With UF's Fanfares and Fireworks out of people's Fourth of July plans, firework-seekers had to turn elsewhere to celebrate America's birthday.
In Williston, the sweet smell of kettle-cooked popcorn pierced the country air Saturday as family and friends gathered to celebrate Independence Day.
Mary Kline, executive director of the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce and 2011 citizen of the year, said about 14,000 people - 4,000 more than in 2010 - made the trek to the small-town Independence Day festival to take in live entertainment, food and - of course - a fireworks spectacle.
The festival kicked off with a parade of eight floats and more than 100 horses along the historic streets of downtown Williston, followed by the main event a few miles out of town at Williston Horseman's Park. Entry to the event was free, but a $2 parking donation was requested to benefit Williston High School's JROTC program.
Debra Jones, the Williston City Council vice president and organizer of the festival, said the event is designed to showcase the town to thousands of people who travel from the surrounding counties. It's a task she's tackled since America's bicentennial in 1976, when the festival first began.
"I can practically do it with my eyes closed," she said.
As the sun began to set, a thundering vocal melody rumbled across the grounds as spectators stopped and turned their focus to the entertainment pavilion. Sixteen-year-old J.R. Hernandez had taken the stage along with Kendall Loveday, 17, both of Bell, Fla.
The deep voice unfitting of the boy on stage seemingly awakened the ghost of country music legend Johnny Cash as he performed songs such as Keith Urban's "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and Josh Turner's "Long Black Train."
Hernandez said he started playing guitar about four years ago, and he has only been singing for a little more than two years. He's always known where he wants to go, though.
"It has always been my dream to get on a bus and go places," he said. "I'd love to play in different places every day."
He plans to perform at the University of Florida during the 2011 Florida 4-H Congress event held July 25-29.
The Shane Wooten Band rocked the stage in a display of country music that brought the crowd to chants of "U.S.A." and sing-alongs to original hits such as "Running With a Redneck Crowd" and "Shovel'n Sunshine."
After climbing up the country music charts in Florida and traveling around the country, Wooten said he likes to come back to his roots.
"I grew up around here," he said. "I threw watermelons not far from here. It's where I come from."
Kline said the Shane Wooten Band was such a huge success last year that she had to have the group perform again this year. She said the band played for less than $1,000 - a fee she describes as barely enough to cover his travel costs.
"He does it out of the goodness of his heart," she said.
Immediately following Wooten's performance came the highlight of Independence Day celebrations across the nation: fireworks.
The crowd jumped in surprise as the first explosion lit up the night sky. Children distracted by short attention spans were quickly engulfed in the magic that danced above the trees.
Screams of "that was loud" permeated every corner of the park as about 2,500 explosions rocked the warm summer sky - a show that costs about $8,500, Jones said.
Despite the large crowd and opportunity for the festival to go south, Pfc. James Tegart, 36, of the Williston Police Department, said there haven't been any major problems in recent years.
"It's advertised as a family event and it stays that way," he said.
Emmalynn McFadden, a 17-month-old from Hudson, Fla., plays a game at the Williston Independence Day Festival on Saturday.
