Fourth of July festivities in Boca and Delray, and a ‘90s-themed concert in Fort Lauderdale. Plus, JP Soars and more in your week ahead.
THURSDAY
What: Fabulous Fourth
Where: Countess de Hoernle Park, 1000 Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton
When: 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Contact: 561/393-7700, myboca.us
Boca Raton’s July Fourth spectacular features live music from pop-rock headliners the Samantha Russell Band at 8:05 p.m., preceded by R&B, pop and Top 40 hits from Kazual at 7:15 p.m. Food trucks and vendors will be set up throughout the park, which will provide a dynamite view of the fireworks show at 9:10 p.m. Make a day of it and begin your celebrating earlier, with a Fabulous Fourth Block Party from 1 to 4 p.m. at Sugar Sand Park complete with yard games, children’s activities, a DJ, food trucks and vendors. The hardcore among us may start their day with a Firecracker 5K run at FAU at 7 a.m., and a Liberty Cup Racquet Tournament at 9 a.m. at Patch Reef Park. (Pickleball is sold out, natch, but there are limited slots available for tennis.)
What: 4th of July Festival and Fireworks
Where: East Atlantic Avenue and A1A, Delray Beach
When: 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Contact: 561/243-7250 ext. 3, downtowndelraybeach.com
One of the region’s biggest Fourth of July bashes is expected to draw more than 20,000 people to the beach-y part of Delray Beach. Opening with a ceremonial flag-raising at 6 p.m., the evening will include two sets of live music from the Resolvers—the eclectic party band that specializes in “big band reggae”—at 7 and 8 p.m., plus live DJ sets throughout the night. There will be food trucks and vendors, children’s games and stilt walkers, a silent disco and, of course, an extravagant fireworks display over the ocean at 9 p.m. For early birds, other festivities start at 8 a.m. with a “4s on the 4th” volleyball tournament, then snorkeling tours of the S.S. Inchulva Delray Wreck from 9 a.m. to noon.
FRIDAY
What: First Friday Art Walk
Where: Downtown Delray Beach
When: 6 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Contact: 561/243-1077, downtowndelraybeach.com
Fourth of July weekend continues to be a bustling time in downtown Delray Beach, as at least 16 galleries will keep their doors open after hours for the monthly First Friday Art Walk. This includes the Cornell Art Museum, which is currently running exhibitions on Central American Modernism and multimedia artist Jane Baldridge’s “Oceana Phenomena;” and Arts Warehouse, which is exhibiting “In-Situ,” about artists from opposite latitudes of the Earth who share an intertwined vision, across all three of its gallery spaces. Expect complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres in some of the galleries, and pop-up live music at locations throughout downtown.
SATURDAY
What: JP Soars CD Release Party
Where: Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton
When: 7 p.m.
Cost: $25-$30
Contact: 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit.com
Blues rocker and road warrior JP Soars has been an institution in South Florida music and beyond, playing some 200 dates a year from his home base here in Boca Raton. Music from his seven albums—five them self-released—garner regular airplay on SiriusXM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage station, and in 2021, he was nominated for a national Blues Music Award in the Contemporary Blues Male Artist category. His appearances are always a rollicking time, often balancing his bluesy bailiwick with dexterous Latin guitar, surf licks and gypsy jazz. Catch Soars at this hometown gig, where he will perform, sign and sell copies of his newly released seventh album, Brick By Brick.
What: Saved By the 90s
Where: Revolution Live, 100 S.W. Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale
When: 7 p.m.
Cost: $15
Contact: 954/449-1025, jointherevolution.net
Riding a wave of 1990s nostalgia that seemingly has yet to peak, this energetic cover band from an era of shiny, lacquered music has “partied” with many of the acts whose music they perform, as evidenced by the photo gallery on their website: Salt-N-Pepa, Tonic, Sugar Ray, Coolio, Aaron Carter and Vertical Horizon among them. The band’s song list is enormous, encompassing the many movements, genres and stars that defined the decade in question, from Nirvana, Green Day and Soundgarden to Britney Spears and Cristina Aguilera to Robyn and Tracy Chapman. When considering your attire for the concert, this would be a great time to break out the flannel, denim and fanny packs languishing in your closet.
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