Every year Clearwater hosts the most breath-taking display of fireworks for miles around. The fourth of July fireworks show is a big event for the area, pulling hundreds of boats into the bay, and even more viewing from the surrounding land masses. People from all around town visit the area just for this annual celebration. It is a fantastic way to celebrate America’s independence from Britain.

The fireworks show over the intracoastal waterway is a tradition for Clearwater. It’s been hosted every year for many years. The fireworks show is a massive display of fireworks starting between 9 and 10pm every year, depending on rain. The fireworks show is a coordinated detonation, a highly specialized display of fireworks of many unique variations timed to be fired to optimize the visual appeal and overall aesthetic feel of the show. Just before, during, and just after the beginning of the fireworks display, the Memorial Causeway, the causeway to the island of Clearwater Beach, is closed to minimize any associated risk to viewers. During the closure every nook and cranny of space surrounding the causeway is filled with people eager to see this display of national pride, and accentuation of freedom.

Viewing the fireworks display comes in many forms. Coachman park is the most highly recognized way of viewing the fireworks display. Coachman Park hosts an event alongside the fireworks show. It’s a free event intended to allow people a place to view the fireworks from a safe distance. By arriving early on the island you could find a few beaches with places to park and enjoy the show. Many hotels, condos, and homes have breathtaking views of the intracoastal waterway, and the fireworks show. A big part of the fireworks show is the hundreds of boats that converge on the bay adjacent to the causeway. Boat owners far and wide bring their boats into the bay for the best vantage point for viewing the show.

As the fireworks display begins, unique variations of color and contrast appear with each loud explosion in the night. Fountains of gold rise from the launch site. Bursting in the air, rings of color emanate from each erupting cartridge. High in the sky and low to the ground bright plumes of fire fill the sky.  It’s a wonderful way of appreciating the struggle for independence. The grand finale is the culmination of the show, when, near the close of the display, the intensity and frequency of the fireworks increase to completely fill the sky with loud bursts of light and color. Abruptly coming to an end with three final bursts in the sky, a waterfall like firework filters through the night air, and the remaining traces of red, white, and blue slowly dissipate back into silent darkness.