PHOTOS: Niceville and Valparaiso’s 4th of July Celebrations - Mid Bay News

Thousands wait with anticipation for the Light Up the Bayou annual fireworks festival on the Fourth of July. Fireworks fans showed up as early as 9am to get a good seat (and parking space).

A fireworks burst that looks like a peacock graces the night's sky over Niceville and Valparaiso on the 4th of July.

A girl with headphones on to counter the loud explosions stays transfixed on the fireworks show at Deer Moss Creek.

Fireworks shower down on the sky as the residents of Niceville and Valparaiso celebrate Independence Day on Boggy Bayou

A crowd gathers before the Niceville annual 4th of July fireworks show. several thousand people showed up to watch the fireworks on the Niceville side of Boggy Bayou.

Residents of the Deer Moss Creek neighborhood prepare for their annual Independence Day parade.Attendance was a bit lower in previous years, due to the extreme heat.

Families gather for an Independence Day photo before the annual Deer Moss Creek Independence Day parade. High temperatures kept away some from the event this year, which was still well attended.

children on bikes and scooters prepare to launch the annual Deer Moss Creek 4th of July Parade.

A father and daughter watch the Independence Day fireworks in Deer Moss Creek.

Volunteers man the tent at the Deer Moss Creek fireworks show

A man and his daughter enjoy the fireworks at the Deer Moss Creek Independence Day fireworks show.

The Niceville Station 21 fire rescue boat watches over the fireworks barge before the start of the festivities.

A Niceville Fireworks attendee looks off into the distance as he prepares for the fireworks show above Boggy Bayou.

A drone view of the activity on Boggy Bayou before the annual fireworks festival put on every year by the cities of Niceville and Valparaiso.

Several thousand people showed up to watch the annual Light up the Bayou fireworks show on the fourth of July this year.

Children burn off steam and time while they wait for the 4th of July fireworks over Boggy Bayou.

a woman and a boy hop onto some water transportation and head out onto Boggy Bayou to watch some fireworks at the annual Light up the Bayou fireworks show.

The crowd on the Niceville side of Boggy Bayou prepares to watch the annual Light up the Bayou fireworks show

The barge used for fireworks floats along the bayou as residents count down the time until the show begins

Pink and blue fireworks light up the night's sky above Boggy Bayou between Niceville and Valparaiso

A colorful crescendo of light falls on the residents of Boggy Bayous eyes as the fireworks show gets on.

A drone photo overlooking the barge that holds the Niceville and Valparaiso's annual fireworks show.

A pinkish purple burst lights up Boggy Bayou at the annual Light up the Bayou fireworks festival for Independence Day

A fireworks burst of red illuminates the Niceville-Valparaiso area on the 4th of July

Lions park fills with Independence Day revelers who want to see fireworks.

A calm look at Boggy Bayou on Independence Day before fireworks light up the night sky.

The City of Niceville's fireworks barge erupts with a colorful fireworks display on the Fourth of July on Boggy Bayou

The Niceville Fire Department Rescue boat stands guard over the fireworks engineers as they board the fireworks barge to put out small fires post-display.

Firefighter Otis poses with a hook after the Boggy Bayou fireworks display. The hook is used to corral buoys meant to keep boats from getting too close to the fireworks barge

A drone's eye view of the revelers at Lions Park. Thousands showed up to enjoy the fireworks display above Boggy Bayou

A drone view of the nautical activity on Boggy Bayou ahead of the annual fireworks festival

One Response

Verna Sesso says:

07/07/2023 at 8:33 am

The fireworks this year were spectacular!! I don’t know why we had no patriotic music beforehand and also to accompany the display this year, as in years past, but we thoroughly enjoyed every minute! A magnificent display this year! Also, compliments to all the boaters who were there. When the fireworks were over, all the boats near us departed in a safe & orderly fashion. Thank you to all who played a part in our beautiful, successful, & safe July 4th celebration! Yay, Niceville!

Christopher Saul

Christopher Saul is the publisher of Mid Bay News. He graduated from Southern Methodist University's School of Journalism with a Convergance Journalism Degree and a Master's Degree in Public Administration From Florida State.