Block party, fireworks, draw thousands to July 4th celebration
The rain came hard, as it often does in the late afternoons of July in southwest Florida, but that didn’t stop nearly 50,000 people from attending the city’s 26th annual Red, White & BOOM! Fourth of July celebration.
“It rains pretty much every year,” said Glenn Simon, a lifetime resident of Cape Coral who enjoyed the festivities with his family, wife Gwen and two children, Chase and Brent.
“It’s a good time,” said Gwen. “But we should’ve come after the rain.”
Despite getting a little wet, the Simons planned on sticking it through to the fireworks show between 9:30 and 10 p.m. on the Cape Coral Parkway bridge.
“They usually go to bed before now, but tonight is a treat,” Glenn said about his kids.
The Simons believe in keeping it in the Cape, and decided to attend Red, White & BOOM! over the various other fireworks displays throughout Lee County.
“We’d much rather come here,” said Glenn.
The event, which closed Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Boulevard east to the bridge, left the streets littered in people from one end to the other. Even as a rain shower passed through before the fireworks show, many people sat under an umbrella or poncho, or just let the rain soak them — though not their spirit.
“From seven to eight is when you’re really going to see the bulk of the people,” said Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce treasurer and four-year event coordinator for the Cape’s Fourth of July celebration, Joe Padgett.
Padgett estimated 38,000 people were at the event at 6:30 p.m. He expected that number to jump to 50,000 by the time fireworks started going off.
“We’ve got more street space with vendors and sponsors than we’ve ever had,” said Padgett. “This is the biggest event we’ve ever had; 50,000 of our closest neighbors are here.”
Padgett said the $25,000 fireworks show is the largest in southwest Florida in 2008, and would last roughly until 10:30 or 11 p.m.
Musical acts including Deb and the Dynamics and Carter’s Chord performed on a stage set at the foot of the Cape Coral bridge, and shortly before the fireworks, Caria Everly was scheduled to sing the National Anthem and a 10-year-old boy would lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Also, an “American Tribute” was set to honor soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan by reading their names.
“It’s our opportunity to thank them for what they’ve done,” said Padgett.