🎆 Fireworks, Moonlit Boardwalks & a Singing Showdown + Brewery Poll Winner

Friends and neighbors, 

This week's calendar is all about the Fourth of July. But beyond the parade and fireworks, there are a few events that feel worth knowing about. 

Paradise Coast Sports Complex is turning the holiday into an all-day celebration with a block party, World Cup watch party, and FC Naples match. If watching fireworks from the beach has become routine, Pure Florida is once again heading onto the Gulf for an on-the-water view of the show. 

Then once the holiday weekend winds down, Corkscrew Sanctuary starts after-dark tours, Artis—Naples brings back its summer jazz series, and Sugarshack kicks off their 2nd annual Singing Competition. Think you have the chops? Submit this form for a chance to compete!

Hope to see you out there!

Warmly,

📅 Friday, July 3
🕚 Block Party: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | ⚽ World Cup Watch Party: 3:00 PM | 🥅 FC Naples Match: 7:30 PM
📍Paradise Coast Sports Complex

If you're looking for a full day's worth of plans, Paradise Coast Sports Complex has you covered. The free America 250 Block Party features family activities and a brand-new treasure hunt before transitioning into a World Cup watch party later in the afternoon. The day wraps up with FC Naples taking on Portland Hearts of Pine, making this one of the busiest Fourth of July weekends anywhere in Collier County. Event info.

📅 Saturday, July 4 | Parade: 9:00–10:30 AM | Fireworks: 9:00 PM
📍Downtown Naples

This year's celebration marks America's 250th anniversary with a newly designed parade route through downtown. The parade begins at the corner of Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South before traveling east along Fifth Avenue and ending at City Hall. Later that evening, fireworks begin around 9 p.m. Although the Naples Pier remains under construction, the display will launch from a barge offshore and will be visible from Naples beaches. If you're planning to watch from the sand, arrive well before sunset—parking fills quickly every year. Event info.

📅 Saturday, July 4 | Departs 7:15 PM
📍Pure Florida, Tin City

Watching the fireworks from the Gulf never gets old. Pure Florida's annual cruise aboard the M/V Double Sunshine departs from Tin City and cruises through Naples Bay and Port Royal before heading offshore for an unobstructed view of the fireworks display. Private charters are also available. Event info.

📅 Monday, July 6 or Wednesday, July 8 | 8:15–10:30 PM
📍Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

You've probably walked Corkscrew's boardwalk in broad daylight. At night, it's a completely different place. Join an Audubon naturalist for a guided two-mile walk through the swamp as insects call, owls hunt, and alligators become easier to hear than see. Summer also brings the chance to spot bioluminescent mushrooms glowing along the forest floor, while the sanctuary's dark skies make for excellent stargazing. Red-light flashlights are provided, and tickets tend to sell out, so it's worth reserving ahead of time. Event info.

📅 Tuesday, July 7 | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍Sugarshack Downtown

Sugarshack's 2nd annual singing competition returns next week, with eight local performers taking the stage backed by the Sugarshack Allstars Band. Audience members help decide who advances toward the August finals, where one singer will take home a $2,500 prize. It's part concert, part competition, and one of the more entertaining recurring summer events downtown. Event info.

📅 Wednesday, July 8 | 6:00–7:30 PM
📍Artis—Naples

Artis—Naples keeps its summer concert schedule going with an evening of jazz led by acclaimed vibraphonist Chuck Redd alongside the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra. Expect big-band classics, improvisation, and the kind of musicianship that has made the All That Jazz series a favorite long after the regular season ends. Event info.

Last week we asked: What’s your favorite local brewery?

Here’s where you landed: 

The race was tighter than I expected. Ankrolab Brewing Company (22%) finished just ahead of Ceremony Brewing (21%), with Bone Hook close behind in third. Thanks to everyone who weighed in!

The Fourth of July is one of those Naples weeks that can be as big or as quiet as you want it to be.

You can make a full day of it at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, keep the tradition going downtown, watch the fireworks from the Gulf, or save your energy for the slower moments that come after the holiday rush.

That is the nice thing about summer here. The big events get everyone out the door, but the best parts are often smaller: a night walk through Corkscrew, jazz at Artis, a local singer taking the stage, or one more reason to meet up before the week slips by.

Enjoy the holiday week, stay safe, and let us know what you end up doing.

Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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