Enjoying July 4th Fireworks at Castillo de San Marcos

If you’re one of hundreds of Historic City News reader’s planning on visiting the Castillo de San Marco National Monument to watch the City of St. Augustine’s Independence Day fireworks celebration, please remember these important regulations that will be strictly enforced:

• Alcohol is prohibited on public property, streets and sidewalks including the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
• Using or possessing fireworks is prohibited. Fireworks will be confiscated and persons possessing and/or using fireworks are subject to a fine up to $100 or arrest.
• Parking at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is enforced 7 days a week including Sundays and Federal Holidays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pay stations will be operational and enforced on the 4th of July.
• Vehicles illegally parked outside of marked parking spaces, in parking spaces designated for motorcycles only, upon sidewalks, on the grass or otherwise in violation of federal, state or city statutes will be cited and/or towed at the owner’s expense. No vehicles over 21 feet are permitted to park in the main visitor parking lot.
• There will be no access to or from the main parking lot of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument from 6:00pm until approximately 11:00pm. Vehicles parked in the parking lot will not be able to leave until the city reopens S. Castillo Drive to vehicle traffic.
• Please keep your National Park beautiful by carrying your trash out with you or disposing of it in a trash receptacle. Littering violations are subject to a fine of up to $130 for each offense.
• Staking any items into the monument grounds is prohibited. These items include but are not limited to beach umbrellas, tents, canopy’s and flag poles.
• The monument grounds are closed from 12:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Fireworks are scheduled to begin over Matanzas Bay at 9:30 p.m. Have a great time with friends and family celebrating America’s independence, but please keep it safe and legal!

To assist with management of expected minor medical situations such as common dehydration, or potential medical emergencies, a team of certified emergency medical technicians, under the direction and staffing of St Johns County Fire Rescue, members of the St Augustine Fire Department, and the National Park Service, will have a medical base station setup at South Castillo Drive and Cuna Street.

There will be a Polar Pod mobile cooling station at this location allowing those feeling overwhelmed by the heat to rest for a few minutes, often a good way to avoid heat exhaustion. The triage and treatment site will be located in the employee parking lot across Avenida Menendez from the Castillo main parking lot.  Personnel will be roving on bicycles and on foot throughout the evening.