Spectacular Fireworks Display: A Celebration in Red, White, and Boom

Port Royal, South Carolina, is hosting a daylong Independence Day celebration this year. The event will feature food trucks, live entertainment, and fireworks. The festivities will begin at noon at Sands Beach and will include food vendors, a beer wagon, and live music. The fireworks will start around 9 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. The town is also offering golf cart shuttles to transport people from the parking area to the beach. Another event in Beaufort, South Carolina, is the HELP of Beaufort 5K Firecracker Run, which will take place in downtown Beaufort at 8 a.m. on July 4. The race is pet and stroller friendly, and participants can register online or in person on the day of the race. Additionally, the 14th annual Salute From The Shore flyover will take place on July 4, starting in Cherry Grove, South Carolina, and ending in Beaufort County. Spectators can watch the flyover from various locations along the Beaufort County coast.

As June comes to a close, we are reminded that the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is just around the corner. This national holiday commemorates the signing and passing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 by the Continental Congress, marking America's independence from Great Britain. It is a day often celebrated with fireworks and barbeque cookouts at home, but if you're looking to celebrate with the community, Beaufort has a few options for you.

One option is the Port Royal's 4th of July Celebration at Sands Beach. The Town of Port Royal will be hosting a daylong celebration featuring food trucks, live entertainment, and fireworks. The festivities will begin at noon at Sands Beach, with the local Boy Scouts selling hot dogs and hamburgers. Other food vendors and a beer wagon will also be present, serving a variety of food and beverages. Food trucks from Fly Pies, Time to Eat, Shellring, Lawyers BBQ, and Molly's Fish and Chips will start serving food at 4 p.m. Live music will also begin at this time, with Campfire Tyler playing at the big stage from 4 to 6 p.m., Josephine Johnson playing on the small stage from 6 to 8 p.m., and the Parris Island "Dirty Boots" Brass Band performing from 8 p.m. until the fireworks. The road to Sands Beach will be closed to traffic, but golf carts will be allowed to drive down to the beach. Parking will be available on Parris Avenue and side streets, with some handicap parking closer to the event. Golf cart shuttles will be provided to help transport people from the parking area to the beach. Fireworks will begin once it is completely dark, around 9 p.m., and will last approximately 30 minutes. Please note that coolers and pets are not permitted at this event.

Another option for celebrating the Fourth of July in Beaufort is the HELP of Beaufort 5K Firecracker Run. This annual race will take place in Downtown Beaufort on July 4 at 8 a.m. The race will start at the intersection of Bay and Newcastle Streets and participants will make their way through the downtown area and across the Woods Memorial Bridge. Once on Lady's Island, the participants will go down Meridian Road to Youmans Drive before turning around and retracing the route back to the finish line. The event is pet and stroller friendly, but pets must be on a 4- to 6-foot lead (flexi-type leashes are not allowed). Race packets can be picked up at Grounded Running on July 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Same day entries will be accepted on July 4 from 7 a.m. to 7:40 a.m. There is also an option to register as a virtual participant, with registration ending on June 30. Awards for in-person participants will begin at 8:45 a.m. For more information and to register, visit www.skisignup.com/race/sc/beaufort/5kfirecrackerrun. If running is not your thing, HELP of Beaufort will also be selling chicken and ribs smoked by Shorty's Smokin' Butts. Orders can be placed in advance at www.helpofbeaufort.org, or you can visit HELP of Beaufort or call 843-524-1223. Pick-up will be at the ACE Hardware Parking Lot on Ribaut Road in Port Royal on Saturday, July 1, from 9 a.m. to noon.

If you find yourself at the beach on July 4, don't forget to look up to the sky for the 14th annual Salute From The Shore. This event, visible from the Beaufort coasts, will take place on Tuesday afternoon just after 1:30 p.m. The Salute From The Shore will begin in Cherry Grove, S.C. near North Myrtle Beach at around 1 p.m. and will travel down the coastline, ending in Beaufort County. In Beaufort, the flyover is expected to start with F-16s from Shaw Air Force Base arriving around 1:35 p.m., followed by a C-17 from Charleston Air Force Base at around 1:54 p.m. It is recommended to arrive early, around 1 p.m., and to be patient, as the times are approximate. Prime places to watch the flyover are Hunting Island State Park, Fripp Island, and Hilton Head Island beaches, but the aircraft should be visible from most of the Beaufort County coast. Keep in mind that weather conditions and mechanical issues may impact the aircraft that will fly during this celebration. The Salute From The Shore began on July 4, 2010, and provides a unique opportunity for beach-goers to show their appreciation for our armed forces while celebrating Independence Day. For more information, visit www.salutefromtheshore.org.