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Fireworks Over the Matanzas
Friday, July 4, 2025
Fireworks Over the Matanzas, the City of St. Augustine’s annual Independence Day celebration, was held Friday, July 4. The evening started at 6:00pm with The All-Star Orchestra performing a two-hour concert in The Plaza de la Constitución featuring Big Band and popular tunes with a patriotic flare.
The 20-minute fireworks display reached high over Matanzas Bay starting at 9:30pm, choreographed to a stirring soundtrack of popular and patriotic music delivered over an extensive sound system. The entire Bayfront between the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and the Bridge of Lions were transformed into a theatre of sight and sound.
2026 information will be posted as it becomes available.
Click here for map of Anastasia Island Shuttle Stops
Click here for map of Public Restrooms
2025 Schedule of Events:
6:00pm - The All-Star Orchestra will provide two hours of Big Band Music with a Patriotic Flair in the Plaza de la Constitución Gazebo, in the heart of downtown.
9:30pm - Fireworks Over the Matanzas, a stunning 20-minute fireworks display with a stirring soundtrack. See it all from the downtown Bayfront, the Bridge of Lions, Vilano Beach, and more!
Remember: Alcohol is prohibited on public property, including parks, streets, and sidewalks. Possession of fireworks that explode or leave the ground is illegal.
Parking and Traffic
Parking in city-owned lots and in on-street spaces is free on July 4, as it is on all federal holidays. Drivers are encouraged to confirm that they are parked in a city-owned lot and not a private lot where towing may be enforced by the lot owner.
The Historic Downtown Parking Facility, adjacent to the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Visitor Information Center at 1 Cordova St., offers parking for $20.00 per car, per entry or $3.00 with a ParkStAug registered license plate.
Parking in the lot at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is not free and is enforced by the National Park Service from 8:00am - 9:00pm, seven days a week, including federal holidays. There will be no vehicular access to or from the Castillo’s parking lot on July 4th from 6:00pm until approximately 11:00pm.
Shuttle Service on Anastasia Island
The free park and ride shuttle service on Anastasia Island only, is provided by the city with support from Old Town Trolley Tours will be available from 6:00pm until midnight from parking locations along Anastasia Blvd: (View Map)
- Anastasia Baptist Church (1650 A1A South),
- St. Augustine Amphitheatre (1340-C A1A South),
- R.B. Hunt Elementary School (125 Magnolia Dr.) and
- *St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (999 Anastasia Blvd.).
*NOTE: The Alligator Farm is parking-only location. Those who park there will need to access the shuttle at the R.B. Hunt Elementary School stop by crossing Anastasia Blvd. at the lighted crosswalk just east of the attraction where law enforcement officers will assist pedestrians to cross the road safely.
Street Closures
Rerouting of traffic begins at 8:00pm and continues until 11:00pm and includes prohibiting vehicular traffic on the Bridge of Lions, Avenida Menendez, Cathedral Pl., and S. Castillo Dr. Additional street closures include:
- Picolata Rd. between US-1 & San Marco Ave. (8:00pm – 11:00pm)
- San Carlos between US-1 & San Marco Ave. (8:00pm – 11:00pm)
- King St will have two westbound lanes, and one eastbound lane, west of MLK Blvd. (8:00pm – 11:30pm)
- King St. will have one westbound lane and one eastbound lane, east of MLK up to Avenida Menendez
- There will be NO east bound traffic on W. Castillo from US-1 to N. Cordova (8:00pm – 11:30pm)
- N. Cordova will be closed from Orange St. to the entrance to the Historic Downtown Parking Facility (8:00pm – 11:00pm)
Arriving by Water
The Bridge of Lions will not open for marine traffic, starting after the 8:00pm opening, until approximately 11:00pm. Vessels will be prohibited in an area north of the Bridge of Lions to a point approximately in line with Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Marine law enforcement will patrol Matanzas Bay and notify vessels in violation of the prohibited area.
The St. Augustine Municipal Marina will have limited overnight slips and hourly dockage on the 4th of July. Contact the marina directly on VHF CH 16 or CH 71 for availability and docking instructions.
Fireworks over the Matanzas is produced by the City of St. Augustine with support funding from the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.
Matanzas Bay Restricted Area
In order to ensure a safe and quality show, the firing area is designated as a NO BOATS SAFETY ZONE and the Bridge of Lions will restrict its schedule of openings.
All vessels must remain clear of the designated area starting at 6:00pm, July 4. This area may shift slightly to the north or south based on weather conditions at the scheduled time of firing.
The NO BOAT ZONE will be strictly enforced by maritime law enforcement agencies. In addition the Bridge of Lions will be closed to vessel traffic from 8:00pm – 11:00pm.