Options for fireworks displays and other Independence Day 2024 community celebrations are plentiful, whether it be on Marco or elsewhere in Collier County.
As is tradition, fireworks will launch from a barge in the Gulf of Mexico between Tigertail Beach and South Beach. The pyrotechnics will begin illuminating the night sky at about 9:00 PM and are free to the public.
South Beach is located at 130 S. Collier Boulevard. Public parking will be available at the intersection of Swallow Avenue and Collier Boulevard. Marco Island city government asks that residents and visitors refrain from discharging fireworks, which isn’t permitted within city limits. Some residential streets are marked that parking in the swales is prohibited. Vehicles parked illegally will be ticketed and are subject to being towed. The City also reminds attendees that we are in turtle nesting season, so if you dig holes or build sand structures on the beach, fill in the holes and remove any obstacles that could create a false crawl.
The City of Naples’ annual fireworks display returns this year at the event’s traditional site, the Napes Pier, located at 12th Ave. South. The roughly 30-minute-long display will begin at 9:00 PM.
Safety concerns led to the free display being canceled last year. Naples Pier was severely damaged in 2022’s Hurricane Ian and is still partially closed as repairs are made.
Parking in that area is limited. It’s recommended attendees plan ahead to find on-street parking or utilize downtown parking garages or a bicycle or a ride service to get to the pier.
Naples Police will strictly enforce parking regulations in areas marked “No Parking,” with close attention to the length of Gulf Shore Boulevard, blocked intersections and fire hydrants.
Also returning after a one-year hiatus is the City of Naples’ annual Fourth of July Parade. The event will start at 10:00 AM at Eleventh Avenue South and Third Street South, then travel down Third Street South, Fifth Avenue South, and Eighth Street South before returning to Eleventh Avenue South about noon. The lineup starts at 8:00 AM.
Fifth Avenue South will be closed to traffic between Third Street and Eighth Street South. For more information, visit naplesgov.com.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, is also holding Independence Day festivities for the community. The family-friendly affair will include classic Fourth of July dishes, carnival games, face painting, live entertainment, a cash bar, and fireworks. The four-hour-long event begins at 5:00 PM and ends at 9:00 PM.
Adult (ages 13 and above) tickets are $75 per person and $45 for children (ages 2 to 12). Children under two years of age are admitted for free.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, is located at 600 Tiburon Drive. For more information, visit eventbrite.com/e/4th-of-july-celebration-tickets-912830589867.
An Independence Day sunset excursion into Naples Bay and Port Royal is being offered by the Naples Princess. The cruise will include a three-course meal, dancing, and unobstructed views of the fireworks.
Boarding time will be at 7:00 PM for a 7:30 PM departure, with a 10:30 PM return to the dock. The Naples Princess is located at 550 Port O Call Way.
VIP tickets are $250 and general tickets are $160. Profits from ticket sales will be donated to the Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit pathwaysearlyeducation.org/fourth-of-july-cruise/.
For a unique dose of post-Fourth-of-July family entertainment, there’s the free Drones in Paradise show at Paradise Coast Sports Complex. The July 6 event will feature hundreds of small, lighted drones making colorful designs and animations in the air. There’ll also be bounce houses, remote-control cars, laser tag, face painting, a deejay, an outdoor screening of the movie “Night at the Museum,” and more.
The fun affair will run from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with the drone show beginning at 9:00 PM. Paradise Coast Sports Complex is located at 3940 City Gate Boulevard. North. For more information, please visit playparadisecoast.com or call 239-252-4386.