Get into the holiday spirit with this rundown of events and things that you can do this year if you are celebrating Independence Day in Florida!

Independence Day history lesson

Independence Day, or 4th July, is a federal holiday in the US, commemorating the Declaration of Independence, where the 13 American colonies declared themselves independent of Britain. As you probably know, this is an important part of the American identity and celebrating it is a big deal! As a result there will be plenty of revellers and families out and about in the theme parks and at the attractions in Florida for this special holiday. Bear this in mind, and plan to arrive early if you are heading out to the parks. Don’t forget – you can leave the parks and return later if you need a break!

Red, white, blue and more at Florida’s theme parks

So what is happening across Florida on 4th July? Over at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom you can catch a 25-minute show to help you brush up on your knowledge of US history at The Hall of Presidents, in Liberty Square. Take a seat in the theatre and settle down in front of a film which retells the story of the foundation of the USA, before the curtain rises and reveals an animatronic presentation of every US president on stage. You’ll hear speeches from key on-stage figures, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and the current president, Donald Trump.

Interesting Magic Kingdom facts:

• Despite Donald Trump being America’s 45th president, there are only 44 figures present on the stage at the Hall of Presidents – this is because Grover Cleveland served in the role on two separate occasions – as 22nd and 24th president!
• The Liberty Bell in Liberty Square was cast from the mould used for the original bell, which is a major symbol of American independence, and is located in Philadelphia.

If you still feel that you want to learn more about the importance of 4th July, then pay a visit to Epcot, and The American Adventure attraction housed in a Colonial-style building, which stars iconic American figures Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin as your helpful guides on this trip back in time. This state-of-the-art production includes 35 animatronics in front of a large screen featuring an array of projected images. Listen to patriotic songs and bear witness to a host of important moments in American history, such as the landing of the Mayflower, the Declaration of Independence and the American Civil War.

Fireworks are a key part of any 4th July celebrations, and the displays around the theme parks especially are sure to be a hit! Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the regular Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is well-worth catching, while at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky is held on both 3rd and 4th July in place of the usual Happily Ever After display. This 15-minute show includes patriotic narration, music and a salute to the Red, White and Blue accompanied by the Star-Spangled Banner, leading to a rousing finale of brightly-coloured fireworks!

Make sure you scout out and lay claim to a good viewing spot ahead of this show, as it is always incredibly popular!

Take this opportunity to catch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth over at Epcot before it takes its final bow on 30th September this year, after a stunning 20-year run. As with previous years, the four-minute Heartbeat of Freedom is added to the end of the standard show, and includes a stirring rendition of Glory, Glory, Hallelujah and a truly stunning pyrotechnic display bursting high above the World Showcase Lagoon!

Universal Studios are also getting in on the fireworks action for 4th July, as well as playing host to a fun-filled party! From 4th-6th July, get into the celebratory spirit over at Music Plaza; the party kicks off at 5pm and includes stilt-walkers, live music and a character dance party – not to mention great food, such as smoked ribs and mac n’ cheese delivered to the Plaza from the Monster Cafe! From 9pm you will be treated to a spectacular fireworks display over the Plaza – complete with confetti cannons!

Over at SeaWorld, make sure you get a great position in Bayside Stadium to view the 9.30pm Ignite firework and fountain show. Especially for 4th July you will be treated to a special patriotic finale to the regular show as the colours of red, white and blue light up the fountains and night sky to the rousing chorus of patriotic music!

If these displays are a bit late for the youngsters in the group then you might want to consider heading to LEGOLAND Florida for their annual Red, White and BOOM! event which is held this year from 4th-6th July. Along with fun daytime activities such as building a giant flag from LEGO bricks and saluting the troops at Battle For Brickbeard’s Bounty water-ski show, the fireworks over Lake Eloise are the largest display in LEGOLAND’s calendar!

Don’t forget to put on the special viewing glasses to make it appear as though there are bricks bursting across the sky with every firework’s explosion!

Independence Day events outside the parks

So you don’t want to go to the theme parks for 4th July, but still want to get involved in the celebrations? No problem, there are lots of other events set to get underway around Florida!

Are you a petrolhead at heart? If so, consider a trip to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. This hotly-anticipated 400-mile NASCAR race is held on Saturday 6th July, so you can attend this in addition to a range of other 4th July events! Enjoy a pre-race concert from Floridian country music artist Michael Ray and look forward to the fireworks display scheduled for around 10pm (dependent on when the race finishes!). Tickets are going fast, so check out the website for details of prices and how to book.

If you have a more low-key and relaxed day out in mind for 4th July there are plenty of free fireworks displays and parades around the wider Orlando area that you can enjoy.

Head to the town of Celebration for the Star Spangled Spectacular, which starts the celebrations early! Catch the 9am parade as it makes its way through the town, before the event gets into full swing at 4pm, with music, kids activities and food. Later the 9.15pm fireworks will be sure to dazzle as they bring the event to a close!

The 42nd Fireworks at the Fountain party will kick off at 4pm over at Lake Eola Park with live music, food and drinks as well as a kids play area! The finale to the night is a fantastic fireworks display with plenty of patriotic red, white and blue. As there will be street closures in place for this event, it is recommended that you work out your transport plans ahead of attending. Check out the City of Orlando’s webpage for relevant details of road closures, parking and transport options.

If you are in Kissimmee then the Monumental 4th of July is a free family-friendly evening event over at Kissimmee Lakefront Park that you won’t want to miss. With a special kids craft zone and a whole host of food vendors there is something for everyone to enjoy – especially the spectacular grand finale to the event, the fireworks!

Attendance is expected to be high for these events, so plan to arrive early!

South of Kissimmee in Haines City’s Lake Eva Park you will be able to experience the popular Thunder on the Ridge event, which has been awarded the coveted title of Polk County’s premier firework display. Starting at 3pm, head to this free event and grab something to eat and a refreshing drink while you watch the kids get stuck into the fun activities – the whole family will have a great day out before the fireworks even start!

This is just a small selection of events set to light up your 4th July! As you can see, whatever your budget there is something for everyone to get involved in on your Orlando villa holiday - you are bound to feel like an honorary American! If you know of any amazing events that we have missed out please get in touch – we’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for fellow holidaymakers!