MARGATE, Fla. – The City of Margate is hosting a day of fun Monday for the Fourth of July, which began with a parade at 9 a.m.
“We are so excited to host this wonderful yearly tradition for our residents to enjoy,” said Margate Mayor Antonio V. Arserio. “You will see a whole lot of red, white, and blue in Our Margate!”
The parade started in the eastbound lanes of Margate Boulevard and traveled from 76th Avenue to State Road 7.
“I think we can all celebrate our freedom and our independence,” Troy Stanley, who was watching the parade, said. “It’s very important. We don’t see that everywhere else in the world right now, so it’s very good that we have it here.”
The annual parade down Margate Boulevard featured all kinds of unique vehicles and drew out dozens of families.
Some make it a yearly tradition.
“This is a tradition for them since they were really little. So it’s just something we do every year, and they love it,” Gigi Muñoz said, as she watched the parade with her kids.
“It’s been really fun cause I’ve gone here since I was really little and I really love that we get candy, but sometimes they give us melted Twix and I don’t like that,” Gabriella Muñoz added.
Melted candy or not, the parade is just one part of the city’s Fourth of July festivities, all culminating with a massive fireworks display near U.S. 441 and Margate Boulevard.
“It’s fun to see the people and get candy and stuff and blow up fireworks. But we gotta be safe so we don’t blow our fingers off,” one kid said.
“We’ve always come for the fireworks at night but we’ve never been able to come up to the parade during the day, so we were glad to see it. Lots of good people out today,” Stanley said.
Immediately following the parade, the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA) provided refreshments and a fun obstacle course for the public to enjoy.
“The MCRA always looks forward to one of Margate’s premier events that support the agency’s mission to attract people to our downtown area and further promote economic development activities,” said MCRA Board Chair Tommy Ruzzano.
The event is free to all.
After the parade, eventgoers may visit the Calypso Cove Aquatic Facility from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., where there will be a Fourth of July pool party featuring live music by a steel drummer and face painters. Admission is $4 for Margate residents and $7 for non-residents.
The Fourth of July Extravaganza at the Northwest corner of Margate Boulevard and State Road 7 begins at 5 p.m.
There will be food trucks and live music by Attica, a six-piece band playing classic rock and contemporary pop hits.
Below is a list of the food trucks coming to the event:
- Alta Vaca Grill
- Bruno’s
- Che Grill
- Cool & Creamy
- Cousins Main Lobster
- Don Chingon
- Giovanni’s Gourmet Italian Ice
- Las Mexicanas
- Mama’s Taste of the World
- Master Arepa
- Michou’s Caribbean Delights
- Sak Pase Food Truck
- Taco Time y Mas
- Zhixiang Food Truck
The Extravaganza will end with a fireworks display at 9 p.m., which will last for about 20 minutes.
CLICK HERE for a list of other South Florida locations that will offer fireworks shows.