Celebrating Independence Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Many people are getting ready to celebrate America’s Independence Day, but this year, events on the schedule will look a little different.

If you come to the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Racing Track, you can watch fireworks but from inside your car and once that parking lot is full, you’re out of luck.

There will be fireworks, but the rest of the holiday will be unlike any other Fourth of July.

“Actually we don’t really have any plans, we’re actually just planning to stay home,” said Fort Myers residents Marcos and Martha Flores.

The Floreses are like so many other people who will either choose to stay home or believe they have no other choice.

COVID-19 concerns canceled many plans, but they won’t cancel activities you can do from the safety of your backyard or front yard.

“We will be doing a flyover around noontime throughout the entire city of Fort Myers,” said Lisa Sbuttoni with the River District Alliance.

So set your watch and look up and if you’re anywhere near any city neighborhood, you’ll see four World War II fighter planes looping through the sky.

“To see these beautiful, majestic airplanes in the air flying in formation will just remind us of what the day means,” Sbuttoni said.

If you’re in the Bonita Springs area, there’s room for around 700 cars at the Greyhound Track for the fireworks show. Starting around 9 p.m., lights will decorate the sky. A sight you can also see online from the city’s livestream.

Bonita Springs city officials tell us staff, sheriff’s deputies and even security will patrol the track to make sure people stay in their cars and wear masks if you have to get out to use the restroom.

If you’d rather enjoy the holiday indoors, Disney+ is also releasing the Broadway favorite Hamilton on July 3, all in light of honoring America’s birthday. The version of the original cast was filmed in 2016 and promises to give viewers the best seat in the house.