By Kathryn Campaigne
The 34th annual Siesta Key Community Fireworks set ablaze on Friday, July 4th. Thousands of attendees gathered on Siesta Key beaches. In a collaborative effort between the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and Sarasota County, a legion of people witnessed the illumination of our beach’s skies. This was all made possible by the donations of individuals and businesses throughout Sarasota, as well as the numerous event sponsorships. There is something truly memorable about watching fireworks from the white sandy beaches of Siesta Key.
As a resident living near Siesta Key Beach, I participated in the evening’s festivities. I walked down Midnight Pass Road towards the public beach just after 8 p.m. The fireworks began at 9 p.m. To my surprise, my 4th of July excitement started the moment I began walking.
I engaged with many people along my promenade to the fireworks. The energy of the evening was filled with exuberance. I was intrigued to learn the different stories of my fellow travelers. As I crossed Midnight Pass Road to Beach Road, I happened upon a young family of four. As we crossed the two traffic lights, I taught the young boys how to use the crosswalk signal buttons. The joy on their faces when I told them it was okay to press the buttons was unforgettable.
I encountered two gentlemen who asked me where the best spot was to view the fireworks. It was their first time at Siesta Key Beach. Everyone was filled with genuine excitement.
Once my feet finally hit the beach, I was caught off guard. My feet were not greeted by the usual soft sands of our beach but by a huge puddle of water, honestly, a pond. During the week of the July 4th, Siesta Key was flooded with heavy rainstorms. It is a miracle the skies cleared for the fireworks. As I walked past the big pond, I met another family. With smiles on their faces, we started talking. This family traveled from Virginia and Indiana together, specifically to see the Siesta Key 4th of July fireworks. I befriended Melissa Taylor, a married mother of five, one of the family members. When I asked her why they chose to come to Siesta Key for the 2025 fireworks, her answer was, “There’s just something about the energy here on Siesta Key. The white sand, the sunset, and the atmosphere; it’s the one place that makes me feel totally at peace and alive at the same time. I wanted to be somewhere that felt magical and meaningful, not just crowded and loud.” She further added, “My soul comes alive when I am here on Siesta Key.”
Taylor visited Siesta Key in May this year, and upon returning to Indiana, she spoke with Lori, her older sister in Virginia. The conversation went as such, “I don’t want to unpack my bags. Do you guys have any interest in going to Siesta Key with us for the 4th of July?” Lori immediately accepted the invitation with excitement. Taylor, accompanied by her teenage daughter, Marklyn, her older sister, Lori, her niece, Jennifer, and her son, Boomer, has been visiting Siesta Key since 2017.
The fireworks promptly began at 9 p.m. and it was a sight to see. As Erma Bombeck said, “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.”
After every grand celebration, cleanup follows. While many enjoyed the evening’s display, the beaches had to be pristine by the next day’s sunrise to greet fellow beachgoers for the holiday weekend. Sarasota County makes a valiant effort with immediate post-firework cleanup.
July 5th is often referred to as “The Morning After Mess” nationwide. On Saturday, July 5 at 7:30 a.m., the Liberty Litter Cleanup commenced across Sarasota County. Liberty Litter Cleanup began ten years ago. It is a local initiative of Keep Sarasota County Beautiful (KSCB). This program initiates community cleanup projects aimed at maintaining a litter-free environment and promoting public interest in the beautification of Sarasota County. Hunter Jensen, Program Coordinator for Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, led the movement of this year’s Liberty Litter Cleanup.
According to Jensen, born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, he was inspired to take on his role as program coordinator because, “I saw so much litter in Philadelphia growing up that I didn’t want to see it continue in such a beautiful place as Sarasota.” Jensen is a graduate of USF’s political science program and joined the KSCB organization in 2025. He led the teams of volunteers for the July 5th cleanup. Volunteers were required to pre-register for the day’s events to assure proper placement of volunteers at specific locations.
Volunteers arrived at their designated locations at 7:30 a.m. for cleanup and remained until 9:30 a.m. Donned with gloves, free event t-shirts (designed by the Communications Department of Sarasota County Government) and bags for cleanup, site captains greeted their select groups of volunteers. The day’s activities were then described, along with a safety speech. This included topics such as staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, and staying aware of your surroundings. Volunteers were further instructed to avoid handling any dangerous objects, such as needles or unknown substances, and if in doubt, to leave them alone and alert their site captains.
Once this was completed, the litter hunt began! Within just two hours of hard work, over 3,200 pounds of litter were collected across Sarasota County (215 bags were collected on Siesta Key). The Siesta Key clean-up territory encompassed Access 7, Siesta Key Public Beach, and Turtle Beach. Each bag weighed approximately 15 pounds, and both trash and recyclables were collected. The most common pieces of debris collected included plastic bottle caps, cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, and plastic children’s beach toys. All the debris was placed near the appropriate refuse bins. The Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department then properly disposed of the debris. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work” (ref., Sir John Heywood).
The “International Coastal Cleanup” is the next scheduled event hosted by KSCB. It will take place on Saturday, September 20. This is a worldwide event coordinated by Ocean Conservancy. Please visit website www.scgov.net/KSCB for more details.
