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Midnight run starts holiday events in Pinellas

 
Go ahead and “ooh” and “aah,” it’s the Fourth!
Go ahead and “ooh” and “aah,” it’s the Fourth!
Published July 2, 2015

While many patriotic revelers will wait until daylight tomorrow, there are some who choose an early start to their celebration. About 2,500 runners will kick off their Fourth of July by kicking up their heels at the 36th annual Kiwanis-Virginia Street Dermatology Midnight Run. The featured event is a 10K race with participants following a path lit by hundreds of glow-sticks along Causeway Boulevard. They'll get a rare glimpse of Honeymoon Island State Park at night as they make the turn-around about one-half mile inside the park.

There is also a 5K and a 1 mile run/walk for those who prefer a shorter distance.

People enjoy the opportunity to get out there in the dark, and it's neat to see how the only lights are our luminaries,'' said Chuck Winscott, the race organizer. "We used empty milk jugs and candles for years, but when the (glow sticks) became available, we started using them because of the possibility of rain and also the wind might be blowing.''

All three races start and finish at the Causeway Plaza, 2602 Bayshore Blvd. Check-in and late registration will begin at 9:30 p.m. Starting times for the races are 11 p.m. for the 1-mile run, 11:25 p.m. for the 5K and 12:15 a.m. for the 10K.

At 10:30 p.m., the Pinellas County Sheriff's office will close Causeway Boulevard to vehicles.

Parking will be available at the plaza until 10:15 p.m. Additional parking will be available along South Paula Drive, as well as at the Caladessi Shopping Center at 902 Curlew Road. For information, visit kiwanismidnightrun.com.

Here's a look at other patriotic celebrations going on in Pinellas County this weekend:

Today

• Baseball and fireworks in Dunedin: The Dunedin Blue Jays play the Brevard County Manatees at 6:30 p.m. at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, 373 Douglas Ave. Watch the game and stick around to see the Greg Billings Band and a post-game fireworks show. Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is free, but tickets must be obtained at the Blue Jays ticket office. Call (727) 733-9302.

Saturday

• Gulfport's Fourth of July: The annual celebration features a kids fishing derby at 8 a.m., a sand-sculpting contest 10 a.m.-noon, and music performances starting at 5 p.m. Clear the street for a parade on Beach Boulevard at 6 p.m., but stick around the area for the fireworks finale at 9 p.m. Free. (727) 893-1118.

• Safety Harbor's morning parade: The American Legion Auxiliary of Safety Harbor will hold a parade down Main Street beginning at 10 a.m. at Bayshore Phillipe Parkway. It will include 50 units, with military and emergency vehicles, custom cars and marching bands. It will end on Ninth Street S. Afterwards, visit John Wilson Park, 401 Main St., at the gazebo for a patriotic ceremony with city officials and presentations by the Santa Claus Drill Team. Free. Visit safetyharbor.com.

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• Picnic and beach fireworks in Tarpon Springs: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the city will host a picnic at Spring Bayou inside Craig Park, 100 Beekman Way. At sunset, the city will put on a fireworks display with best viewing from the beach at Fred Howard Park, 1700 Sunset Drive. The north side of the beach and the boat ramp will be closed for the day. The south side will open at 11 a.m. The causeway will close at 2 p.m. Visit ctsfl.us.

• Kenneth City Parade: The parade starts at 11 a.m. at 62nd Street and 54th Avenue N. It will proceed eastbound on 54th Avenue N to 58th Street, turn south on 58th Street and ends at the Kenneth City Community Hall. Free. (727) 498-8948.

• Roc'N the Park: Fourth of July in Madeira Beach will include music, a pizza eating contest and fireworks. It will start at 3 p.m. inside Roc (Remember Our Children) Park, 300 Municipal Drive. Free. (727) 392-0665.

• Clearwater Celebrates America: The city's annual Independence Day celebration inside Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., features children's activities, a mascot dance off, reading of the Declaration of Independence, a performance by Coachman Parks Pops Orchestra and the "Spark the Sky" fireworks display. It gets started at 4 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Free. Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater. (727) 562-4700.

• Safety Harbor Fireworks: Find a good seat at the Safety Harbor City Marina, 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, or the back lawn of the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. 5-9:30 p.m. (727) 724-1545.

•Fourth of July in Downtown St. Petersburg: This year's "Fireworks Across the Bay" is set to go off at 9 p.m. and can be seen from most of the city's waterfront parks. The Tampa Bay Rays street team and Raymond kick things off at 6 p.m. in Straub Park. 9 p.m. Free. Spa Beach at the Pier approach, 615 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 893-7441.

•Largo Fourth of July Celebration: Largo's "Light Up the Park" inside of Largo Central Park, 101 Central park Drive, includes a deejay, a pie-eating contest, military tribute, a Largo Teen Idol performance, food vendors and fireworks. 6-9:30 p.m. Free. (727) 587-6740.

•Fireworks St. Pete Beach: The city will host its annual fireworks around 9 p.m., launched from Upham Beach at Gulf Boulevard and Sixth Street. Free. (727) 363-9245.

Sunday

•Let Freedom Ring: Florida Orchestra keyboardist Dale Williams leads this patriotic musical salute to the birthday of our country. 10 a.m.,Sunday at Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church, 107 16th Ave., St. Pete Beach. Free. (727) 360-5508.