It is almost that time of the year when everyone gathers for one of the summer’s biggest holidays. The Fourth of July is a day to celebrate the independence of our great country and spend some time out in the sun before joining together for a dazzling display of fireworks.
St. Augustine enjoys celebrating the 4th in style, so to help you make the most of your time with Beacher’s Lodge, we’ve created a guide to some of the fun things to do for the holiday.
St. Augustine has a multitude of sights to see, and the St. Augustine Sightseeing Tours is the perfect way to pick and choose where you want to go, and when! Hop on and off at any of 23 stops, from the Fountain of Youth to the Plaza de la Constitucion to the Colonial Quarter. As part of the Fountain of Youth package, you’ll also receive admission to the Old Jail, Oldest Store Museum, the St. Augustine History Museum, and of course, the Fountain of Youth. Trolley tickets are valid for two consecutive days, so if you can’t fit everything into one day, don’t fret – you can always come back the next day.
On the day of the 4th, if you’re looking for some time outside of St. Augustine, visit Palm Coast to attend the Choral Arts Society show. The show will be an hour and a half long, filled with patriotic tunes. The show is entirely free, though donations will go towards the benefit of art and music students in the form of scholarships.
If parades are more your style, check out the Fabulous Fourth Festival on the A1A Highway at Flagler Beach. Running from 10 am to noon, the parade will be filled with floats and entertainment, including the handing out of candy if you have any little ones with you, or just want to treat yourself.
Back in St. Augustine, fireworks will be held at 9:30 pm, at 1 South Castillo Drive. Prior to the fireworks, there will be an orchestra entertaining from 6 to 8 pm at the Plaza de la Constitucion, playing a mix of swing and Americana tunes! The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic, but there will be a free Park & Ride shuttle on Anastasia Blvd. From 6:00 p.m. until midnight from three parking locations along Anastasia Blvd. in St. Augustine Beach. The shuttle will pick up at these locations: Anastasia Baptist Church (1650 A1A South), St. Augustine Amphitheatre (1340-C A1A South) and R.B. Hunt Elementary School (125 Magnolia Dr.). For more information, click here.
If being a little further from the action is more your style, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum will allow for a view of the fireworks from almost 170 feet in the air! The cost is $40 for adults and $35 for children under 12. Move quickly, there are just a few tickets left!
No matter what you choose to do, spending your Independence Day in and around the Nation’s oldest city is sure to give you a wonderful patriotic experience!