Best bets for Independence Day weekend – Gainesville Sun
’52 YEARS LATER’: Join The Wooly for three short films honoring leaders in the Stonewall Uprising, which began June 28, 1969, when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village. The raid sparked a conflict among as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and was a catalyst for the gay rights movement. Tickets are $10 and can be bought through brownpapertickets.com. Proceeds benefit the Unspoken Treasure Society, which works to support the trans community. A cash bar will be available. 20 N. Main St.
FANFARES AND FIREWORKS: The city’s annual Independence Day Celebration, Fanfares and Fireworks, returns at 6 p.m. Saturday at the University of Florida Bandshell at Flavet Field, located on Woodlawn Drive. Admission is free. Families can picnic and enjoy musical performances by Bears and Lions; acoustic rock from Jason and Sarah Hedges and Friends; The Savants of Soul; and traditional favorites by the Gainesville Community Band under the direction of Gary Langford. WUFT-FM “Morning Edition” host Glenn Richards will emcee. A fireworks display set to the music of the Gainesville Community Band begins at 9:40 p.m. LifeSouth Blood Center will conduct a blood drive, drinks and food will be available. No dogs, sparklers, drones or alcohol are allowed at the event. Coolers are subject to search.
SATURDAY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENTS: Celebrate America’s founding a day early with a number of events planned around the county on Saturday. Ginnie Springs will hold its 4th of July Celebration at the park, located at 5000 NE 60th Ave. in High Springs. Entrance is $25 for adult day passes, $5 for ages 5-12 and free for kids 4 and under. Fireworks begin 30 minutes after sunset. Day pass guests may stay for the fireworks, but must leave when it ends. Carson Springs Wildlife will host a special event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Monday at 8528 E. County Road 225. Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for ages 11 and younger with an additional fee to rent ride-on vehicles. Walk or ride the outdoor tour guided by professional zoologists and witness big-cat feeding demonstrations. Extra bookings available during the event include rhino feedings, and a meet-and-greet with baby hyenas, lemurs and baby exotic cats. The city of Micanopy will host its free Independence Day Celebration beginning at 11 a.m. with a parade and ballpark fun will be had from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with music, food and a bounce house. Fireworks begin at dusk, and attendees are asked to bring a blanket or chairs to sit on. The city of Branford holds its 4th of July Evening Celebration from 2 to 11 p.m. at 403 Craven St. SE. The event features a parade down Suwannee Avenue and a duck race at the historical Ivey Park at Branford Springs on the Suwannee River, entertainment and activities in the late afternoon at Hatch Park, booths and kids’ activities, food vendors and fireworks. The Williston Independence Day Celebration starts at 5 p.m. with a parade on Noble Avenue. Horseman’s Park, 803 SW 19th Ave. in Williston, will open immediately after the parade with entertainment, free rides for children, games and vendors plus fireworks at dusk. Event organizers suggest a $2 donation per carload for parking. Lake City will hold its 4th of July Celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds, 164 SW Mary Ethel Lane in Lake City, with fireworks in the evening.
MELON RUN: Take part in a Gainesville Independence Day tradition from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday at Westside Park, 1001 NW 34th St. The Florida Track Club will host its 43rd annual “almost world famous” Jack Gamble Melon Run. Participants will enjoy the somewhat rolling hills on the course while trying to win an age-group watermelon award. Refreshments will be available after the race, and free race photos will be provided. The 3-mile race starts at 8 a.m. while the free kids’ fun run starts at 8:45 a.m. Participation in the adult race is $30. To enter, visit bit.ly/melon21.
SUNDAY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENTS: Celebrate freedom and everything America on Independence Day with local events Sunday. Keystone Heights will hold its annual Our Country Day beginning at 9 a.m. at City Hall and Keystone Heights Nature Park, 550 S. Lawrence Blvd. in Keystone Heights. Entry into the beach park will require each spectator to have an armband, and this year armbands will cost $1. Armbands go to the first 4,000 buyers and can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of City Hall. The event will offer food, arts and crafts, live music, a parade at 11 a.m, children’s activities and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. The city of Archer’s Red White and Boom event will begin at 2 p.m. at Wilson Robinson Park, 13975 SW 174th St. in Archer, and features fireworks, kids’ activities and food vendors. The city of Alachua Fourth of July event begins at 8 p.m. at the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, 15400 Peggy Road in Alachua. It will feature live music by Crooked Counsel in the amphitheater at 8 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Cedar Key will offer a fireworks display at 9 p.m.