the events at Kids Campus and the Jacksonville Suns’ game during the celebration, said O’Donnell.
In addition to land events, river cruises on the Annabelle Lee and Lady St. Johns will provide transportation behind the T-U Center and an airplane will fly around Downtown with the American flag at dusk. All the big changes will lead up to the main event that points an exclamation point on every July Fourth — the fireworks.
Traditionally in Jacksonville, the fireworks were shot from barges along the riverbank and the Main Street Bridge. But this year, starting at 9 p.m., the fireworks will shoot out from semi-trailers on the Acosta Bridge and tentatively from Independent Square and CSX buildings. The Main Street Bridge will still be used. The change allows the display to be seen better all around Downtown and for security reasons since vendors will be placed along the riverbanks, said O’Donnell.
“It’s something different,” she said. “It’s more impactful when it’s all together.”