A recent 4th of July fireworks display over Downtown Jacksonville. | City of Jacksonville
Published on July 1, 2026 at 11:19 am
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Fireworks will fly up and down the St. Johns River as communities from Jacksonville to Palatka celebrate America’s 250th birthday on Saturday.
Celebrations also will extend beyond the river to St. Augustine, Jacksonville Beach and Fernandina Beach.
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Downtown Jacksonville’s Freedom Fest will be a two-day event. The first day will run from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, centered around Friendship Fountain on the Southbank Riverwalk.
The event, sponsored by the city, its Military Affairs and Veterans Department and the Wounded Warrior Project, will include live music by Bold City Brass, Navy Pride, Sal Gonzalez, Emily Mikus and Big Engine. A patriotic light and music show will be held at the fountain.
Saturday night’s festivities start at 3 p.m. at Friendship Fountain with live music by Scott Halls and Caribe Groove, plus a hot dog eating contest and cornhole tournament. Music and more activities will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at RiversEdge Park on the Downtown Northbank Riverwalk.
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Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. from barges in the St. Johns River Downtown, as well as cascades off the Acosta and Main Street bridges. Both bridges will be closed to traffic before and during fireworks.
Boaters will have specific sites where they can stop to watch the fireworks. Other areas will be off limits.
Jacksonville Beach’s fireworks display will start at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Jacksonville Beach Pier at 504 1st St. N. Jacksonville Beach.
St. Augustine fireworks
St. Augustine’s Fireworks over the Matanzas celebration will start at 6 p.m. Saturday with a live concert with The All-Star Orchestra in the Plaza de la Constitucion, then a fireworks display at 9 p.m. over the bay. The event is free. And so is parking in city-owned lots and on-street spaces on Friday.
The downtown parking garage near the Visitor Information Center will cost $20 per car, or $3 with a ParkStAug registered license plate. But the parking lot at the Castillo de San Marcos parking lot will be closed.
Construction on the Avenida Menendez Seawall Replacement Project means that a section of the Bayfront near the St. Augustine Municipal Marina remains an active work area during the July 4 celebration. Pedestrian access to fireworks viewing areas will remain open.
There is free park and ride shuttle service to the fireworks from Anastasia Island, available from 6 p.m. until midnight from Anastasia Baptist Church, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, R.B. Hunt Elementary School and the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
Some downtown St. Augustine streets will be closed for the event from 8 to 11 p.m., including the Bridge of Lions, Avenida Menendez, Cathedral Place and South Castillo Drive.
Other events
For those who just want to hit the beach, St. Johns County Beach Services will offer a free shuttle throughout the Fourth of July weekend. The shuttles run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday to the Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park from Cornerstone Park, 1046 A1A North.
The Light Up Amelia celebration will start at 6 p.m. Saturday on Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach with live music and more. The fireworks show will launch at 9 p.m. over the Amelia River.
The American Pride 4th of July at Moosehaven will start at 5 p.m. Saturday at the retirement facility at 1701 Park Ave. in Orange Park, with fireworks set to launch at 9:15 p.m. over the St. Johns River. The event, partnered with the city of Orange Park, includes live music and food trucks, with free parking off Park Avenue.
The Northeast Florida Fairgrounds Fireworks Celebration includes live music and food trucks starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The fireworks will starts around 9:30 p.m.
Palatka’s Annual 4th of July Celebration will run from 4 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the city’s riverfront, with live music, food trucks, a kids zone, puppet shows by the Pilot Club of Palatka, and a performance from the Azalea City Children’s Chorus at 4:30 p.m. The boat parade will be at 8:40 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. over the St. Johns River.
St. Marys’ 57th annual Independence Day Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday along Osborne Street, including a 5K and 10K run at 7 a.m., daylong arts and crafts, live music, a parade at 10 a.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens’ America Turns 250 will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at 829 Riverside Ave. The free event will include live music from The Committee Band and the Sandalwood High School Marching Band, face painting, lawn games, artmaking activities and more.
Fireworks precautions
Local burn bans have been lifted due to recent heavy rains that have reduced drought issues, but state officials are urging people to use caution this July 4th weekend as the state continues some of its busiest fire seasons in recent memory.
To avoid starting a fire, state officials recommend lighting fireworks in an area free of vegetation or dry debris and to make sure water is handy to extinguish fireworks just in case.
Fireworks that explode or leave the ground like Roman candles and mortars are generally illegal to use in Florida, except on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the 4th of July.
