Fireworks Over the Matanzas is widely considered to be the best 4th of July light show in Northeast Florida. This year’s festivities, beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, are sure to dazzle.

However, parking for the event can be a real challenge. Plenty of spectators choose to arrive early in the day to enjoy the music, food and fun—and avoid the gridlock. That’s a great option! Local favorite The All-Star Orchestra kicks things off at 6 p.m. with a two-hour show of big band and swing music at the gazebo at Plaza de la Constitucion.

Fireworks light up over Matanzas Bay beginning at 9:30 p.m. and last about 20 minutes. Set to patriotic music on a sound system installed on the bayfront, the show features 5,000 individual shells exploding between 100 and 2,000 feet high.

It’s no wonder thousands of spectators ascend to the historic St. Augustine waterfront to see it! If you are planning to attend, here is vital parking information to read BEFORE YOU GO.

From 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. the city will close bayfront San Marco Avenue and South Castillo Drive for pedestrians. Traffic will be rerouted using detours.

• From 8:30 to 11 p.m. the city will close The Bridge of Lions(the bridge will be closed to both boat and vehicle traffic).
• Everyone attending should find their parking area prior to 8:30 p.m.
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• The downtown parking garage at the Visitors Information Center offers all-day parking for $15 per vehicle. The garage WILL fill up so arrive early!
• Parking in city lots and on-street is FREE on July 4th, however there will be no access to or from the parking lot of the Castillo de San Marcos (“The Fort”) from 6 to 11 p.m.
• The City of St. Augustine encourages the use of bicycles for people who live close to downtown. Visit here for locations to park bicycles.

• Following the show, traffic on King Street and West Castillo Drive will be west-bound ONLY to U.S. 1. Traffic signals in the downtown area, along Ponce de Leon Blvd. (U.S. 1), Anastasia Blvd., and State Roads 312, 207 and 16 will be monitored to facilitate traffic.

• St. Augustine offers a free Park & Ride Shuttle from 6 p.m. until midnight from three parking locations along Anastasia Blvd. in St. Augustine Beach.

For more information on parking, shuttles and road closures during July 4^th, visit https://www.visitstaugustine.com/event/fourth-july-fireworks-and-concert.

Have a safe and happy holiday!