by | June 29, 2026
What to do this July in Florida
Celebrate America's semiquincentennial, set eyes to the sky for the Pensacola Beach Air Show, stomp to tunes in Tallahassee and more this July.
North
St. Augustine Independence Day Celebration
St. Augustine
July 4
Toast America’s 250th birthday in the country’s oldest city. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a two-hour concert in Plaza de la Constitución’s gazebo, featuring Americana classics performed by the 11-time Emmy-winning All-Star Orchestra. After the show, order picnic provisions like a mahi-mahi Cuban sandwich from Columbia Restaurant or oysters from The French Pantry, paired with a classic mignonette. Then, stake out a spot along the Castillo de San Marcos’s coquina walls to enjoy fireworks over Matanzas Bay, set to a mix of rock hits and patriotic favorites.
citystaug.com
Swamp Stomp Music Festival
Tallahassee
July 11
The region’s longest-running music festival is a beloved Tallahassee tradition celebrating the spirit and song of the Gulf Coast’s Big Bend. Beneath the sprawling live oaks at the Tallahassee Museum, guests can bring a lawn chair, grab dinner and drinks and settle in for a blend of guitar, fiddle and rich vocals under a shady canopy of ancient trees. Stroll the museum’s boardwalk to spot red wolves, black bears and wild turkeys, or fly through the trees on a zipline course crisscrossing the property. This year’s lineup showcases music across three stages, with talent including Del Suggs, Carol Ann Matthews and The Johns Girls.
tallahasseemuseum.org
Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament
Jacksonville
July 11-18
In its 46th year, this annual fishing tournament remains one of the Southeast’s premier kingfish competitions, drawing anglers and spectators for eight days of action on land and sea. Live entertainment, vendors, food tents and raffles create a festive atmosphere throughout the tournament. The fan-favorite Liar’s Tent invites competitors to spin their most outrageous stories of the one that got away, but the real spectacle unfolds each afternoon when boats idle back to the docks. Stake out a spot along the waterfront as crews unload their catches and compete for prizes worth up to $50,000.
kingfishtournament.com
Pensacola Beach Air Show
Pensacola
July 15-18
Beachgoers know to keep their eyes on the sky during Pensacola’s annual air show. The hometown Blue Angels roar overhead in tight formation at speeds approaching 700 mph, often separated by just inches. Friday’s practice sessions offer plenty of thrills as white smoke trails streak across the emerald coast and pilots fine-tune their routines. On Saturday, military and civilian aviators take center stage, dazzling fans with precision maneuvers, high-speed passes and gravity-defying aerobatics.
visitpensacola.com
Central
Summer Series at World Equestrian Center
Ocala
Now-Aug. 9
Summer takes off at a gallop during 10 weeks of elite equestrian hunter and jumper competitions at the World Equestrian Center (WEC), a complex of indoor and outdoor arenas, hotels and restaurants set in the Horse Capital of the World. Riders of all levels mount up in pursuit of more than $3 million in prize money, with the highest stakes during a weekly Saturday night Grand Prix, when top talents compete for the fastest clear rounds over the show’s largest jumps. Beyond the arena, spectators can explore The Equestrian Manor, a culinary destination within WEC that recently added two rooftop restaurants: The White Willow for Pan-Asian cuisine and Genievieve’s for refined Italian Fare.
worldequestriancenter.com
Craft Tampa 4th of July Dinner Cruises
Tampa
July 4
Trade crowded shorelines for a seat on the river this Independence Day. Craft Tampa is offering two dinner cruises to celebrate America’s 250th birthday aboard its European-inspired vessel, designed to glide beneath the Hillsborough River’s historic low bridges. Guests can savor a three-course meal featuring selections such as rice paper-wrapped jumbo shrimp and rojo chimichurri filet mignon, with craft cocktails available for purchase. One cruise joins the Friends of the Riverwalk Boat Parade, while the other culminates with front-row views of fireworks bursting above Tampa’s skyline.
crafttampa.com
Liberty by the Bay
Tampa
July 4
Tampa can’t fit 250 birthday candles on a cake, but the city more than makes up for it with festive Fourth of July celebrations along the Tampa Riverwalk. The energy kicks off at 5 p.m. when patriotic pooches strut their four-legged stuff in red, white and blue costumes, followed by a boat parade and a physics-defying ski show on the Hillsborough River. Then a few other hoorahs commence –like a kids procession from the Glazer Children’s Museum and a speech from the city’s mayor, Jane Castor-while waiting for the sun to go down. At the end of the night, choreographed bursts of color dance overhead with a mix of fireworks and a 250-drone light show.
tampa.gov
SharkCon
Tampa
July 18-19
Whether you’re fascinated by apex predators or simply can’t resist a little Shark Week energy, SharkCon offers a deep dive into ocean conservation and marine life. Snap a photo with a 45-foot inflatable Megalodon, meet television personalities and marine experts including former “Baywatch” star David Chokachi and explore interactive exhibits from organizations such as Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Younger guests can hunt for fossilized treasures in the shark tooth sand pit, while film buffs won’t want to miss the premiere of “Water Park Shark” and a Q&A with “Sharknado” director Anthony C. Ferrante.
sharkcon.com
South
FIFA World Cup Matches and Watch Parties
Miami
Now-July 18
Soccer’s biggest stars take over Miami this summer, and fans will feel the energy long before kickoff. Hard Rock Stadium hosts seven FIFA World Cup matches, including a quarterfinal and the tournament’s third-place match, turning South Florida into one of the sport’s global epicenters. Score tickets to catch the action in person, or join the crowds gathering across the city. At Bayfront Park, the free FIFA Fan Festival features live match broadcasts, cultural performances, interactive experiences and plenty of opportunities to celebrate the world’s game with fellow supporters. From sports bars packed shoulder to shoulder to waterfront watch parties, expect the excitement to thrill well beyond the final whistle.
fifa.com
4th on Flagler
West Palm Beach
July 4th
Fireworks may be the finale, but this free waterfront fete begins in the afternoon and lasts well into the evening. Along the West Palm Beach shoreline, three stages buzz with live musical acts, from R&B to country, while mechanical bulls toss riders around and kids test their skills with festival games. Food vendors and icy drinks keep things cool as the energy builds toward dusk. After sunset, the Intracoastal becomes a shimmering backdrop for an 18-minute show of color and light in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
wpb.org
Underwater Music Festival
Florida Keys
July 10-11
Ever tried playing a harp in a mermaid costume underwater? You just might spot it at this delightfully offbeat Lower Keys tradition, which raises awareness for coral restoration at Looe Key Reef, part of the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Festivities begin Friday evening with tours of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Summerland Key facility, live music, light bites and drinks. On Saturday, divers and snorkelers don their most creative costumes and descend on Looe Key Reef, where music broadcasts beneath the waves. Footage from the event travels around the globe, inspiring ocean stewardship and shining a spotlight on the fragile reef ecosystem of the Lower Keys.
lowerkeyschamber.com
Python Challenge
Florida Everglades
July 10-19
In South Florida, catching Burmese pythons with your bare hands can be more than a bragging right. It can pay. Hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District, this 10-day competition sends novice and professional snake hunters into the Everglades in search of one of Florida’s most notorious invasive species. Participants compete for a share of $25,000 in prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize for the person who removes the most pythons. Native to Southeast Asia, Burmese pythons have established a formidable foothold in South Florida, threatening birds, mammals and reptiles throughout the Everglades ecosystem.
flpythonchallenge.org
Key West Marlin Tournament
Key West
July 22-25
Marlin, mahi and tall tales abound during this four-day tournament, which celebrates 45 years in Key West waters. Anglers compete for a $50,000 purse in the Marlin Division, along with additional cash prizes in the Fun Fish Division. Even if you aren’t fishing, Perry Marina is worth a visit for the daily weigh-ins, where spectators gather to admire impressive catches and swap sea stories. Competitive anglers should act fast, as entries are limited to 75 boats. The tournament overlaps with Hemingway Days, so expect plenty of Papa look-alikes roaming the island too.
keywestmarlin.com
International Ballet Festival
Miami
July 25-Aug. 16
One of South Florida’s most ambitious ballet fetes returns for its 31st season, bringing some of the world’s top dancers to stages across Miami-Dade County. More than 100 principal dancers and companies from around the globe will perform throughout the three-week celebration, showcasing everything from classical pas de deux to cutting-edge contemporary works. The festival opens with performances by rising young stars and culminates in grand gala performances featuring internationally acclaimed artists. Art exhibits, film screenings and book presentations round out the cultural lineup.
internationalballetfestival.org
