St. Augustine's Fourth of July celebration at the Castillo de San Marcos includes a live music concert and a spectacular fireworks display over the historic bayfront. "Fireworks Over the Matanzas" is one of the biggest and best fireworks displays on the East Coast, featuring 5,000 individual shells exploding as high as 2,000 feet and as low as 100 feet.
Starting at 6:00 p.m., the popular local band The All-Star Orchestra performs a two-hour show of big band and swing music along with patriotic favorites. The concert is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to bring lounge chairs for seating.
Fourth of July Fireworks 2017 Free Event
The fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
St. Augustine has been putting on a spectacular fireworks show on July 4th for the last two decades. Lighting up the sky over the waters of Matanzas Bay, with the Castillo de San Marcos and the Bridge of Lions in the foreground, the "Fireworks Over the Matanzas" display is truly unforgettable. Visitors are welcome to line the streets and sit anywhere along the Bridge of Lions and South Castillo Drive to view the fireworks from downtown.
The 20-minute fireworks show is choreographed to sync with a soundtrack of patriotic music over an extensive sound system that carries over the entire bayfront area. The show is produced by Fireworks by Santore, who also produce fireworks shows for such major entertainment venues as Sea World Orlando and Walt Disney World. Fireworks Over the Matanzas is one of the best places in Florida to catch fireworks on Independence Day.
See below for details on road closures. These closures begin at 8:30 p.m. and end at 10:30 p.m., so visitors must make sure they are appropriately situated before then!
After the Fireworks Over the Matanzas display, around 10 p.m., guests can visit any one of the historic downtown pubs and restaurants for a bite to eat and a cool drink. Remember, St. Augustine enforces "no open container" laws, so visitors should make sure they drink only inside St. Augustine's restaurants and bars.
Check out places to stay in St. Augustine, FL for July 4th weekend with options available at the beaches, downtown, and near I-95.
When: Tuesday, July 4, 2017, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Concert from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m, fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Road closures from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Where: St. Augustine's historic district. Some of the best vantage points are on the Bridge of Lions and at the Castillo de San Marcos.
For more information on this event please call (904) 825-1004 or visit here.
July 4th Road Closures and Downtown Parking
The bayfront road and South Castillo Drive will be closed from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. to accommodate this event. The Bridge of Lions will be closed to both boat and vehicle traffic. Everyone attending should find their parking area prior to 8:30 p.m., when the traffic rerouting begins. The downtown parking garage at the Visitors Information Center offers all-day parking for $12 per vehicle.
Parking in city-owned lots and on-street is FREE on July Fourth, as it is on all national holidays. However, there will be no access to or from the parking lot of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument from 6–11 p.m. on July 4. Street parking will be limited in the vicinity of the Plaza to facilitate traffic detours in the evening. Click here for a map of handicapped parking locations in downtown St. Augustine.
The City of St. Augustine encourages the use of bicycles for people who live close to the downtown area. Visit here for locations to park bicycles throughout the city.
Following the show, King St. and West Castillo Drive will be dedicated to west-bound traffic out of the downtown area to U.S. 1. Traffic signals in the downtown area, along Ponce de Leon Blvd. (U.S. 1), Anastasia Blvd., and State Roads 312, 207 and 16 will be monitored to facilitate traffic flow.
Nearby Places to Eat
Restaurant
Location
A1A Ale Works 1 King St.
Harry's Seafood 46 Avenida Menendez
Tempo Restaurant 16 Cathedral Place
Florida Cracker Cafe 81 St. George Street
La Pentola 58 Charlotte Street
Scarlett O'Hara's 70 Hypolita St.
Hoptinger's 200 Anastasia Blvd.
Raintree Restaurant 102 San Marco Ave.
Barnacle Bill's 14 W. Castillo Dr.
Public Restrooms
Public restrooms are located around the downtown Historic District. Check out the map below.