Gainesville’s Fourth of July celebrations are going to be red, white, blue and orange all over.
On campus, UF will hold Fanfares & Fireworks at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Flavet Field.
Director of Community Relations at the UF College of Journalism and Communications Sue Wagner said the night is free.
“Students, friends and families can come relax and listen to live music, picnic in the grass and watch the fireworks,” she said.
Live performances by Richy Stano and Mindwalk, Mark Gaignard, the Barstool Prophets and the Gainesville Community Band will be followed by a fireworks show at about 9:40 p.m., Wagner said.
For safety reasons, she said, the University of Florida Police Department prohibits dogs, alcohol or sparklers. Coolers are allowed but may be subject to search.
“I hope that the weather holds up this year,” said Megan Harmon, a 22-year-old industrial and systems engineering major.
In preparation for the festivities, tents selling fireworks have sprung up across the city.
Christopher Hovey, operations manager of Kaboom Fireworks tent, located at Butler Plaza, said his sales this summer have been almost triple that of previous years.
“If it rains, the better the customers will come, because they don’t have to worry about county burn bans,” Hovey said.
Hovey said there are currently no burn bans in place for the county because conditions have been so damp.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, more fires are reported on Independence Day than on any other day. According to Gainesville Fire Rescue, fireworks are illegal when used by consumers.
“Anything that goes up in the air and goes boom is not allowed,” said GFR Assistant Chief JoAnne Rice.
Rice said a loophole allows fireworks to be sold at stands like Kaboom’s.
“The people that buy those sign a waiver that says they’re using them for agricultural purposes,” said Rice. “The state statute says that once they sign that, [the fire department] has no authority.”
Hovey said his tent was inspected and approved by the fire marshal, and that safety is a priority.
“Everything that they purchase, I give a demonstration,” Hovey said. “I make sure the customer understands thoroughly, or I do not sell it to them.”
Rice advised people to supervise children closely, be careful with loose clothing, and keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water close by.
