Light Up The Sky - 4th of July Festivities

Hey friends! Summer is heating up and we're about to kick off the Fourth of July with a bang. I have the 2023 lineup of festivities poppin' off all over Polk County (and Plant City, it's just too close not to include). So let's get right to the good stuff. And, I hope to see all of you out and about this holiday weekend.

Disclaimer: event details subject to change, confirm details on the event web pages.

JULY 2ND EVENTS

JULY 3RD EVENTS

JULY 4TH EVENTS

FIREWORK SAFETY TIPS

• Keep fireworks away from small children.
• Never throw or aim fireworks in the direction of people, animals, vehicles, buildings, or flammables.
• Carefully follow firework instructions.
• Keep a supply or water readily available as a precaution.
• Light fireworks one at a time.
• Avoid attempting to relight a "dud".
• View from a safe distance.
• Glowsticks are a great alternative for young children instead of sparklers, which can ignite clothing, cause eye injuries, or cause 3rd degree burns.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Do not drink alcohol while using fireworks.
• Only use fireworks outdoors in a clear area.

HOME SAFETY DURING HOLIDAY TRAVELS

If you're traveling during the 4th of July holiday weekend, here are a few precautions to protect your residence during your time away.

• I have to start with the obvious, but double check to make sure ALL windows and doors are securely locked. Of course set an alarm if you have one.
• Avoid sharing travel details on social media. This is literally an announcement to the world that you won't be home and doing this can quickly put a target on your home for burglars. This goes for auto-responder messages too, like ones you might set for your email.
• Set lighting to timers in various rooms of the home. This will help to keep up appearances that the home is active and occupied.
• Trim hedges to make entrances more visible and if you have a neighbor you can trust, ask them to keep an eye on the house. If you will be gone for a longer period of time, you may want to stop mail delivery (and newspapers, if anyone still gets those delivered) or have that neighbor pick those up as well.
• Remove spare keys from the exterior of the home, let's face it, criminals know where to look for these. Don't make it easier for them to access your home.
• If left parked outside the home, remove all garage door openers or spare keys that might be inside vehicles. Disable pre-programed buttons as well. You can also lock your garage manually from the inside until you return. Likewise, lock the door leading into the house from the garage.

Now that you have all the details, plus a few safety tips, you're ready to get out there and have an incredible Fourth of July weekend. Be safe and have a blast!