Plans for 2027 are not out yet. In 2026, WUFT's free Fanfares & Fireworks ran 6 to 10 p.m. July 3 at UF's Flavet Field, with fireworks about 9:30 p.m.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year. The 2027 show has not been announced; the details below are from WUFT’s Fanfares & Fireworks page for the 2026 event. We will update this page when WUFT posts the 2027 plans.

Gainesville’s big Fourth of July fireworks show is WUFT’s Fanfares & Fireworks, a free evening of live music and fireworks put on by the University of Florida’s public radio and TV stations at the UF Bandshell at Flavet Field, 605 Woodlawn Drive. WUFT held it on July 3 in 2024, 2025 and 2026. July 3, 2027, falls on a Saturday; WUFT has not announced the 2027 date. For 2026, WUFT also offered a limited-edition 45th anniversary poster on its event page.

Who to call

How the 2026 show worked

From WUFT’s event page:

  • When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026. The gate opened at 5 p.m.
  • Fireworks: by Skylighters of Florida, starting about 9:30 p.m.
  • Admission: free.
  • Emcee: Glenn Richards, host of WUFT-FM’s “Morning Edition” and “WUFT Amplified.”
  • Performers: the Jordan Mobley Jam Band, The Savants, the UF Billy Mitchell Drill Team, and the Gainesville Community Band and Gainesville Pops under the direction of Gary Langford.
  • Food: six food trucks, from barbecue to gelato.
  • Not allowed: dogs, sparklers, drones and alcohol. Coolers were allowed but subject to search by the University of Florida Police Department.

WUFT posted a full-length video of the 2026 show and photo albums on the same page. The page does not list parking for the event.

Other fireworks near Gainesville

Nearby towns held their own shows in 2026, according to their listings on the Visit Gainesville calendar:

  • City of Alachua Fourth of July Celebration, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Legacy Park, 15400 Peggy Road, Alachua, about 10 miles northwest. Parking at Legacy Park opened at 5 p.m., with trolley service for guests with disabilities. Official remarks were at 9:15 p.m. and the national anthem at 9:20 p.m., the city’s Fourth of July celebration page said.
  • Newberry’s Independence Day Fireworks Show, 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026, at CountryWay Town Square, Newberry.
  • Micanopy Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks, from 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Micanopy.

Fireworks at home: the rules

Florida law allows the use of fireworks on three designated holidays: Independence Day, July 4, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, under Section 791.08, Florida Statutes. The law does not override local government rules on fireworks, and a properly recorded homeowners association covenant can still ban them. Outside those three days, the state’s general fireworks restrictions apply.

Getting around on July 3 and 4

City offices close for the Fourth, and the city’s garbage holiday schedule says there is no change to collection when July 4 falls on a Saturday, as it did in 2026. Check getting around Gainesville for bus service and FL511 for road closures near campus.

What this means for you

  • Plan for July 3, not July 4, if you want Gainesville’s main show; that has been the pattern for three years.
  • Leave the dog, the sparklers and the drone at home; WUFT bans all three.
  • Lighting your own? Only on July 4, and only where your city, county and HOA allow it.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Fourth of July fireworks in Gainesville?

WUFT’s Fanfares & Fireworks has been held on July 3 for the past three years. In 2026 it ran 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 3, at the UF Bandshell at Flavet Field, with fireworks at about 9:30 p.m. The 2027 date has not been announced.

Is Fanfares & Fireworks free?

Yes. Admission was free in 2026, and the gate opened at 5 p.m.

Can I bring a cooler or my dog to Fanfares & Fireworks?

Coolers were allowed in 2026 but searched by the University of Florida Police Department. Dogs, sparklers, drones and alcohol were not allowed.

Can I set off fireworks at home in Florida on the Fourth of July?

State law allows fireworks on Independence Day, July 4, as well as Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but local rules still apply. Check city and county rules before you light anything.