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Celebrate Independence Eve with us on July 3rd!
Riverfront Park, 5:00-11:00 p.m.
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"You're invited to celebrate the Birth of America during Apalachicola's Independence Celebration, which is observed on the 3rd of July and fast becoming one of the premiere go to events in the area, thanks to our friends at Apalachicola Main Street, their community partners and many volunteers."
- Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson
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We Can't Wait to Celebrate!
If you just can’t wait for July 4th, join the thousands of people who come from near and far to celebrate our Independence, a little ahead of everyone else in America, on Independence Eve!
For the fifth year in a row, the community is combining its resources for a July 3 spectacular, culminating in a stunning fireworks display over the Apalachicola River. Enjoy food, beverages, great live music, a parade, free ice cream, and more. Click here to download a flyer.
Riverfront Park, on Water Street in downtown Apalachicola, is the place to be! For those who wish to relax in a prime up-close seat on the docks, tables in our VIP section and reserved seating are still available. Lawn chairs and picnic blankets are welcome on the grass.
Read on for all the event details!
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This Year's Live Music
Jhaki & The Gang 5:00 p.m.
McCall Chapin @ 5:30 p.m
Tobacco Rd. Band @ 6:30 p.m.
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Jhaki & The Gang is a great group of local performers who are coming together to provide everyone with some patriotic music during this special event. They will perform from 5:00-5:30 p.m.
McCall Chapin will take the stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by Tobacco Rd. Band starting at 6:30 p.m.
McCall Chapin is a talented 16-year-old singer/songwriter from Tallahassee. She first picked up a guitar at age 8 and discovered she had a gift for songwriting at age 12. McCall describes her style as “Urban Pop Country,” blending meaningful, layered lyrics with her well-honed guitar skills. She has now written over 40 original songs.
McCall draws from a variety of musical genres, and is particularly inspired by artists like Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Mumford and Sons, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, and Lady Antebellum. She has often been compared to multiplatinum recording artist Taylor Swift, who began writing her own songs at 12 years old and released her first album at age 16.
McCall started performing live during the summer of 2015, beginning with performances at Rock the Sunblock for the Victor Over Cancer foundation and at open mic venues. She was selected to compete in the Thomasville, Georgia Flaunt Festival Battle of the Bands in October 2015, winning the youth event despite stiff competition from a number of excellent local bands. McCall has grown her following at Tallahassee-area venues and events such as the Junction at Monroe, LeMoyne Arts Festival, Atmosphere Bar, and Apalachicola-area favorites Harry A's and Tamara's Tapas Bar. She has opened for a number of nationally touring acts, including The Currys, Danika Holmes & Jeb Hart, and Blind Joe and enjoys meeting with and learning from different artists.
"I'm thrilled to be back in Apalachicola and opening the Independence Eve Celebration for Tobacco Rd Band,” she says. “It's going to be a really fun night!"
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Our headline entertainment, Tobacco Rd. Band was formed in Tallahassee in 2010 by CMT touring artist Eric Durrance. Eric’s songwriting is complemented by the guitar playing of Ben Castro, Dale Shumate on bass, and drummer Joe Markham. This impressive four piece band describes itself as “hard rocking country.”
“Music runs in my family,” Eric says of how he got started in the business, “My mom and her dad have always been very musical. I got my first break in 1998, the same year the band Creed was discovered out of Tallahassee and went on to sell millions of albums. We signed to the same label, Wind Up Records. That was my first record deal, what kicked off everything, and we’ve been going ever since.”
After their first single “Stiff Drink” received lots of airplay on country radio stations, the band started touring bars and clubs around the South East and went on to open shows for Josh Turner, Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, and many other artists. They teamed up with Colt Ford in the studio to record their hit “That’s Country.” The video of that song on YouTube just surpassed 1 million views. Eric’s talent as a songwriter also led him to co-write Jake Owen’s top 10 single “Eight Second Ride.” The band just returned from Nashville, Tennessee where they played at the Country Music Association’s CMA Week Music Festival.
“We’re really excited to be part of this event,” Eric says of Apalachicola’s July 3 celebration, “We’ll be playing lots of our original country songs, plus covers of classics, and stuff you hear on the radio every day. We’ve been working on a July 4th themed set list with some feel-good patriotic songs.” Guitarist Ben Castro is working on a solo of the national anthem, described as “Jimmy Hendrix meets Brad Paisley.” We can't wait.
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Visit our Food Tent for patriotic eats!
5:00 p.m. - Until
Wings of Freedom
Hero Hot Dogs
Freedom Fries
Low Country Boil
Firecracker Shrimp
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Beer Tent
5:00 p.m. - Until
Refreshments including wine and locally brewed Oyster City Beer will be available.
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Join in the Red, White & Blue Parade!
6:30 p.m.
The Red, White and Blue Parade will line up at Lafayette Park at 6:30. Bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians, and dogs are welcome to get decked out in red, white and blue and join in. You'll be given a poster to display the name of a veteran you'd like to honor. The parade heads down Avenue B to Riverfront Park. There's no registration, and spaces are first come, first served.
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Free Ice Cream Social!
7:00 p.m.
After the parade, get in line for free ice cream and all the trimmings!
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Free Children's Activities
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Kids can visit the Project Impact tent for face painting, art activities, games, fun and prizes!
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Veterans Tribute
8:30 p.m.
We are honored to have as our speaker Rear Admiral Mark Milliken, U.S. Navy, Retired. Admiral Milliken and his wife Elizabeth Zingarelli Millken moved back to Apalachicola a year ago, after almost 32 years away serving our country around the globe. Admiral Milliken is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He commanded the aircraft carrier USS Independence and served as Deputy Commander of the US 5th Fleet, with responsibility for command of NATO Maritime Forces and US Naval Central Command during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. His last assignment was as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for International Programs.
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Fireworks!
When it gets dark, get ready for the best fireworks show on the Forgotten Coast! This year we are proud to announce an enhanced fireworks show with a patriotic music soundtrack.
Check out this video of the 2015 fireworks by Robert Skrob.
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For those who wish to relax in a prime up-close seat on the docks, savoring wine or locally brewed Oyster City Beer from a private bar, table sponsorships and reserved seating are available. Our VIP section is being upgraded this year with white lights, hostesses, and complimentary snacks and beverages. For more information, please download the sponsor form, send us an email, or call toll-free (844) 272-2523.
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Become a Sponsor!
Join the many community businesses and individuals who are supporting this event!
Click here to download a sponsor form and for more information about the levels and benefits.
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Our Sponsors as of June 30:
This event is made possible by the generous financial support of:
Title Sponsor
Allen & Brenda Jones
Event Sponsors
GPR Properties
George & Pam Mahr
Jim & Susan Bachrach
Billy & Deborah Schultz
David & Vicki Fowlkes
The Family of Mark Brown, in Loving Memory
Grand Patrons
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