Fireworks Set to Light Up Gulfport's 4th of July

Tampa Bay area residents looking for some old fashion 4th of July fun will find the city of Gulfport is pulling out all the stops. The fun starts early in the day and caps off Saturday night with a fireworks show.

The festivities begin bright and early at 7:30 a.m. Saturday with the Gulfport Marina-sponsored Kids’ Fishing Derby at the recreation center seawall. Registration starts at 7:30 sharp with the derby running from 8 to 11 a.m. Kids should bring their own fishing poles, but the marina will supply the bait, an email from the city stated.

The Family Sand Sculpture Contest kicks off on Gulfport Beach at 10 a.m. and continues until noon. Registration starts at 9:45 a.m. “Keeping with tradition, the theme will be ‘Patriotic,’” the city said. Participants should bring their own tools and supplies.

City recreation staff will also be out on Gulfport Beach from noon to 5 p.m. with concessions, balloon entertainment and water slides.

Local vendors will offer food, patriotic knick-knacks and arts and crafts from 2 to 9 p.m. Live music is planned on the Casino Stage while the parade kicks off at 6 p.m.

This year’s parade will follow a course down Beach Boulevard to the Gulfport Casino. It will then turn west on Shore Boulevard and head to 58th Street South.

The fireworks kick off at 9 p.m. over Gulfport Beach.

To find out more about the festivities, visit mygulfport.us/july-4th.

Street Closings

While all the fun is going on, the city wants to make sure folks know about some planned street closures, as well. The following streets will start closing at 6 a.m. Saturday:

• Beach Boulevard from 31st Avenue (south) to Shore Boulevard
• Shore Boulevard from 54th Street South (west) to 56th Street South
• 54th Street South, south of Essex Avenue will also be closed

Beach Boulevard south of 28th Avenue South to 31st Avenue South will close for the parade from 5:45 p.m. until 7.

Williams Pier will also close down starting at 7 a.m. Thursday to prepare for the fireworks. Perimeter buoys will be placed about 900 feet from Williams Pier. Casino dock will close, as well. The beach area will have limited access for non-motorized dinghies. Boaters can, however, dock at the Gulfport Municipal Marina on the day of the event for $1.50 per foot, plus tax.

The city’s open air event trolley will run from noon until 5:30 p.m. and again from 6:30 to 11 p.m. to pick up event goers from remote parking sites. Those remote sites will be marked with red signs and include the recreation center, library, senior center and theater, Hoyt Field, Chase Park and Ted Phillips Wood Ibis Park.

“If you see the trolley, just give the driver a wave and they will pick you up along the route,” the city’s email said.

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