Red, White and Boom’s fireworks going off no matter the weather

The streets of Cape Coral are expected to be packed for Independence Day. After the pandemic cancelled festivities last year, Red, White and Boom is back, but some changes have been made.

Jaycee Park has been added, a new spot for those worried about the crowds. You will have more room to stretch and space out away from the biggest crowd. You can also head to the main spot to see all of the fireworks: Cape Coral Parkway, at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge. But you will still be able to hear the show from Jaycee Park.

The show is choreographed to music that you should be able to hear anywhere. You can listen from the stage if you’re near the bridge, and if you’re at Jaycee Park, you can listen on your phone from an app or on the radio.

Many people WINK News spoke to said the extra space made them feel better about bringing out parents and grandparents Sunday.

“I feel safer that everybody will be not around each other and so congested anymore,” said Jasmine Taber, of North Fort Myers, who will be spending July 4 with her parents. “And people hopefully will wear their masks at some point in time, just to be safer with everything going on now.”

“It’s awesome that things are opening up and that they would be able to have that, and maybe the boys can talk us into going,” said Cape Coral resident Joann Cornelison. “If we go out…. that would be different. We’ll have to see, I was kind of hoping to make it special because the grandsons are visiting from Illinois. See what happens.”

“I think it’s exciting,” said Cape Coral resident Yuliya Dergacheva. “I’m glad to see it happening. I think it’s good for our community. I think we’re moving in the right direction. And that is quite a difference from what we experienced last year, which is quite depressing.”

Something else that may convince people to come out for Red, White and Boom: all-new food trucks. Many different types of food and the opportunity to support local businesses that were struggling or even closed this time last year. Some will be credit card-only.

The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Something that hasn’t changed: the event is free.