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Fireworks for the 4th: The Pier, Lealman, Largo etcetera
For the first time, there will be fireworks over Lealman for the 4th of July.
The Lealman Engagement Events Committee was formed a year ago to encourage, produce and promote community events in Lealman, the unincorporated Pinellas County district with more than 30,000 residents. The focus was put directly on centrally-located, five-acre Raymond H. Neri Park.
“Celebrating Lealman” is planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. The pyrotechnics (aka fireworks) begin at dusk.
The committee was formed by the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners as part of its Community Redevelopment Area Plan (CRA) for Lealman.
“It seemed to me that if we put a little focus on there, we could improve the quality of life for the residents,” commissioner Charlie Justice said in 2022, “and we can let the rest of the community know that ‘Hey, Lealman is a pretty neat spot.’”
The Independence Day event will also feature a laser light show, a DJ, a drum band, food trucks, a beer and wine garden – and free hot dogs.
One lesson learned at February’s Honey and Arts Festival, according to Lealman Fire Captain Jim Millican, is that Neri Park – only accessible via a long, winding, foot-traffic path – is a little too far for attendees to walk.
And in the heat of July? Well, for this holiday event, there’s a solution. Starting at 6 p.m., a small army of golf carts will shuttle visitors between the Lealman Exchange building (5175 45th Street N.) and the center of Neri Park.
“We had golf carts at Honey and Arts,” said Millican. “We just didn’t have enough. We had some complaints about the heat, and the long walk. And some people just couldn’t make that long walk.”
The shuttles will operate through and following the fireworks, he added. “We’ll run them until everyone’s gone.”
File photo.
More 4th of July festivities
The Central Park lakefront in Largo is home base for a Sunday Indy-Day bash (it starts at 4 p.m., with entertainment and food, and fireworks at dusk).
The big bang, as it were, it the City of St. Petersburg’s Pier-centric fireworks festival Tuesday. As usual, there’s a multi-hour event (starting at 4 p.m.) with live music and DJs. The sky-high display will blast at approximately 9 p.m., weather permitting.
Gulfport celebrates by the water Tuesday with a parade at 6 p.m., live patriotic music at 7, and “a phenomenal fireworks display” launched from Williams Pier.
It’s fireworks over the Gulf in Treasure Island Tuesday, shot at 9 p.m. from the beach near Gulf Front Park, 10400 Gulf Blvd. Shouldn’t be a bad seat in the (very large) house.
The Sound Amphitheatre in Clearwater has The Florida Orchestra in concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday (admission is free) followed by a fireworks extravaganza over the water.
There’ll be fireworks over North Tampa Bay in Safety Harbor Tuesday, following that morning’s patriotic parade.
And in Tarpon Springs, the fireworks will erupt around 9 at Craig Park, following a morning family festival.
