Man, it is not a good time to be a fireworks fan in a ton of cities across the country right now. Across the board, concerns of drought-induced wildfires and state budget cuts have caused many municipalities to axe their longstanding Fourth of July fireworks shows in lieu of these concerns.
For instance, the city of Cincinatti's annual All-American Birthday Party and fireworks show has been cancelled because of the city's budget concerns.
Chicago has cancelled all government-funded fireworks shows across the board and even a few cities in Florida, most notably Gainesvile, had their longstanding fireworks shows cancelled due to, simply, a lack of funds after budget cuts.
Lucky for us, Tampa's made no bans on fireworks shows thus far and the shows lined up this year are aplenty.
Head down to Channelside and check out their 10th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration with live music, festivities, and plenty of family fun. Best of all, this event is completely free. Entertainment begins at 2 p.m. and the fireworks start at 9 p.m.
Or go next door and celebrate Fourth of July with the Florida Aquarium where admission is a discounted $10 after 3 p.m. Enjoy the Channelside fireworks from their outdoor cantina and explore all the awesome aquatic life they have to offer.
Or, check out Brandon Blast 2011 at the Brandon Town Center in, you guessed it, Brandon. This event takes place in the parking lot of the mall, is open to families, and, of course, has fireworks. Kids can enjoy the bounce houses and slides, while adults can enjoy live music from the Hard Rock stage. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and fireworks start at 9 p.m.
This is just a sampling of fireworks-related events going down in Tampa on the Fourth of July. Of course, you can always buy your own and go nuts, but really, nothing beats extravagant shows like these. Whatever you do, be sure to have an awesome and safe Fourth of July, Tampa!
