Emerald Coast Theatre Company Patriotic Revue
When: July 2, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Grand Park, Grand Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach
Enjoy patriotic music and dance performances celebrating 250 years of American freedom.
Info: www.grandboulevard.com | (850) 837-3099
Star-Spangled Food Truck Festival
When: July 3, 5-9 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m.
Where: Destin Commons
Enjoy international cuisine, live music, face painting, a photo booth and a family-friendly fireworks display.
Info: www.destincommons.com | (850) 337-8700
Hotel Effie Rooftop Fourth of July Celebration
When: July 3-4
Where: Hotel Effie Sandestin, Miramar Beach
Celebrate with rooftop DJs, festive cocktails and panoramic views culminating with Baytowne Wharf fireworks viewing.
Info: www.hoteleffie.com | (850) 351-3000
Celebrate America’s 250th! – Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
When: July 4, beginning at 11 a.m.
Where: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso
Cost: Free
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a day of history, special presentations and the grand opening of the museum’s new America 250 exhibit. Highlights include an award ceremony for poster and essay contest winners, a History Sandwiched-In presentation on colonial paper currency, Revolutionary War living history demonstrations and discussions about Lexington and Concord.
Info: www.heritagemuseum.us | (850) 678-2615
Alys Beach Fourth of July Concert & Fireworks
When: July 4, 7-9 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m.
Where: Alys Beach Amphitheatre
Enjoy live music by Five Star Funk Lounge and fireworks over the Gulf. Food and beverages available for purchase. Bring blankets or low-back chairs.
Info: www.alysbeach.com | (850) 213-5500
DeFuniak Springs Fourth of July Celebration
When: July 4
Where: Historic Lake DeFuniak
Celebrate Independence Day with vendors, family activities and a fireworks display over Lake DeFuniak.
Info: www.defuniaksprings.net | (850) 830-1661
Grayton Beach Fourth of July Celebration
When: July 4, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Grayton Beach
The annual community parade features decorated bikes and golf carts followed by AJ’s Star-Spangled Brunch, live music and family activities throughout the day.
Info: www.ajsgrayton.com | (850) 231-4102
Rosemary Beach Fourth of July Celebration
When: July 4
Where: Barrett Square and Western Green
The day includes a bike decorating contest, parade, family field day, live concert and Gulf-front fireworks at 9 p.m.
Info: www.rosemarybeach.com | (866) 348-8952
Sandestin’s Red, White & Baytowne
When: July 4
Where: The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Enjoy live music, family activities and a fireworks finale over the lagoon as part of Sandestin’s annual Independence Day celebration.
Info: www.sandestin.com | (877) 496-2024
Seaside Fourth of July Celebration
When: July 4, beginning at 9 a.m.
Where: Central Square, Seaside
A full day of festivities includes live entertainment, a children’s patriotic bike parade, hot dog eating contest, Sinfonia Gulf Coast Patriotic Pops Concert and fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
Info: www.seasidefl.com | (850) 225-4436
SunQuest Cruises Fourth of July Dinner Cruise
When: July 4, 6-9:30 p.m.
Where: Baytowne Marina, Sandestin
Celebrate aboard the Solaris yacht with a chef-prepared dinner, live entertainment and fireworks viewing from the water. Reservations required.
Info: www.sunquestcruises.com | (850) 650-2519
Area Independence Day Festivities 2026
CELEBRATE AMERICA 250 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
When: July 4, 2026, Beginning 11:00 a.m.
Where: Heritage Museum of NW Florida 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, FL 32580
Cost: FREE
Vendors will be set up throughout Perrine Park. Music and special events are scheduled throughout the day. Our volunteers will be dressed in colonial attire and lead tours of the exhibit.
Schedule
11:00 a.m. Award ceremony for posters and essay contest winners.
12:00 p.m. History Sandwiched-In: “Colonial Paper Currency” presentation by Tom McKnight.
1:00 p.m. Official Community Ribbon Cutting of the museum’s “America 250” exhibit. The Niceville Mayor Daniel Henkel will officiate.
1:15 p.m. Travis Souther, dressed in colonial attire, will talk about “Life, Liberty and Hard Rations” and give a demonstration of revolutionary war era firearms.
2:00 p.m. Karl Eschmann will lead a discussion about the battles of Lexington and Concord.
Alys Beach Marks America’s 250th with Concert and Fireworks
The Merchants of Alys Beach will host a free Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks Show at the Alys Beach Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 4, from 7–9 p.m. Five Star Funk Lounge will perform live, with fireworks launching from a barge in the Gulf at 9 p.m. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Merchants of Alys Beach vendors in Town Center. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and low-back chairs. Fireworks are subject to cancellation based on Gulf conditions; check Alys Beach social media channels for updates.
Website: alysbeach.com
Address: Alys Beach Amphitheatre, Alys Beach
Phone: (850) 213-5500
DeFuniak Springs Fourth of July Celebration Returns to Historic Lake DeFuniak
The DeFuniak Business and Professional Association will host the annual Fourth of July Celebration around historic Lake DeFuniak, bringing small-town charm and patriotic tradition to the heart of Walton County. The family-friendly event features local vendors, community activities and a festive atmosphere along the lake’s walkable streets. The evening concludes with a fireworks display over Lake DeFuniak.
Website: defuniaksprings.net
Address: Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs
Phone: (850) 830-1661
Emerald Coast Theatre Company Hosts Patriotic Revue at Grand Boulevard
Emerald Coast Theatre Company will bring patriotic music and dance to the fountain stage in Grand Park at Grand Boulevard on Thursday, July 2, from 6–8 p.m. Members and students of the company will perform in this festive pre-Independence Day celebration set in the heart of the outdoor shopping and dining destination.
Address: 585 Grand Blvd., Suite 205, Santa Rosa Beach
Phone: (850) 837-3099
Grayton Beach Kicks Off the Fourth with Parade, Brunch and Live Music
The west end of 30A gets the Fourth of July party started early at Grayton Beach, where the annual Community Parade steps off from the Historic Red Bar at 8:30 a.m., featuring decorated bikes, golf carts and plenty of red, white and blue. AJ’s at Grayton Beach opens at 8 a.m. and keeps the energy going with a Star-Spangled Brunch beginning at 9 a.m., live music throughout the day and a community blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Music continues into the evening at 9 p.m.
Website: ajsgrayton.com
Address: 63 DeFuniak Street, Santa Rosa Beach
Phone: (850) 231-4102
Hotel Effie Sandestin Rings in the Fourth with Rooftop Celebration
Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge at Hotel Effie Sandestin will host America 250 Above It All: Red, White & Rooftop over Independence Day weekend, July 3–4. The two-day celebration features live DJ performances, festive cocktails and panoramic Emerald Coast views. The party kicks off Friday, July 3, from 6–10 p.m., with rooftop DJ sets continuing Saturday, July 4 from noon to 4 p.m. and 6–10 p.m. The festivities culminate with a rooftop viewing of Baytowne Wharf’s fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Website: hoteleffie.com
Address: 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd., Miramar Beach
Phone: (850) 351-3000
Rosemary Beach Celebrates the Fourth with Parade, Concert and Gulf FireworksRosemary Beach will mark Independence Day with a full day of festivities on Saturday, July 4. The celebration kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with a bike decorating contest and parade through the community’s streets and Barrett Square. The evening features a free family field day on the Western Green followed by a live concert at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks launch over the Gulf at 9 p.m., viewable from the beach access near town center.
Website: rosemarybeach.com
Address: N Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach
Phone: (866) 348-8952
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Hosts Red, White & Baytowne
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will host its annual Red, White & Baytowne celebration at The Village of Baytowne Wharf on Saturday, July 4. The coastal Independence Day event features live music, family activities and a fireworks finale over the lagoon. Visitors looking to extend their stay can take advantage of the resort’s Great American Getaway package, offering up to 25% off accommodations throughout 2026 using code USA250, with perks including beach parking, daily bike and kayak rentals, tennis court access and admission to four resort pools.
Website: sandestin.com
Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W., Miramar Beach
Phone: (877) 496-2024
Seaside Celebrates America’s 250th with All-Day Fourth of July Festivities
Seaside will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with a full day of patriotic programming on Saturday, July 4. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. with a block party featuring Emerald Coast Theatre Company performing “Ragged Old Flag,” the National Anthem and a full patriotic set, followed by live music from Huck & Lily at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., a community children’s patriotic bike parade led by a brass band winds through the neighborhood, followed by Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs and the annual hot dog eating contest at 11:30 a.m. Afternoon festivities continue with live music on Krier Plaza from 2–4 p.m. Sinfonia Gulf Coast takes the stage at 7 p.m. for a Patriotic Pops Concert, and fireworks over Seaside cap the night at 8:30 p.m.
Website: seasidefl.com
Address: Central Square, Seaside
Phone: (850) 225-4436
Star-Spangled Food Truck Festival at Destin Commons July 3: Celebrate with a diverse selection of international cuisine, live music, face painting, a photo booth, fireworks and a lively, family-friendly atmosphere 5-9 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.
SunQuest Cruises Offers Fourth of July Dinner Cruise Aboard Solaris
SunQuest Cruises will host an Independence Day dinner cruise aboard the Solaris yacht on Saturday, July 4, from 6–9:30 p.m., departing from Baytowne Marina inside Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The evening includes live entertainment, a chef-prepared dinner and a fireworks show from the water. Reservations are required; a 72-hour cancellation policy applies for holiday cruises.
Website: sunquestcruises.com
Address: 8330 Mike Hayes Dr., Miramar Beach
Phone: (850) 650-2519
