The Martinson family recently moved to Cape Coral from Michigan and Sunday was their first time at Red, White & Boom. Clockwise from top left are Zach Martinson; Kayla Martinson; Diane Them; Arieanna, 5; Audrina, 6; and Caiden, 1. JANA MACKIN

Va-Va-BOOM!

The mother of all Southwest Florida fireworks torched the 4th of July night sky as Red, White & BOOM returned to Cape Coral with a vengeance after COVID 19 squashed America’s birthday last year.

“We’re back,” said Cape Coral Special Events Coordinator Todd King.

On Sunday evening, The 4th of July block party drew thousands to the foot of Cape Coral Bridge to celebrate at the hub of pyrotechnic patriotism, beer, food, fun, music and a finale of fireworks. The festivities began around 5 p.m with featured country music artists Chris Bandi and Carly Pearce as well as Casey Bishop singing the National Anthem as warm up to this big bang of fireworks. Throughout the evening, this mid-summer block party was a much anticipated event to ring in freedom and celebrate America after being canceled last year.

Around 9:30 p.m., the American Fireworks Spectacular fired an estimated 2,000 shells of pyrotechnic wizardry that rocketed into the night sky with sparkling illuminations of fire-flowers and waterfalls of glistening bursts of magic. For about 20 minutes fireworks were synchronized with epic music that orchestrated the spectacle of boom and light.

“It’s a rainbow of stars,” said Audrina Martinson, 6.

“We’re here because it’s patriotic,” said Kayla, her mother. “That’s what we do as Americans.”

For more than 50 years, Cape Coral has had fireworks and the event has been sponsored by the city’s Park and Recreation Department since 2014, said Kristin Bean, a Cape Coral senior recreation specialist. This year fireworks show were done by Pyrotecnico. Over the years, annual crowd estimates average more than 30,000.

The total cost for the holiday extravaganza was more than $100,000.

“By far, this is the largest firework show in Southwest Florida,” Bean said. “It is phenominal. It is breathtaking.”

Hours before the event, revellers braved the record heat to vie for choice viewing positions. They came by foot, by car, by boat and bicycle on the blistering asphalt of Cape Coral Parkway that hosted the festivities. Many were dressed in Old Glory shorts and shirts, towing kids through the sights and sounds and smells of kettle corn, funnel cakes and sizzling hamburgers and ice cold beer. This year’s food trucks added a new presence for more food and drinks. Be it hand rolled cigars or Broil King barbecues, DAV or Rotary, clubs and vendors sold their wares in tent stalls.

Chicago transplant Ned Montalto came decked in dog tags and a POW hat. He had not seen the local firework show which was as much a spectacle of light and sound as a window to earlier times as American as baseball and apple pie.

“I am an old White Sox fan since the days when my uncle and cousin did the fireworks in the old White Sox park,” Montalto said. “They did 4th of July, everything- anytime someone got a hit or run.”

“I must have been about 8,” he said.

During the afternoon, Hoosier Jim Gushrowski and Brit David Smidmore preceded their pyrotechnic pilgrimage with a search for a cool drink in their top-down convertible. One needed the shade of a public house and an ice cold libation before braving nearly three digit temperatures.

“We’re looking for a good Bloody Mary,” they said.

“I call it treason day,” Smidmore said, laughing.

“The fireworks remind me of Guy Fawkes day,” he said. “We build big bonfires, a scarecrow with a mask and have fireworks like he tried to blow up parliament. Too bad he didn’t make it.”

“Who doesn’t like fireworks displays besides your pet?” Gushrowski said. “Fireworks bring out the kid again.”

Parked near the real estate, election and CBD vendors was the Godmobile where volunteers were reaching out to souls searching for something behind the block party spectacle of 4th of July. They were there to remind partiers festooned in the joyous moment that we are “One nation under God with liberty and justice for all.”

“Being an American is such a blessing,” said Jan Held. Member of First Assembly of God Fort Myers. “We are celebrating our freedom.”

“What this is all about is giving tribute to God and our USA,” Held said.