Florida

Florida’s New Year’s Eve drops: From oranges to drag queens, how cities ring in the New Year with unique flair

Published

2 years ago

December 31, 2024

Florida’s New Year’s Eve drops: From oranges to drag queens, how cities ring in the New Year with unique flair

New Year’s Eve celebrations are renowned for their unique and vibrant drops. In Florida, each drop reflects the local culture and spirit of its city. Here’s a glimpse into some of these festive traditions:

Orange Ball Drop in Orlando (Thornton Park)
Orlando rings in the New Year with the iconic Orange Ball Drop, symbolizing Florida’s citrus heritage. A massive, illuminated orange descends as the countdown to midnight begins, accompanied by dancing and food vendors.

Booty Drop in Tampa
Embracing its pirate history, Tampa hosts the Booty Drop during the New Yaargh’s Eve celebration. A treasure chest, representing pirate booty, is lowered at midnight, featuring live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Pineapple Drop in Sarasota
Sarasota’s Pineapple Drop Carnival is a family-friendly event featuring a large, illuminated pineapple. The festivities include a carnival with rides, games, and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere for all ages.

Strawberry Drop in Plant City
Known as the winter strawberry capital of the world, Plant City celebrates with the Strawberry Drop. A giant glowing strawberry is lowered as attendees enjoy live music, local food vendors, and a kids’ zone.

Beach Ball Drop in Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach offers a family-friendly Beach Ball Drop, where thousands of inflatable beach balls are released for an early celebration, followed by the descent of a giant illuminated beach ball at midnight. The event includes live music, fireworks, and entertainment for all ages.

Shrimp Drop in Amelia Island
Fernandina Beach honors its fishing heritage with the Shrimp Drop. A large, illuminated shrimp is lowered to mark the New Year, accompanied by a street festival featuring food trucks, a live DJ, and fireworks.

Red Shoe Drop in Key West
Key West’s famous Red Shoe Drop features a local drag queen descending in a giant red high-heeled shoe. This event is a highlight of the island’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, attracting visitors worldwide. This year, Randy Roberts from LaTeDa will be the one in the shoe, according to the venue.

Keg Drop in Orlando (Ivanhoe)
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company’s Keg Drop is a popular event among the Ivanhoe Park crowd, where a decorated keg is lowered at midnight. The celebration includes music, a food truck, and fireworks.

Each of these events showcases the diverse culture and community spirit across Florida, offering residents and visitors memorable ways to usher in the New Year.

You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below:

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Florida

1 dead, 3 injured after lightning strikes family off Florida beach

Published

1 hour ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

1 dead, 3 injured after lightning strikes family off Florida beach

A man died and three of his family members were injured after a lightning strike hit people in the water off Fort Myers Beach in Florida on July 3, authorities said.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 2:20 p.m. Friday, July 3, to the 6500 block of Estero Boulevard after reports that a man had been struck by lightning while swimming in the Gulf. When first responders arrived, bystanders were already performing CPR.

Despite immediate life-saving efforts from witnesses and emergency crews, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the strike happened during active storm conditions moving through the area.

Authorities identified the victim as 51-year-old Viktar Kiryk.

Deputies said the three family members who were with Kiryk were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Officials said they were in stable condition following the incident. Emergency crews responded across multiple locations along Estero Boulevard as calls came in. USA TODAY reached out to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment.

Lightning risks in Florida waters

Lightning is a frequent hazard in Florida, especially during summer storm season. The National Weather Service says about 20 people are killed by lightning in the United States each year, with hundreds more injured.

Florida consistently ranks among the most lightning-prone states in the country. Lee County and nearby areas have been identified as frequent hotspots in recent annual lightning activity reports.

Safety officials warn that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a storm and that anyone outdoors should seek shelter immediately if thunder is heard. They recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sounds of thunder before returning outside.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT

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Florida

Motorcyclist killed in crash in Fort Lauderdale

Published

12 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Motorcyclist killed in crash in Fort Lauderdale

A motorcyclist was killed early Saturday in a crash involving a vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, police said.

Officers responded at approximately 2:45 a.m. to the 3000 block of West Broward Boulevard following a report of a vehicle and motorcycle crash.

When officers arrived, the motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.

The department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.

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Florida

Publix? Walmart? What Florida stores are open and closed on July 4

Published

22 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Publix? Walmart? What Florida stores are open and closed on July 4

Happy Fourth of July! Although the post office and government offices will be closed today, many grocery stores are open.

Don’t forget the hot dog buns or festive treats during your Independence Day cookout this afternoon.

Here’s what you need to know about grocery stores and whether or not they’ll be open today.

Buy Fourth of July essentials on Amazon Prime

Is Publix open on July 4th?

Publix is open on the Fourth of July.

Publix closes its doors for only three holidays each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Most Publix stores open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Publix stores regularly close at 9 p.m., but not many. Check hours at your local store.

Publix Liquors stores are also open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., depending on the location. However, Publix pharmacies will be closed, so fill any prescriptions you need before the holiday.

Is Aldi open on July 4th?

Aldi stores will be open with limited hours on July 4.

Some Aldi store locations in Florida open at 8:30 a.m., while others open at 9 a.m. Most Aldi locations close at either 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

Holiday hours can vary from location to location, so check your local Aldi’s holiday hours before you go. You can find the store locator here to double-check the opening hours of your nearest Aldi.

Is Whole Foods open on July 4th?

Most Whole Foods locations will close early, at 6 p.m. on the Fourth of July.

Under regular hours, most Florida Whole Foods locations open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. A few open at 7:30 a.m.

Some Whole Foods locations close at 9 p.m. while others close at 10 p.m.

Is Sprouts closed on July 4th?

Sprouts will be open during regular hours on July 4.

Store hours in Florida are typically from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Is Winn-Dixie open on July 4th?

Winn-Dixie locations in Florida will be open on July 4th, with regular hours.

Typically, Winn-Dixie stores in Florida open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. every day. Winn-Dixie’s wine and spirits services don’t open until 9 a.m.

Is Trader Joe’s open on July 4th?

Trader Joe’s locations will only be open until 5 p.m. on the Fourth of July.

Most Trader Joe’s locations in Florida open at 8 a.m. A few open at 9 a.m. Trader Joe’s stores usually close at 9 p.m. during their regular hours.

Is Target open on July 4th?

Target will be open throughout the Fourth of July weekend; however, hours of operation may vary by location, so please check your local store’s hours before visiting.

Most Target stores in Florida open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Target locations open at 7 a.m.

Is Walmart open on July 4th?

Walmart stores close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they will also be open for regular hours on the Fourth of July.

Buy Fourth of July essentials on Walmart

Most Walmart stores in Florida open an hour before Publix or Winn-Dixie, at 6 a.m. They close at 11 p.m. The same hours apply to most Walmart Neighborhood Market locations.

Is Costco closed on July 4th?

Costco will be closed on July 4.

Is Sam’s Club open on July 4th?

Most Sam’s Club locations will be open on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.

Is BJ’s Wholesale Club open on July 4th?

BJ’s Wholesale Club will be open regular hours on July 4 from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.

Is the Fourth of July a federal holiday?

Yes, the Fourth of July is a federal holiday. See all 11 federal holidays:

New Year’s Day – Jan. 1
Martin Luther King’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in January
Washington’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day – last Monday in May
Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19
Independence Day – July 4
Labor Day – 1st Monday in September
Indigenous Peoples’ Day – 2nd Monday in October
Veterans’ Day – Nov. 11
Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thursday in November
Christmas Day – Dec. 25

Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

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