- April 25, 2024
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The Independence Day Celebration fireworks light up the sky at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach. Photos by Michele Meyers
The License to Steal Band plays at the Independence Day Celebration at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach.
People start gathering for the Independence Day Celebration at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach.
Susan Persis and Carl Persis pose for a quick photo at the Independence Day Celebration at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach.
Happiness at the Independence Day Celebration at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach.
The Independence Day Celebration at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach.
Michael Blount shows his nephew Declann Webber The License to Steal band.
The License to Steal Band entertains the Fourth of July crowd.
Sam-O plays the guitar with The License to Steal Band at the Independence Day Celebration
The License to Steal Band's drummer Buffalo Lee Jordan dons his patriotic bald eagle mask.
Michael Blount and Rebecca Blount Casey sing and dance with their nephew Declann Webber.
Fireworks light up the sky above the Halifax River.
Event goers take video of the fireworks during the Fourth of July celebration at Rockefeller Gardens.
Fireworks light up the sky above the Halifax River.
Attendees leave the Rockefeller Gardens following the Independence Day Celebration.
Grey clouds filled the sky on Sunday, July 4 as it rained intermittently throughout the day. Late afternoon brought an additional deluge of water accompanied by thunder and lightning. With a final show of light sprinkles threatening the city of Ormond Beach’s Independence Day celebration, the rain finally relinquished its hold just prior to the 8 p.m. start time at the Rockefeller Gardens.
Undeterred by the day’s weather, residents and visitors alike walked, rode their bikes or joined the queue of cars in line for parking. Attendees gathered on the lawn and in the garden surrounding the pond as they listened to The License to Steal Band’s patriotic southern and classic rock tunes. They laughed, danced and sang as they enjoyed each other’s company following 2020’s COVID-19 cancellation of one of the city’s biggest celebrations of the year.
Rebecca Blount Casey and Michael Blount danced with baby nephew Declann Webber to the cover of “La Grange" by ZZ Tops. The Blount family traveled from St. Augustine to join the revelry on July 4.
“We have been attending this event for 17 years,” Casey said. “We own a condo just up the road and we’re so glad we are all able to go this year.”
The night sky exploded in vivd, sparkling colors as the fireworks kicked off without a glitch at 9 p.m. The crowd was awed as the display built to a crescendo for the grand finale.
Volusia County School Board District 4 representative Carl Persis and wife Susan Persis, city commissioner for zone 3, partook in the event’s conviviality.
“There were many good things happening last night,” Carl Persis said. “We were thrilled to see so many people enjoying the festivities.”
