THINGS TO DO
Go forth and enjoy
BY SUSAN BURGESS
City packs summer months with
a multitude of activities
Summer is just around the corner — along with grass
that grows while you stare at it. So, take a break, kick
back and relax with the FreedomFest, a raft race,
traditional summer sports, a seemingly endless collection
of recreational activities, camps for the kids, hiking,
bicycling, boating and of course, vacationing until the kids
return to school on Aug. 15.
“FreedomFest is the biggest event we have during the summer
months,” says Jennifer Newell, spokeswoman for the
city. “Thousands of people attend each year. There isn’t a full
festival like this one going on elsewhere in the county on the
Fourth.”
The eagerly anticipated Fourth of July FreedomFest is the
highlight of the summer in Port St. Lucie. Held at the civic
center each year, it opens at 2 p.m. on Independence Day and
concludes with a bang as fireworks fill the sky with sparkling
stars and a rainbow of drifting color at about 9 p.m.
Strolling from vendor to vendor in search of food, art, and
crafts on the lawn outside of the civic center while live music
is playing feels like an old-fashioned Fourth of July party
where people greet old friends and and make new friends,
too. Anyone who recently moved to the city will find this a
great place to begin meeting their neighbors.
One tip: The parking garage is a great place to photograph
the festivities below.
TRADITIONAL TRADITIONS
The Tradition community celebrates Independence Day
early at Tradition Square on July 2 with old fashioned lawn
games like egg toss, water balloon toss, and others, all for >>
34 Port St. Lucie Magazine
CITY OF PSL PHOTOS
The annual FreedomFest Fourth of July celebration at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center draws thousands of people to sample the food and buy arts and crafts
while listening to music and waiting for the evening fireworks. A children’s activity area keeps the youngsters happy.