Where to celebrate the Fourth of July in Tampa Bay

Boom by the Bay — The City of Tampa hosts its free, annual celebration at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, featuring fireworks, live entertainment, an "Apple Pie Throwdown" and a pickleball tournament.

• Thursday, 4pm.

Independence Day Brunch — St. Pete Beach's Don CeSar Hotel offers an "Instagram-worthy" buffet that includes BBQ ribs, loaded baked potato salads and apple pie cream puffs — complete with a view of the beach.

• Thursday, 10am-1:30pm.

4th of July Celebration — Busch Gardens lights up the sky with an extended fireworks show at Festival Field through July 4. Pass members aged 21 and older can also enjoy two complimentary beers.

• 10165 McKinley Dr.

The Fourth — The City of St. Pete hosts its free, annual Fourth of July celebration at the Pier. Fireworks, live entertainment and more.

• Thursday, 4-10pm.

Of note: The Fourth of July is one of three dates when Floridians are permitted to set off explosives, under a carve-out the Legislature passed in 2020.

• The carve-out doesn't supersede HOA rules or any local government ordinances that predated it.
• Legality aside, public safety officials stress that the safest way to watch fireworks on the 4th is at a permitted, professional show.

Go deeper: Your Fourth of July guide to Florida's firework rules