City of Melbourne Independence Day CelebrationA fireworks display over the Indian River Lagoon is to provide the highlight of the Independence Day celebration sponsored by the City of Melbourne at Claude Edge Front Street Park on Friday, July 4th, 2008. Musical entertainment at the park during the afternoon and two evening concerts are free and open to the public. The fireworks display is scheduled for 9:00pm.

An Independence Day parade is scheduled for 10:00am on July 4th in the historic downtown area of Melbourne, organized by Honor America, Inc. and co-sponsored by the City. The parade is to begin on New Haven Avenue near the railroad tracks and proceed westward to Oak Street, then travel northward on Oak Street to the Liberty Bell Museum.

Afternoon activities at the park are to begin at 2:00pm. Music is to be provided by 'The Groove' jazz radio station from 2:00 to 3:00pm. Jazz music from 3:00 to 4:00pm is to be provided by the Dan Wilborn Trio and the "Tropic Four" is to provide island dance music from 4:30 to 5:45pm. Evening activities are to be opened by Mayor Harry Goode at 6:45pm, followed by a 6:50pm concert by the Melbourne Municipal Band Concert and an 8:25pm concert by the Space Coast Pops orchestra.

The fireworks presentation is funded by community contributions. Certified General Contractors is co-sponsoring the celebration with a $2,000 contribution. Co-sponsors providing $1,000 include Brevard County Parks & Recreation; Harris Sanitation - a Waste Management Company; Health First Health Plans; and the Melbourne Greyhound Park.

Co-sponsors providing $500 include Harry & Wendy Brandon; Bright House Networks; Coastal Mitsubishi/Coastal Hyundai; Dean, Ringers, Morgan & Lawton, P.A.; Florida Today; Frazier Engineering; Morse Communications; Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A.; Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems; Public Financial Management, Inc.; RJP Development Company; Weller Pools, LLC; and the City of West Melbourne. (Other contributors are listed at the end of this news release.)

Free Bus Service Available

Parking near the event is limited. Free bus rides from Melbourne Auditorium are offered by the City. Departures from Melbourne Auditorium to the park begin at 4:30, with additional departures at 5:10, 5:50, 6:30, 7:10, 7:50, and 8:10pm. Departures from the park are scheduled at 4:50, 5:30, 6:10, 6:50, 7:30, 8:10, 8:50, 9:30, 10:10pm.

Melbourne Police are encouraging motorists who do not use the free bus service from the Melbourne Auditorium to leave their vehicles only in legal parking spots. Parking will be available along public streets in the downtown area a few blocks west of the park. Motorists should note that some businesses in the area post notices that vehicles will be towed from their lots even when they are not open for business.

Pedestrian access from the downtown area is available along Melbourne Avenue, which passes beneath U.S. 1.

The portion of New Haven Avenue between Front Street and U.S. 1 is to be closed to traffic from noon to 10:30pm on July 4. A section of Melbourne Avenue near Front Street will be restricted to eastbound traffic during the same period. The Melbourne Causeway is to be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from about 8:15 to 9:30pm for safety reasons.

Other Contributors

Contributing $250 to the community fireworks fund are Bryant, Miller & Olive; and Sutton Properties of Melbourne. Contributing $200 is the Town of Indialantic. Other contributors include Henderson Southeast Corporation, $100; the Eau Gallie Boatworks, Michael Kahn, P.A.; Sorensen Moving and Storage Co., Inc.; Accurate Kitchens and Countertops, $50; and Joyal Construction, $25.

The individual contributors include Dorothy & Ira Adams; Frederick & Helen Baker; Leonard & Patricia Blanzy; John & Helen Buckley; In Memory of Harry Crytzer; Paul Del Favero; Theodore & Helouise Doroghazi; Frank & E stella Driskill; James & Katherine Fletcher; Eric & Alice Griggs; Richard & Ellen Huffman; Donald & Barbara Laird; John & Margaret MacNeill; W. Ann McDougall; Eugene Nebus; Jerry & Peggy Oliver; Ed & Lee Palmer; George & Evelyn Pasonski; Bill & Pat Poole; Lorraine Proulx; Edward & Barbara Reilly; Drs. Jack Schluckebier & Denise Young; Kathleen Spatenga and Lori Spatenga-Newman; and Norman Williams.

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• More - Events on the CoastMelbourneFront Street Park - Melbournecityhall@melbourneflorida.org321-953-628210:00am (Parade), 2:00pm (Festivities Begin), Approx. 9:00pm (Fireworks)Free Admission07/04/200807/04/2008EntertainmentCommunityMusicRecreationHolidayFamilyConcertKids/ChildrenParenting