This year, the city of Cape Coral’s 250-flagpole was the backdrop at the Red, White & BOOM!. Earlier in the day, a special \u201cRaise the Flag\u201d ceremony was held to raise the American flag at Bernice Braden Park.<\/p>\n
Photo provided by the city of Cape Coral<\/p>\n
People of all ages flocked to Cape Coral Parkway to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday Saturday sporting a slew of red, white, and blue attire and accessories.<\/p>\n
The celebration kicked off at 5 p.m. with many attendees arriving early to grab the perfect spot with chairs, blankets, and wagons in tow. Vendors lined one side of the parkway handing out literature, many for political races, with some organizations, church groups, food, and beverages sprinkled throughout.<\/p>\n
Slipaway Food Truck & Marina was also a destination Saturday, as attendees enjoyed music, one of the many food trucks, and 4th of July festivities.<\/p>\n
The annual Red, White & BOOM! celebration featured national headliner country musician Chris Lane who performed, followed by remarks from city staff, and Cape CoralCity Council members. Before the fireworks lit up the sky around 9:30 p.m. the National Anthem was sung by the North High School Seniors Singers.<\/p>\n
Al Valdes has watched the fireworks for 22 years. This year, he grabbed the perfect spots at 3 p.m. He said the atmosphere and everyone getting along is what keeps him coming back year after year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year, the 250-flagpole was a backdrop at the Red, White & BOOM!. Earlier in the day, a special \u201cRaise the Flag\u201d ceremony was held to raise the American flag at Bernice Braden Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe flag is beautiful,\u201d Valdes said.<\/p>\n
Many attendees used the tallest free-standing American flagpole in Florida as a backdrop for selfies along the parkway.<\/p>\n
For the first time in a while, Danielle Armstrong, a North Fort Myers resident, attended Red, White & BOOM!, this year with her friends who were visiting from out of town. She said she attended because of the 250th anniversary.<\/p>\n
Although she did not make the \u201cRaise the Flag\u201d ceremony, she said she watched the flag rise from the Monkey Bar.<\/p>\n
The celebration was meaningful for Armstrong because she became a U.S. citizen in 2019 from Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just the American feeling \u2013 feeling proud,\u201d she said about being part of the celebration.<\/p>\n
Mark Lazenby traveled from Port Charlotte this year to attend the celebration though he typically watches fireworks at Fishermen\u2019s Village. He said since he spends time in Cape Coral as the city is not a far drive from where he lives, Red, White & BOOM! was where he headed this year with his high school sweetheart.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds like fun,\u201d he said at the beginning of the night. \u201cThe flag was the marker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lazenby said as a Marine, who served 12 years, the large flag was great to see as it means safety and security.<\/p>\n