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Your Guide to Fourth of July Fun in Sarasota & Siesta Key
There is no better place to spend Independence Day weekend than here in Sarasota and Siesta Key! Aside from the beaches, state parks, and iconic attractions, Sarasota is bursting with festivals, celebrations, events, and fireworks over the Gulf of Mexico to commemorate the Fourth of July. To make planning your patriotic holiday weekend easy and exciting, your friends here at Best Western Siesta Key have created a guide with things to do, events to attend, and where you can find the best fireworks that light up the sky above the glistening and serene water.
How to Celebrate the Fourth of July in Siesta Key & Sarasota
Spend Your Day at the Beach
When visiting Sarasota and Siesta Key in the summer, the most obvious thing is to hit the beach! While the air might be hot, you can count on the white quartz sand and the water in the Gulf of Mexico to be the perfect refreshing temperatures. Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks and bring beach games, sand toys, music, and floats to enjoy a full beach day.
Explore Myakka River State Park
Taking a few hours to visit a State Park on the Fourth of July is a beautiful way to appreciate nature and our great country. Myakka River State Park provides a significant amount of shade thanks to the tall trees and green vegetation. With so much to do and see, hiking, biking, kayaking, and exploring Myakka’s Canopy Walk only scratches the surface.
Visit “Unconditional Surrender”
There is a reason this statue might look familiar, even if you had never seen it before or visited its Sarasota home near Bayfront Park. “Unconditional Surrender,” also known as “the kissing statue,” is a replica of Alfred Eisenstaedt’s famous 1945 photograph, “V-J Day in Times Square.” Created by Seward Johnson, this 25 ft statue celebrates the conclusion of World War II.
Independence Day Events Around Sarasota
Food Truck Festival at UTC
Celebrate Independence Day all weekend long at University Town Center in Sarasota. Beginning on Saturday, July 2nd, and ending on Sunday, July 3rd is a delicious, mouthwatering Food Truck Festival. Bring your appetite and get a little taste of Florida cuisine all in one place. Then, on July 3rd, head across the street to Nathan Benderson Park for live music, a fun kid’s zone, and a car show before their festive fireworks display.
Fourth of July Inline Skating Marathon & 5K Run
If you plan to wake up with a lot of excitement and energy on July 4th, then perhaps signing up to participate in the Inline Skating Marathon and 5K Run at Nathan Benderson Park is the perfect way to celebrate. The event begins promptly at 7:15 AM and continues until 4:15 PM.
Celebrations All Weekend at Bayfront Park
At Bayfront Park near downtown Sarasota, you can catch the festivities all weekend long. Beginning on July 2nd and wrapping up with a grand finale of fireworks on July 4th, Bayfront Park will have live music, shopping, food, drinks, and even a parade at 8 PM before their annual Independence Day fireworks show.
Where to Catch Fourth of July Fireworks Near Siesta Key
We know that a Fourth of July weekend is incomplete without a magnificent fireworks display that illuminates the night sky with bright, joyful, and festive colors. Here in Sarasota and Siesta Key, you can catch incredible fireworks on both Sunday, July 3rd, and Monday, July 4th. On Sunday, catch the show at Nathan Benderson Park beginning around 9 PM. Then, choose between Siesta Key Beach Access #2 or Sarasota Bayfront Park. Both firework displays will start around 9 PM. Be sure to get there early to claim an ideal spot with an unbeatable view over the water.
From hot dogs and fireworks to family outings and parades, and afternoons spent under the sun with your toes in the sand, the ultimate Independence Day celebration around Siesta Key is waiting for you. While creating your perfect holiday weekend plans, be sure to check into Best Western Siesta Key for a comfortable, convenient, and welcoming place to call your “home away from home.”