“Celebrate Cedar Key” will kick off with a parade at 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, followed by opening ceremonies at City Park, and live music, games for kids, and food booths throughout the day.

Live music includes Sam Beckham singing the national anthem and more, followed by TJ Brown, Meg Day, and Matt Chatowsky. DJ Tom Pearson will provide music between sets.

Excellent food will be offered by local non-profit groups – and there’s something for everyone – clam fritters, crab cakes, pulled pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, smoothies, and more.

Games include a dunking booth – with a our own Police Chief Virgil Sandlin in the hot seat for a full half hour – clam bag races, a fish pond and others. The LifeSouth Bloodmobile will be onsite as well.

The Cedar Key Pirates in Paradise will host a free "Pirate School" and treasure hunt where kids get adorned in bandanas and tattoos, learn the pirate’s favorite word – RRR – learn how to sway to get their sea legs, and then set out to find where X marks the spot.

Festivities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or so). Fireworks will follow at dark and will be launched from Cemetery Point. Maps are available at the Cedar Key Welcome Center located on 2nd Street or at www.cedarkey.org.

The fireworks show - and it's going to be great - is possible this year because the businesses and community at large rallied together – in typical Cedar Key fashion – to raise the needed monies in just three weeks.