Where's the Fireworks?
2023 Fireworks photo at Florida Gateway Fairgrounds - SVT Photo: Gabrielle Stevenson
By Tami Stevenson
The country will be celebrating 248 years of American Independence this year, and it seems everyone in our area will be celebrating on July 4!
The Suwannee Valley Times has compiled a list of local happenings in our distribution area for readers to make their plans, but first, we thought a little history might be interesting.
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain’s rule.
Congress voted to approve independence by passing what they called the Lee Resolution on July 2. Congress then turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by the Committee of Five, which asked Thomas Jefferson to author its first draft.
The committee of five were:
1. John Adams from Massachusetts. He became the second president of the United States.
2. Thomas Jefferson from Virginia who later became the third US president.
3. Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania.
4. Roger Sherman from Connecticut.
5. Robert Livingston from New York.
Above Photo: THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE: A 1776 painting by artist John Trumbull portraying The Committee of Five, presenting the Declaration of Independence to Congress. L-R: John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson And Benjamin Franklin. -Photo: Public Domain
History writes that while Jefferson consulted extensively with the other four members of the Committee of Five, he largely wrote the Declaration of Independence in isolation over 17 days between June 11, 1776, and June 28, 1776, from the second floor he was renting in a three-story private home at 700 Market Street in Philadelphia, now known as the Declaration House, and within walking distance of Independence Hall.
By a remarkable coincidence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only two signatories of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as presidents of the United States, both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.
Today, all of the Independence Day celebrations we are listing this year have many early festivities, featuring live music, games, vendors and fun, fun, fun!
4TH JULY FIREWORKS AND FUN:
12:00 p.m. till Dusk
BRANFORD: Branford River Reunion July 4th Independence Day Celebration! Held at Branford’s Greenway Park. Funded by the Town of Branford and other sponsors.
The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m., duck race, all day children’s activities, corn hole tournament, car show, watermelon spitting and eating contests, Bedrock Derby contest and entertainment by DJ Trapper Griffith, craft and food booths and Family Games.
There will be a parade at 7:30 p.m., beginning at the BHS football field, followed by fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. till Dusk
LIVE OAK: Freedom Fest in Live Oak at Downtown Veterans Park. Activities begin at 6:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Funded by the City of Live Oak and other sponsors.
Bounce Houses 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Live Music by River Rats, food vendors. Game Zone, cornhole and other tailgate games with prizes!
They will be recognizing all Veterans with a tribute to the Gulf War era Veterans and a special presentation to our own 269th Engineering Company, Florida Army National Guard.
BRING BLANKETS AND CHAIRS!
6:00 p.m. till Dusk
MADISON: God and Country 4th of July Independence Celebration, presented by the Lions Club of Madison.
The celebration event will be held around Lake Frances in Madison. Featuring live music, food and vendors, beginning around 6 p.m. Fireworks will be held around the lake at dusk.
3:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. Fireworks at Dusk
LAKE CITY: Lake City Independence Day Festival and Celebration from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in downtown Lake City, presented by the Rotary Club of Lake City and the City of Lake City.
Featuring a hot dog eating contest, kids watermelon eating contest, food trucks, vendors and Kids Zone.
Fireworks will begin at dusk at the Florida Gateway Pro-Rodeo Arena. Parking opens at 7:00 p.m. and fireworks launch at 9:30 (weather permitting).