By: Felipe Rivas
2 min read July 2020 — Is COVID-19 casting a dark shadow on your Fourth of July weekend plans? Every year Floridians eagerly look forward to Independence Day for peak summer fun, beach and outdoors activities, and family cookouts. However, the rising number of coronavirus cases have prompted Palm Beach County officials to again place the beaches on lockdown in an effort to curb further spikes in infections at a time when many residents were expecting to enjoy time by the water. Along with beach closures, many fan favorites and fireworks displays also erred on the side of caution to prevent more cases of COVID-19.
Though celebrating the nation’s birthday looks entirely different this year, there are a slew of in-person and virtual events for the entire family to enjoy. Here is a list of activities we are looking forward to in Palm Beach County during the Independence Day weekend.
Catch some waves at Rapids Water Park
Bummed that you can’t catch some waves at the beach this Fourth of July weekend? Then spending a lazy day at Rapids Water Park’s lazy river is a great alternative. The Riviera Beach water park, known for its colorful, thrilling slides and family/friendly water attractions, will be open for business this summer following all guidelines and cleaning standards, of course. “I thank you for your patience as we work through the many new challenges this pandemic has presented. We are excited to reopen and provide an entertaining break from the day-to-day world,“ General Manager Bryan Megrath wrote on the park’s website. Tickets must be purchased in advance and the park will feature extended hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, visit: https://www.rapidswaterpark.com/covid-19-safety/
West Palm Beach’s surprise fireworks show
Those wishing to see traditional fireworks shows will have to hang out in the city of West Palm Beach and look very closely skyward once night settles. The city’s traditional fireworks show will not launch near Flagler Drive as usual, but instead from two undisclosed locations north and south of the city, wowing families socially distancing at home. “While some will be able to see the fireworks from their home, all residents will be able to view them by tuning into WPBF 25’s Project CommUNITY: Fireworks From Home at 9:00 p.m. on July 4,” the City of West Palm Beach wrote on its website.
For more information, visit :https://www.wpb.org/government/community-events/community-events/4th-on-flagler
Gardens 2 Go Drive-Thru Market
Feeling lethargic after a good Fourth of July family cookout? Head over to Palm Beach Gardens to access fresh produce, meats, dairy and more while helping local vendors in the process. Every Sunday, local Palm Beach Gardens residents can get ahead on their grocery shopping from the comfort of their own cars by visiting Gardens 2 Go Drive-Thru Market. “Gardens 2 Go will provide residents and visitors with a safe and socially-distanced way to access quality produce, bread, coffee, eggs, meat, seafood, dairy and cheese from local vendors,” the city wrote on its website.
For more information, visit: https://www.pbgfl.com/1067/Gardens-2-Go?fbclid=IwAR2eTUe4tcd4u90VfvyRBjniUdqqFwWsduqX9lewWMbLDDmAEegeK5K2YlU
Virtual trivia 
Want to flex your knowledge of American history as you celebrate the nation’s birthday? Delray Beach has you covered. The city of Delray Beach will host two trivia games set to challenge even the smartest of history buffs. “Your knowledge of Delray Beach and America will be tested. Each game will consist of two rounds of questions (one round on Delray Beach and one round on America) with 20 questions in each round. You earn more points the faster you answer correctly,” the city of Delray Beach wrote on its website. Games are free to enter and family-friendly. Players are playing for bragging rights and a gift card. Game 1 and 2 begin at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, on July 4.
For more information, visit: https://www.delraybeachfl.gov/our-city/things-to-do/4th-of-july
