Patriotic Evening Guide

The Patriotic Evening is the annual Independence Day celebration hosted by the City of Inverness in Liberty Park. The event features live music, a fireworks show over Lake Henderson, and plenty of free fun for the whole family. Guests can enjoy food vendors, beer tents, and family games at Wallace Brooks Park throughout the evening.

This year’s Patriotic Evening, taking place on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, will include live performances from Mock of Ages: The Ultimate Def Leppard Tribute and Smokey and The 3 Dollar Pistols, followed by a spectacular fireworks finale.

Dates and Times:

Thursday, July 3rd, 2025 at Liberty Park

  • 5:00 p.m: Event Starts - Mock of Ages: The Ultimate Def Leppard Tribute 
  • 7:15 p.m: Smokey Jones and The 3 Dollar Pistols 
  • 9:15 p.m: Fireworks

Locations to bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the fireworks:

  • Liberty Park, 286 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness
  • Depot District, 300 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness
  • Wallace Brooks Park, 328 E. Dampier Street, Inverness

Liberty Park playground will be closed all day.

 

Weather:

Patriotic Evening takes place rain or shine. If severe weather is forecasted that could impact the event, we will announce any necessary schedule adjustments on our official social media channels.

Parking:

N. Apopka/Gospel Island Rd. will be closing at 3 pm.

Patriotic Evening takes place in the heart of Liberty Park, drawing large crowds for the event. Consequently, you may find yourself parking downtown and walking to the event site.

It’s important to observe all parking signage and opt for official city parking lots, authorized private lots offering parking, or legal on-street parking spaces.

Handicap Parking

Handicap parking will be available at the Depot Pavilion parking lot at 300 N. Apopka Ave. There will be a limited number of ADA parking spots for patrons with disabilities onsite, and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Prohibited Items:

To ensure a safe and enjoyable environment at Patriotic Evening, adherence to security measures and regulations is vital. Compliance with these guidelines is necessary to maintain the event’s festive spirit. ALL bags are subject to search. Before attending, familiarize yourself with the following prohibited items:

  • No outside food, drinks, or alcohol
  • No illegal substances, explosives, or fireworks
  • No unapproved vending activities
  • No tents/umbrellas, coolers, or carts
  • No unattended chairs/seating
  • No glass items
  • No scooters, bicycles, roller skates, skateboards in the event area
  • No large banners, tri-folds, posters, or signs
  • No pets
  • Laser pointers/pens
  • Professional photography/recording equipment
  • Unauthorized Drones

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase from vendors at the festival. To buy and consume alcohol, you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid ID.  Furthermore, the use of electronic or motorized bikes, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades and other personal vehicles within the event premises is prohibited. Wheelchairs are the sole exception.

What to Bring:

  • ID
  • Cash
  • Sunscreen
  • Your own chair/blanket

Food Vendors:

Several food and beverage vendors will be available on site. We recommend you bring cash as ATM’s are not available directly on site and not all vendors accept card payments.

  • Big Phil’s BBQ – BBQ
  • Brea’s Coffee – Coffee, Smoothies, Beverages
  • BrunchBox – American/Southern Food
  • Chicken Salad Chick – Chicken Salad
  • Doggylicious – Hotdogs, Pulled Pork, Hamburgers
  • Drink Shack – Beverages
  • EBODS – Empanadas, Beverages
  • Fatboyz Donutz – Donuts, Fried Snacks
  • Fusion Cooking – Latin American Fusion
  • Gud Lemonade – Lemonade & Beverages
  • Inverness Lions Club – Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Pickles, etc.
  • Lady T’S Chicago Style BBQ – BBQ
  • Mo’Rock’In Mediterranean Grill – Mediterranean Food
  • OMG Pretzel Bites – Pretzel Bites
  • Operation Welcome Home – Watermelon, Lemonade
  • Rotary Club of Inverness & Downtown Inverness Rotary – Beer Trucks
  • Southern Charm Mobile Bar – Beverages (Specialty lemonade, tea, coffee, etc.)
  • The Peanut Guy – Boiled Peanuts, Beverages
  • The Taco Trailer – Tacos, Nachos, Rice Bowls, etc.
  • The Tasty Cajun – Cajun Inspired Food
  • The Train Station – Pizza, Beer