The town’s Fourth of July celebration brought out the masses to enjoy the festivities at the Plant City Stadium on Monday.
It was the 16th annual event which avoided the rain experienced at last year’s celebration, but still had a spectacular fireworks show.
Ivanna Ibarra is the special events coordinator for the recreation side of the Parks and Recreation Department.
“I’m a Plant City native, born and raised here,” she said. “I’ve been viewing these fireworks as a kid myself.” She was instrumental in galvanizing the city departments, organizations and sponsors to make the event possible. She was happy to see the turn out that she said was bigger than last year’s.
“This is one event that everybody looks forward to and I’m glad to be a part of it,” she said. “It definitely looks like we’re back to the pre-COVID times.”
For Karen Tucker, it was her second year attending the event and she expected this year’s event to top last year’s. Especially with much drier weather.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more people coming out this year,” she said.
If she wasn’t at the stadium having fun, she would have spent her typical Fourth of July in her swimming pool and perhaps going to a ball game in Clearwater the Saturday before the holiday.
“This is the founding of our country, good or bad,” Tucker said. “We’ve done good stuff, we’ve done bad stuff, but this is our country. No matter what’s going on, we need to honor that and we need to celebrate it.”
Multiple vendors lined the entryway to the stadium, with concession stands as well.
While there were those who sat in the bleachers during the remainder of the event, many took to the field where more vendors could be found, along with food trucks.
Patrons walked away with funnel cakes, lemonade, corndogs, popcorn, and more.
Activities offered were corn hole, face painting, bounce houses, and a rock wall where kids made attempts to climb to the very top. And on stage, there was live entertainment that added to the festivities.
A 50-50 drawing was also held and a portion of the proceeds went back to funding the event.
Ethan Muller holds the rank of a major in Strawberry Crest High School’s JROTC program.
“We’re all a big family,” he said. “We look out for each other.”
He was alongside his team as they presented the colors on the field during the national anthem.
“The Fourth of July – it means the birth of our nation, the greatness, and all that we’ve been through,” Muller said.
Connor McQuaig was another JROTC team member who performed as well. It was his first time at the annual Fourth of July celebration and he said that it was the fireworks show at the end that he was anticipating the most.
After a few words from City Manager Bill McDaniel, Assistant City Manager Jack Holland, and Mayor Nate Kilton, the fireworks finale began, which was met with much cheering.
The event was a joint effort between the Parks and Recreation Department, among other city departments, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Plant City Main Street, as well as sponsors.
“It definitely makes me proud not only for myself, but my department, the city, everybody that put their hand in it,” Ibarra said. “There’s a lot of hands that goes into it.”