Our Independence Eve Celebration officially starts at 6 PM on Sunday, July 3rd in downtown Apalachicola at Riverfront Park. Should you be looking for a place to land earlier for a meal or a cool drink, here’s a quick guide for your dining pleasure in our downtown business community.

• Apalachicola Chocolate & Coffee Company: Get your day started with a delicious brew and something tasty from the oven.
• The Franklin at the Gibson: Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
• The Parlor Bar at the Gibson: Serving Lunch, Dinner, and Signature Cocktails
• Half Shell Dockside: Serving Lunch & Dinner
• Owl Cafe: Serving Brunch 11 AM – 3PM. The Owl Tap Room opens at 4 PM
• Oyster City Brewing Company: Opening @ Noon
• Subway: Hours: 6 AM to 6 PM

FOOD TRUCK FOOD COURT: Located on Ave E at the corners of Commerce & Water Streets. A few vendors will open early and serve until the BEST FIREWORKS SHOW on The Forgotten Coast lights up the sky:

• Crave: “We’ve got you covered.” Opening @ 3 PM
• Dave’s Dawg House: Next to The Grady Market on Water Street Opening @ Noon
• Tamara’s on the go: Opening @ 3PM.

Wherever you land in Apalachicola on July 3rd, we hope you will enjoy all the sights, sounds, and good eats in our historic town!

Apalachicola Main Street’s Independence Eve Celebration kicks off on July 3^rd at 6:00 p.m. The festivities will culminate in a performance of the National Anthem by talented downtown Apalachicola businesswoman Faith Lynch. Lynch was born in Decatur, Illinois and grew up in Warrensburg, Illinois. She served in the United States Air Force, inspired by her father, a Navy veteran. He was also “a singer and a showman” who had a big influence on Lynch’s lifelong interest in the performing arts. “I’ve always been told that I was singing before I could walk,” she said. Lynch has won multiple awards for singing and dancing.

Since moving to Apalachicola six years ago, she has been active with the Panhandle Players, Forgotten Coast Theatre, and Pam Nobles Dance Studio. Her theatrical performances include roles in The Show Must Go On, Murder at the Chapman, A Christmas Carol, and Live from Apalach.

“I love to entertain,” Lynch said. Her love of music even spurred her to audition for America’s Got Talent in Chicago.

She also loves spending time with her family, which includes husband, Kirk, and son Hendrix, who will soon start 1^st grade. The Lynches own a popular downtown business on Market Street, the Apalachicola Chocolate & Coffee Company.  

At the end of Lynch’s stirring a capella performance, the area’s biggest fireworks show will light up the night sky. “We’ve enhanced the pyrotechnics even more since last year,” said Main Street’s Executive Director, Augusta West. “This is going to be our best show yet.”

St. George Island realtor Gordon Adkins, who moved to Franklin County 23 years ago, will perform an a capella solo of God Bless America. His performing background includes high school musicals, musical training at Iowa State University, college quartets, community theater, and church. 

Adkins has performed this song, prefaced with historical context, for the past several years at the Celebration. It has become one of our favorite parts of the event.

He often reflects on the young men who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston for amphibious assaults during World War II. “This may have been the last place in America they saw. So many of them lost their lives,” he said. “Our country is going through some very tough times, and I think it’s time to start singing this song a lot. It reminds us of how blessed we are to be here.”

We’re honored to announce this year’s Veterans’ Tribute Speaker for our Independence Eve Fireworks Celebration. Lieutenant Colonel (Promotable) J. ‘Chris’ Zingarelli Is the Technical Director for the Space Sensing Directorate at Space Systems Command in Los Angeles, California.

Prior to his current assignment, he was Commander, Detachment 15, and Materiel Leader, Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site, directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Maui Island, Hawaii.

Chris is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  He is presently a member of the newly formed United States Space Force.

He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University, a Maters of Science Degree in electrical engineering from AFIT, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and a Doctor of Philosophy in electrical engineering from AFIT, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Ohio.

Chris is the grandson of Jiggs and Allie Zingarelli of Apalachicola, the son of Dr. Bill and Amy Zingarelli of Gainesville, nephew of Dr. Robert Zingarelli of Apalachicola and nephew of Rear Admiral USN (retired) Mark and Elizabeth Zingarelli Milliken of Apalachicola.

Lieutenant Colonel Zingarelli will be introduced by Rear Admiral (LH) Mark R. Milliken, United States Navy (retired) at 8:25 p.m.