Fireworks, parties, music and lots of fun in Southwest Florida

FORT MYERS

The City of Fort Myers will celebrate Independence Day on Friday, July 4th with Riverfest in Centennial Park.

The event is free and begins at 6 p.m. with live musical entertainment from Kaitlin Walker of CMT's "Can You Duet" followed by local favorite Cracker Blues at 7 p.m. National country recording artist Lee Brice takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the river at 9:30 p.m.

There will be a free children's activity area with games, giant slides, a bounce house and more. Food and beverages will be for sale. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, but no coolers, pets or umbrellas. There will be a contest for the Most Patriotic Motorcycle ($5 entry fee) and 2007 World Champion Red Sox banners will be for sale.

Centennial Park is located along the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers. For more information, please call the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency at (239) 332-6813.

J.C. Cruises is holding a 4th of July dinner dance and cruise sailing at 7:30 p.m. from Edwards Drive in Fort Myers for $34 plus tax. View the fireworks from the Caloosahatchee River. Enjoy a three-hour river cruise, buffet dinner and reasonably priced cocktails. Call 334-7474 or online at www.jccruises.com

CAPE CORAL

Bring the family and celebrate the birthday of our country with amazing fireworks, food, drink, and local arts-ncrafts, all in downtown Cape Coral on July 4. "Red, White & Boom" is held on Cape Coral Parkway from the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge to Del Prado Boulevard from 4-11 p.m.

The Cape Coral Bridge and Cape Coral Parkway will shut down from noon July 4 until 3 a.m. July 5 for Southwest Florida's biggest fireworks display event.

Contact 549-6900.

FORT MYERS BEACH

One of the region's most spectacular firework shows shoots off from the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier 15 minutes after sunset. That's the main event, but restaurants, lounges and others step up the festivities with music and activity in the Times Square area and the length of the beach. Pick a seat anywhere Gulf-front for an eyeful of sparkly. Call 454-7500 or online at www.fmbchamber.com

SANIBEL

Enjoy an old-fashioned hometown parade down Periwinkle Way starting at 9:30 a.m. Paraders treat the crowd to free gifts, candy and cool-down water spraying. Businesses along the route offer sidewalk sales and special entertainment. Then join islanders for a noontime scavenger hunt-like Road Rally before magnificent fireworks mark the coming of nightfall at the Sanibel Causeway. Call 472-1080 or online at www.sanibel-captiva.org

BONITA SPRINGS

The town's 50th annual parade moves along Old 41 Road starting at 9 a.m. and ending at Riverside Park. Following the parade, the city throws a celebration at the park complete with food vendors, live entertainment, a pie-baking contest and a hot dog-eating competition. Call 949-6200 for parade, 949-6262 for other events.

SAN CARLOS PARK

The 18th Annual Old-Fashioned 4th of July Parade and Celebration begins at 8:30 a.m. starting at the Ace Harware Sunshine Shopping Plaza. From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. listen to the live music of Catalyst, enjoy carnival games, horseback rides and plenty of food at Three Oaks Community Park. Call 410-8747.

LEHIGH ACRES

The Fifth Annual Freedom Family Fun Festival celebrates the Fourth of July beginning at noon and running to 6 p.m. at Veterans Park in Lehigh. There'll be plenty of activities for the kids, music, horseshoe tournament for adults and a "cutie pie" contest for ages 2-4. There won't be fireworks this year due to the dry weather. Call 369-5818.

JULY 3: MIRACLE BASEBALL INDEPENDENCE WEEK FIREWORKS

The professional Class-A Miracle team leads off the holidays on July 3 with an all-American game of baseball against the Tampa Yankees on the home field at 7:05 p.m. Following the game, the skies explode with a spectacular show of pyrotechnics. Box seats are $8 and general reserved admission seats are $6. Gates open at 6 p.m. Call 768-4210 or online at www.miraclebaseball.com