Look up

The Patriotic Skies fireworks show on July 4 will be put on by Skylighters of Florida, which provided the pyrotechnics for the Symphony Under the Stars event at the Ocala Golf Club on June 6. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.

If you’re looking for excitement for the 4th of July, consider attending the Patriotic Skies event at Tuscawilla Park near downtown Ocala. There’s even a VIP option with a lakefront view of all the action.

The city of Ocala, in partnership with Ocala Main Street, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, is hosting the event from 6 to 10 p.m. that Friday. Access to the park is free. There are fees associated with the VIP event at Midtown Station.

The city of Ocala is hosting the live entertainment lineup, family activities and food, while Ocala Main Street will present the fireworks display.

The live performances will feature musical acts Bryce Mauldin, Emma Forgette and DJ Karim Martin. The All-American Kid’s Zone will include free activities such as bounce houses, a rock wall, a mechanical alligator and a mechanical surfboard. Face painting will be available for a small fee.

An “Ocala Gazette” article in April shared information about the revitalization of Tuscawilla Park “with the Heart of the Park scheduled to open with a bang this July.”

“Heart of the Park, an upcoming community hub that is transforming the former American Legion building at Tuscawilla Park, is scheduled for a soft opening for sponsors and stakeholders on July 4. Ocala Main Street is in talks with the city of Ocala to bring back a Fourth of July fireworks show to bring the community together and celebrate Heart of the Park’s initial opening,” OMS Executive Director Jessica Fieldhouse stated in the article.

“Plans include a corner store and expansive deck, satellite museum exhibit center in partnership with local museums and organizations, daily programming focused on wellness and community, and enhanced connectivity throughout the park,” she further noted.

“Ocala Main Street is honored to be the agency to bring fireworks back to Tuscawilla for our community. We are beyond grateful to our volunteers and donors who are making this event happen. We’re thrilled to use this occasion to unveil the heart of the park and be the catalyst for activation in South Tuscawilla. We truly hope everyone will come out to celebrate this long-awaited event and help us support the park during its soft opening in July,” Fieldhouse said via email this week.

The fireworks show will start at 9:30 p.m. It will be put on by Skylighters of Florida, which also provided the pyrotechnics for the recent Symphony Under the Stars event at the Ocala Golf Club.

The city of Ocala had put on a drone show for the 4th of July in 2024 and contracted Sky Elements to put on shows in 2025 and 2026. The city canceled the contract for the drone shows after one of the company’s events in Orlando went awry and a young boy was injured.

The Patriotic Skies event will include these food trucks, according to the city of Ocala website: Best Food Ever, Brick & Ember Pizza, Country Boyz BBQ, Junkie Fries, Kona Ice, Pepere’ Joe’s, Puertorican Cravings, Royal Hibachi, Silver Springs Lions Club (funnel cakes), The Dancing Empanada, The Krafty Kettle and Urban Dawgs.

Free shuttle service will be available from 5 to 11 p.m. at: Marion Technical Institute, 1614 SE Fort King St.; E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St.; Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.; and Marion County Parking Facility, 346 NW Second St. Additional ADA parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Reilly Arts Center at 500 NE 9th St.

Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets, as seating will not be provided. Tents, alcohol, and personal drones are not permitted.

Midtown Station and Infinite Ale Works are hosting the VIP party at 235 NE Watula Ave. Tickets are $60/adult, $30/minor (16-20) and $20 child (up to age 15). According to organizers, an adult ticket “will include exclusive access to Midtown Station for the evening, food from every vendor at Midtown Station, two alcoholic beverages, A/C, bathrooms, covered patio view of the fireworks show at 9:30 overlooking Lake Tuscawilla and live music from 6-9pm. Event until 11pm.” Limited space is available. To get tickets, go to midtownstation.ticketspice.com/fourth-of-july-party

Tuscawilla Park is located at 800 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala.

To learn more, including a list of FAQs about things such as what not to bring, parking, etc., go to ocalafl.gov/julyfourth
For information about Ocala Main Street, go to ocalamainstreet.org

Fireworks explode during Symphony Under the Stars. The same company, Skylighters of Florida, will provide fireworks for the July 4 event. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.