Red, White & Boom!!!

Red, White & Boom!!!

July 4th is Friday….and the beginning of the Holiday week-end.

In Cape Coral, there is a huge celebration on Independence Day!

*Our local Chamber of Commerce website states:

“While not always called, Red, White & BOOM, Cape Coral has boasted one of the largest fireworks shows in Southwest Florida for over 40 years.

Held each year on July 4, Red, White & BOOM has become much more than fireworks. With live musical entertainment, food, drink, and a number of vendors, the event has taken on more of a festival feel than a typical fireworks show.

Each year, over 20,000 people make their way to the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge to enjoy the Fourth of July celebration filled with family friendly entertainment, and awe-inspiring fireworks show that lights up the evening sky.”

 

Every year, Cape Coral has a 4th of July celebration that is phenomenal!

They call it Red, White & Boom!

Cape Coral has only been in existence since the late 1950’s, but the city goes all out when it comes to Red, White & Boom!. 

The bridge is closed at 6 am and remains closed for the remainder of the day on the 4th of July.

 

There are picnics in the numerous parks as well as the downtown area.

There are parades.

And races…

Young and old….all having a good time!

 

 

There is live entertainment!

For every genre…

And food booths…

 

Many choices!

 

In the evening… people gather on the bridge and  boaters start positioning themselves to  watch the celebration!

It is interesting to note that one year….there was a 8 1/2 minute fireworks display instead of the usual 20-30 minutes that most people are accustomed to.

Below is a narrative from the Chamber of Commerce detailing what happened:

When asked what the most memorable Red, White & Boom was for them, almost in unison, Quaintance, Mazurkiewicz, and Tabor said, “The 8 ½ minute fireworks show.”

“The 8 ½ minute fireworks show” has become a favorite story not only for those three, but for many in the city.

A few years ago, Red, White & Boom was going off without a hitch. When it came time for the fireworks show, the thousands in attendance packed Cape Coral Parkway to watch another glorious burst of fireworks, which typically lasts 20 minutes. Within minutes of the start of the fireworks, the crowd was in awe at the display they saw in the sky. Fireworks were flying through the night sky at a phenomenal pace, “It was better than the fireworks you see at Disney World,” says Tabor.

While the fireworks were impressively filling the sky, the issue that no one other than those nearby the shooter saw was that he had hit the wrong button and shot off the fireworks that were reserved for the finale of the show. The technician, who had little experience overseeing the setting off of fireworks, realized he had hit the wrong button, panicked, and began hitting the rest of the buttons, “We had a problem with the fireworks the year before. We thought they had given us extra shells this year to make up for it,” says Quaintance.

Within eight minutes, all of the fireworks were set off. As much as the crowd was in awe during the show itself, their attitude completely changed as the lingering smoke, and the deafening silence of no fireworks drifted through the air. Soon, those on the bridge where the fireworks were set off, heard the honking of boat horns and thousands of boos from the crowd expressing their disappointment, “It was a pretty cool show, but in the end it disappointed. However, it wasn’t cool standing on the bridge knowing what just happened. We knew we were in trouble,” says Mazurkiewicz.”

Pretty funny , huh?  Well maybe not for the organizers….but the crowd had to admit those 8 1/2 minutes were phenomenal! 🙂

I know, I am weird….I find humor in most everything! 😉

 

And we must not forget our Military….

Our thanks and prayers to all who serve our country…and especially to their families!

And the reason we celebrate the 4th of July…the red, white and blue!

 

The Captain and I will be celebrating with friends over for a bar-b-que picnic and then we will watch the fireworks displays from our home….

or we may go with friends in their boat to the bridge.

Depends on our mood at the time…..

I like spontaneity! 😉

I will post my menu tomorrow…..;)

Do you have  plans for your 4th of July celebration? 

Do you have a funny story to relate?

do tell if you do!

 

 

Me

*http://www.capecoral.com/content/cape-coral-red-white-boom-2014-general-information

**Pictures are courtesy of the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce and Red, White & Boom website.