Plant City’s July 4th Celebration is back! Coordinated by the City of Plant City Recreation & Parks Department, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Strawberry Festival, the skies above Plant City will again fill with fireworks this July 4th. Admission to the event is free with parking costing $5 per car.
The celebration will take place on Wednesday, July 4, at Plant City Stadium, 1810 East Park Rd. The parking lot gates open at 5:45 p.m. and the stadium gates will open at 6:00 p.m. Various activities will be available on the stadium turf, pending weather restrictions, including inflatables, face painting, Corn Hole bean bag toss, tug-o-war and volleyball. Along with the stadium concession stands being open, various food vendors will be positioned inside the stadium along the perimeter of the field.
Scheduled to perform on stage is the Clemmons Road Band followed by a performance by the Plant City Community Choir, leading up to the National Anthem at 9:00 pm. The 20 minute fireworks show is planned for 9:15 pm following announcements from the stage.
Parking will only be available in the stadium parking lot. Due to pedestrian safety, no parking will be allowed near the complex along Park Road, Jim Johnson Road and Gordon Food Service Drive. Following the fireworks, event traffic will flow one-way as vehicles exit the parking lots onto Park Road and Gordon Food Service Drive.
No coolers nor any glass or open containers of any beverages will allowed into the stadium. Per City ordinance, no alcohol is allowed on the property. Bags and backpacks will be subject to search at the stadium entrance.
The event, originally held in 2002 and held annually through 2007, had to be shelved due to a lack of funding in 2008 and it remained there for four years. Enough sponsors felt comfortable enough to assist this year and the Recreation & Parks Department jumped at the chance to bring it back to life. “We are extremely proud of our community” said Jack Holland, Director of Recreation & Parks for the City of Plant City. “When the need arises, they always step forward and make it happen. Without their support through financial or in-kind assistance, this event would not be possible.”
Sponsorships are covering the hard costs of the event, with the City’s contribution to the event being the venue and staff support from Police, Fire Rescue and the Recreation & Parks Department. Sponsors include the Florida Strawberry Festival, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, City of Plant City, Stingray Chevrolet, Plant City Observer, Mosaic, Tampa Electric Company, Jarrett-Scott Ford, Valrico State Bank, Friends of Recreation & Parks, Plant City Noon Rotary Club, Happy Kids Inflatables, You Say When Yogurt, Parkesdale Farms, Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinics, Miller Pro Sound, Sweetbay Supermarkets, Brewington’s Towing, Culligan Water and Deese Scrubs.
For more information, go to the City of Plant City web site, www.plantcitygov.com, and search “Celebration” or call the Recreation & Parks Department weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at 813-659-4255.
