By Cindy Peterson
Leesburg’s Star Spangled Spectacular 4th of July Schedule
A water ski show, live music, fun family activities, collegiate baseball and amazing fireworks are all part of Leesburg’s Star Spangled Spectacular 4th of July.
The festivities begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 4 at Ski Beach in Venetian Gardens, 201 Lake Harris Drive, Leesburg. This year’s event features carnival rides for kids and adults along with a photo booth, caricature artist and other entertainment. Vendors will serve up a variety of food including burgers, BBQ, arepas, Italian ice and strawberry shortcake.
Licorice Sticks Dixieland Band takes the stage with live music at 4 p.m. followed by the O’Gilvie Trio at 7 p.m. The water ski show is set for 6 p.m., weather permitting, and the celebration closes with Lake County’s largest fireworks display presented by Zambelli Fireworks at 9 p.m. Entertainment and vendors will be located at Ski Beach. Viewing areas for the fireworks are available all around the Lakefront at Venetian Gardens.
The Leesburg Lightning – defending champions of the Florida Collegiate Summer League – will challenge the Winter Garden Squeeze starting at 5 p.m. at historic Pat Thomas Stadium. The stadium also provides ideal seating to watch the fireworks. The city splash pad in Rogers Park will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the standard admission fee of $2.00.
Since event activities will be held at Ski Beach, public parking there will be limited to the grass area only. Some parking is also available around the Venetian Center and the baseball stadium. Drivers are encouraged to use convenient sites north of Dixie Avenue including the ballfield at the corner of Canal and Dixie, the lot by the shuffleboard courts on 2nd Street and the LRMC Medical Plaza on the south side of Dixie. Space is also available throughout downtown Leesburg including the parking garage at Main and Palmetto streets. Please do not block residential driveways, roads or sidewalks.
The Leesburg Police Department asks that all pedestrians cross Dixie Avenue only at the traffic lights at Canal Street or 9th Street.
For more information, visit the Leesburg Special Events Facebook page or the city website at www.LeesburgFlorida.gov.
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
