ORLANDO — If you live in Orlando and plan to be visiting the city on Friday, make a mental note that the City Beautiful takes its Independence Day celebrations very seriously — and Orlando’s traditional July 4 holiday spectacular is on for a night of patriotic family fun at Lake Eola Park.

It’s official: starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 4, the 48th Annual Fireworks at the Fountain at Lake Eola Park, located in downtown Orlando at 195 N. Rosalind Ave., will kick off, and this has become one of the city’s most popular and beloved holiday events.

What Can You Expect at Orlando’s July 4 Bash?

The festivities start at 4 p.m. “Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to find a great viewing spot and enjoy family-friendly activities and live entertainment,” the city notes, while adding that this family-friendly holiday event will include:

• Food and beverages available to purchase from multiple food vendors
• Live music at the Amphitheater Stage starting at 4 p.m.
• A Kids Play Zone
• A patriotic firework display starting at 9:10 p.m.
• An opportunity to show “our gratitude to those men and women and honor the country we live in,” the city notes.

The advice to arrive early is a smart one, since the park tends to get mighty crowded even when there isn’t a holiday event. Since finding a parking space can be a challenge in downtown Orlando, parking is being made available in the garages located in downtown. Click here to see an interactive map of the different options available on that holiday, and downtown residents are being encouraged to use the LYMMO circulator bus, which is free, to get to Lake Eola.

The city is also asking people to consider other ways of getting to the park besides using their car, noting that “Event attendees are encouraged to use alternative methods of transportation to visit Fireworks at the Fountain, including ride share services, carpooling, buses, and bicycles.”

Check Out The Lake Eola Fountain

If you do attend the July 4 bash and are new to the city, check out the refurbished fountain, which dates back to the 1950s and is the centerpiece of the lake. The fountain suffered electrical and mechanical problems in the summer of 2009 when it was struck by a lightning bolt. In 2011, the fountain benefited from improvements and upgrades made by the city.

Construction of the fountain was completed in 1957, when it was known as the Centennial Fountain – and was unveiled to mark the 100th anniversary of the naming of Orlando.

It was renamed the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain in 1965, a tribute to the local businessman who had been inspired by similar fountains he had seen in Europe, and believed Orlando should have one as well.

The fountain was re-dedicated and resumed operation on July 4 2011, during that year’s Fireworks at the Fountain event. The following October, the city began daily jazz shows at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., featuring a choreographed water, light and sound show that ran four minutes and 35 seconds long.

In 2012, the city had a special booth at the park commemorating the fountain’s unique history, and attendees could buy a piece of the old Lake Eola Fountain as a souvenir, with proceeds directly benefiting the Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Inc., a non-profit organization created to support the mission of the city’s Department of Families, Parks, and Recreation. The money was also used for the upkeep and future enhancements at Lake Eola Park.

The city is also encouraging people to watch the fireworks at Lake Eola or at home on TV, and avoid setting off their own fireworks.

“According to National Fire Protection research, there are more U.S. fires reported on a typical Independence Day than on any other day, and fireworks account for more than half of those fires,” the city noted in a news release. “In 2009, fireworks caused an estimated 18,000 reported fires. These fires resulted in an estimated $38 million in direct property damage.”

The Orlando Fire Department has pointed out that “The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. Residents and visitors are encouraged to leave the fireworks to the professionals. Do not use consumer fireworks. After a fireworks display, never let children pick up leftover fireworks. They may still be active.”

Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the terrifying book “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.

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