Southwest Florida celebrates Independence Day

Bonita lights up the night with laser light show

As darkness falls on Saturday, July 4, the Bonita Springs night sky will come alive with a unique and spectacular laser light show highlighting Independence Day 2009. According to the Miami-based internationally known LaserNet, the ecofriendly, vibrant display can be seen for up to 10 miles away from Riverside Park where the lasers will originate as part of the city's annual Star Spangled Bonita Party in the Park.

Setting a new precedent by starting at 6 p.m. instead of immediately following the morning parade, the free-of-charge Party in the Park will offer live entertainment, an array of children's activities and traditional July 4 events, culminating with the laser light show set to music.

www.cityofbonitasprings.org, (239) 949-6262.

Cape Harbour hosts Great American Picnic all day

Cape Harbour will be celebrating Independence Day with a Great American Picnic to be held on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the waterfront at Cape Harbour. Admission and parking are free. Activities will be held throughout the day, including a tribute to the troops, a Patriotic Pet Contest, an arts and crafts area for kids, free hair braiding and face painting by High Maintenance Salon, martial arts demonstrations by Jeff Santella's Street Defense and an apple pie baking contest sponsored by Pignolis. Judges for this year's Patriotic Pet Contest will be WINK-TV news anchor Lois Thome and Cape Dog Bakery owner Anita Simmons.

The Adopt-A-Troop Foundation, a nonprofit group that raises money to support troops stationed overseas, will also be present at the event.

Pignolis will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers throughout the event. Rumrunners, The Joint and Run Agrounds will also be serving guests. The merchants at Cape Harbour will be open during the event.

Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Juke Box Hero during the festival and The Joint at Cape Harbour will host live music Friday, July 3, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Cape Harbour is located at 5703 Cape Harbour Drive in Cape Coral. www.capeharbour. com, 945-6116.

Dowtown Fort Myers fun includes fireworks

The City of Fort Myers' Fourth of July festivities will include a free fireworks show thanks to a donation by a local business. Sandbill Realty Group donated $30,000 after learning the city did not have the money to fund the fireworks. The fireworks will be launched at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, from a barge in the Caloosahatchee River across from Centennial Park.

Both downtown parking garages will be open. The Main Street garage is located at 2286 Main Street at the corner of Main and Jackson and the City of Palms garage is located at 2118 Bay Street at the corner of Monroe and Bay.

Red, White and Boom lights up the sky in Cape Coral

For more than 10 years, the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral has produced Red White & Boom, the city of Cape Coral's Fourth of July celebration, sponsored by Saturn of Cape Coral.

This year, to help defray expenses, a $1 admission fee will be implemented. The paid admission area will include a free Family Fun Area, live musical entertainment, new unobstructed fireworks viewing area, The VIP Garden, and a special American Tribute. Tickets will be sold on the day of the event on Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado west to Leapin' Lizards and also at the event parking lot where everyone in the vehicle gets an admission ticket and parking for $10.

Celebration and fireworks at Miromar Outlets

Miromar Outlets and Germain Arena present the 10th annual fireworks show in celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 3. From 2 to 7 p.m., the Lee Memorial Blood Mobile will be on site next to Reebok. Health checks for each perspective donor include pulse rate, blood pressure, body temperature, anemia, blood type and cholesterol levels at no charge. At 5:30 p.m., children's activities will begin, presented by YMCA of Lee County and live music will be performed by the Geek Skwad, a rock band. At 6 and 7:30 p.m. Southern Extreme Water-Ski Team will perform on the lake between Miromar Outlets and Germain Arena. Then at dusk, the fireworks show will take place over the lake. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs; no coolers or personal fireworks. www.Miromar.com.

Sanibel Island celebrates the Fourth

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 like Road Rally before magnificent fireworks mark the coming of nightfall at the Sanibel Causeway. 472-1080, www. sanibel-captiva.org.

Parade, fireworks at Fort Myers Beach

Festivities kick off with a 10 a.m. parade up Estero Boulevard. Then, 15 minutes after sunset, one of the region's most spectacular fireworks shows shoots off from the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. 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 Gulffront for an eyeful of sparkly. 454-7500, www.fmbchamber.com.