Thursday is Independence Day, and along with five big fireworks displays in Jacksonville, here’s where to be festive across the whole region.

Jacksonville

The city of Jacksonville’s five simultaneous Fourth of July displays start at 9 p.m., with the main event over the river Downtown, viewable from the Northbank and Southbank.

One spot to see the Downtown fireworks is aboard the U.S.S. Orleck, the retired U.S. Navy destroyer turned floating naval history museum at 610 E. Bay St. For $30 per person, enjoy live music aboard the Orleck from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday.

The Riverside Arts Market is also hosting a Fourth of July watch party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 715 Riverside Ave. beneath the Fuller Warren Bridge, with live music, dancing, food trucks, a market and activities.

Official city fireworks displays will also be launched at from four suburban sites: Ray Greene Park on Leonid Road on the Northside; The Avenues Mall on the Southside; Trinity Baptist Church on Hammond Boulevard on the Westside; and Ed Austin Regional Park in Arlington. Ray Greene Park will be closed during the fireworks, but The Avenues will host live music, games and food trucks starting at 6 p.m. outside the Food Court at 10300 Southside Blvd.

Article continues below

More from Jax Today

Screaming Cat Ice Cream and Coffee to open in Riverside this summer

City failed in oversight of grants to Clara White Mission: Inspector General report

Duval School Board delays vote on student safety policy 

Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.

And earlier on the Fourth, an annual Throwback Baseball Game will start at 10 a.m. at Klutho Park at 204 W. 3rd St. in Springfield. The free event pits the Eastside Reds versus the Westside Giants, with players in turn-of-the-century uniforms and equipment.

And on Wednesday, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp hold their annual Independence Day fireworks show after their 6:05 p.m. baseball game against the Charlotte Knights at 121 Financial Ballpark at 301 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. There’s also a patriotic hat giveaway for the first 2,000 fans through the gates that evening.

Other celebrations

• Jacksonville Beach hosts its annual 4th of July fireworks on Thursday, starting with an 8 p.m. performance by Navy Band Southeast at the Seawalk Pavilion. Then the fireworks kick off at 9 p.m. from the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier at 503 N.1st St. To prepare for the thousands of people expected at the events, Jacksonville Beach Police will shut down or reroute traffic on some roads starting at 4 p.m. Florida A1A will have several turning lanes blocked to aid in northern and southern flow of traffic. Beach Boulevard will have limitations at different intersections to aid in the westerly flow of traffic. And the beach will be closed from 100 feet north to 100 feet south of the Pier, with no one allowed on the oceanfront or in the water in that two-block area.
• St. Augustine’s Fireworks Over The Matanzas starts at 6 p.m. with The All-Star Orchestra performing in the Plaza de la Constitución. A 20-minute fireworks display over Matanzas Bay between the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and the Bridge of Lions starts at 9:30 p.m.
• Orange Park’s Moosehaven retirement community opens its gates for a free fireworks event, starting at 5 p.m. Thursday with a kids’ zone, live music and food trucks, then fireworks at 9:15 p.m. over the St. Johns River. Enter through the former main gate on Park Avenue.
• Keystone Heights’ 56^th annual 4th of July Celebration begins with an 8 a.m. Freedom 5K run at City Hall at 555 Lawrence Blvd., followed by an 11 a.m. Sound of Freedom Parade in and around City Hall. A 5 p.m. concert by Paul Wane is followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m., both at Keystone Beach Park.
• Fernandina Beach’s Light Up Amelia celebration starts at 6 p.m. at the city marina at the end of Centre Street, with music and food trucks. Fireworks fly at 9 p.m. over the marina.
• Hilliard and Callahan’s Independence Day Celebration starts at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds at 542359 S. Kings Road in Callahan. It includes watermelon-eating contests, food trucks and other activities. The fireworks display starts at 9 p.m.
• St. Marys’ Independence Day Festival includes 5K and 10K runs at St. Marys Methodist Church on Conyers Street East. At 10 a.m., the annual parade heads up Osborne Street. Other events are at St. Marys Waterfront Park at 100 St. Marys St., ending with a 9:15 p.m. fireworks display over the St. Marys River.