BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Fireworks — Lake Helen lit up the sky with spectacular fireworks in 2007, and plans to do it again this year.
BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Good fun on the 4th — Sara Bartos and Savannah Weaver look like they're having a blast with sparklers during the 2007 Lake Helen Freedom Festival event. There won't be a Freedom Festival this year, but there will be plenty to see and do. Check out the calendar of events for more information.
By Jen Horton
posted Jun 28, 2008 - 9:57:17am
Concerts, parades, pie- and watermelon-eating contests, music, games — and, of course, fireworks — are all on the menu for a sumptuous West Volusia Fourth of July.
(See Fourth of July Calendar)
There are some changes this year.
For the past six years, the cities in West Volusia — DeLand, DeBary, Lake Helen, Pierson, Deltona and Orange City — have united to create a multi-city event: the West Volusia Freedom Festival.
This year, because of money woes, that won't happen. There won't be any fireworks at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, but there will be fireworks elsewhere.
Fun, food, festivities and fireworks will be in full swing in Lake Helen, Deltona and Orange City. In DeBary, a private business will bring on the fireworks.
As usual, Lake Helen will take a starring role, with a parade, rodeo, festival and fireworks display.
"Everybody has a ball," City Clerk Nancy Wilson said. "It's something you can take your family to — and you can't say that too often now."
She added, "It's quite successful because we're sort of like Mayberry. It's really a huge event for us."
Budget changes affected the size of the show, and donations collected by the city helped assure there would be a pyrotechnic display.
"We wanted to have fireworks," she said. "The display will be smaller because of money. But we're having fireworks."
With the cancellation of the Freedom Festival, DeLand transferred money to Lake Helen, DeLand City Manager Mike Abels said.
"That's the place to go," he added.
Deanna Hutchinson, of the City of DeBary, said her town has planned two events: a concert and an Old Fashioned Independence Day celebration. Also in DeBary, Swamp House Grill will turn the heat up with a two-day River Blast.
In the wake of government cutbacks, Swamp House owners Dave Blackburn and Matt Fisher decided to make something amazing happen.
Blackburn said the event is something he and Fisher have looked forward to doing since they purchased the restaurant a little more than one year ago.
"We were going to step up, anyway," Blackburn said. "We have a lot of property on the St. Johns River, and the river is the most important feature of Volusia."
River Blast will be a land-and-water event.
"We'll have continuous music. It'll be like a boaters' concert, the stage will be right on the water," Blackburn said.
And, of course, Swamp House will have fireworks. Lots of fireworks.
"We're going to have big fireworks displays," Blackburn said.
Thursday, July 3
Red, White and Boom
4-11 p.m. at Cranes Roost Park, at Interstate 4 and State Road 436, Altamonte Springs. An evening of outdoor concerts, and a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Food, beverages and novelties available for purchase. No coolers, personal fireworks or pets allowed. Free. Call (407) 571-8863.
Friday, July 4
Red, White and Zoo
9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo, 3755 N.W. U.S. Highway 17-92, Sanford. Also celebrate the zoo's 33rd birthday. Live music; games; food; children's crafts; face-painting; magic; a water slide; and zoo-animal encounters. Free with paid zoo admission, $9.95 adults; $7.95 senior citizens age 60 and older; $5.95 children ages 3-12; free for zoo members and for children age 2 and younger. Call (407) 323-4450.
Fourth of July Concert
10 a.m. at DeBary City Hall, 137 South U.S. Highway 17-92. A concert by the Gateway Orchestra, conducted by Rick Dwyer, with patriotic and classical arrangements. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets on which to sit. Gateway students and DeBary Art League members will exhibit their private art collections. Free. Call (386) 668-9587.
Lake Helen Fourth of July Festivities
10 a.m. parade in Lake Helen begins from behind Wachovia Bank on Main Street, runs north on Summit Avenue to New York Avenue, east to Lakeview Drive, south to Ohio Avenue, east to Pleasant Street, and ends at 11:30 a.m. at Blake Park. Gong show; games; music; a watermelon-eating contest; food and other vendors; noon-4 p.m. Rodeo at the Lake Helen Equestrian Center, behind Blake Park; 9 p.m. fireworks at Royal Park, Lake Helen. Free. Call (386) 228-2121.
Old-Fashioned Independence Day
10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the DeBary Hall Historic Site, 210 Sunrise Blvd. Music; contests and prizes; children's crafts; pie-eating contests. Refreshments will be available for sale. Free. Mansion tours available: $5 adults; $4 senior citizens; $2 children ages 3-12; free for children age 2 and younger. Call (386) 668-3840.
River Blast
Noon-midnight at Swamp House River Front Grill & Tiki Bar, 488 W. Highbanks Road (at the St. Johns River), DeBary. Live music; huge fireworks show; extreme beer pong; dunk tank and games; bounce house; face-painting; volleyball; outdoor barbecue; drink specials. Call (386) 668-8891.
Red, White and Boom at the Bandshell
5 p.m. at the Bandshell, on the beach to the east of Ocean Walk Village (east of State Road A1A), Daytona Beach. Live music, including a concert by Poco at 8:15 p.m.; children's games; fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Free. Call (386) 760-8361.
Ormond Beach Fourth of July Festivities
6 p.m. at the Granada Bridge in Ormond Beach. Fortunato Park, at the northeast corner of the bridge, will have Patriotic Kids Corner, with games, arts and crafts, and entertainment, including a magician and juggler; Rockefeller Gardens, at the southeast corner, will have rhythm and blues and Southern rock; and City Hall Park will have jazz. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. over the water. Free.
Fireworks Extravaganza
6-10 p.m. at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex, 1200 Saxon Blvd., Deltona. 6-9 p.m. children's activities; 7-10 p.m. live band; 9:15 p.m. fireworks display. Presented by the City of Deltona. Free parking at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Community, 1310 Maximilian St.; shuttle service from City Hall, 2345 Providence Blvd., and Manny Rodriguez Park, 1570 Overton St. Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket or which to sit. Nonprofit vendors will sell food and souvenirs. Free admission. Call (386) 878-8100.
Saturday, July 5
Red, White and Zoo
9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo, 3755 N.W. U.S. Highway 17-92, Sanford. Also celebrate the zoo's 33rd birthday. Live music; games; food; children's crafts; face-painting; magic; a water slide; and zoo-animal encounters. Free with paid zoo admission, $9.95 adults; $7.95 senior citizens age 60 and older; $5.95 children ages 3-12; free for zoo members and for children age 2 and younger. Call (407) 323-4450.
Orange City Splash Pad Grand Opening
10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, corner of U.S. Highway 17-92 and East Blue Springs Avenue, Orange City. Those attending are encouraged to bring picnic lunches and chairs. All minors must be supervised by an adult. Call (386) 775-5400.
River Blast
Noon-midnight at Swamp House River Front Grill & Tiki Bar, 488 W. Highbanks Road (at the St. Johns River), DeBary. Live music; bikini contest; extreme beer pong; dunk tank and games; bounce house; face-painting; volleyball; outdoor barbecue; drink specials. Call (386) 668-8891.
God Bless America Again
4 p.m. at Stetson Baptist Church, 1025 W. Minnesota Ave., DeLand. A patriotic musical celebration presented by the church's music ministry. For free-ticket information, call (386) 734-1991.
Orange City Fireworks Extravaganza
6:30-9:30 p.m. at Valentine Park, 1595 W. French Ave., Orange City. Children's games; inflatables; music; contests and prizes; food vendors; fireworks at 9 p.m. Free. Call (386) 775-5454.
Sunday, July 6
God Bless America Again
4 p.m. at Stetson Baptist Church, 1025 W. Minnesota Ave., DeLand. A patriotic musical celebration presented by the church's music ministry. For free-ticket information, call (386) 734-1991.
For more events visit The Beacon's online calendar of events.
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