Celebrate America 250 -- Everything You Need to Know

America's 250th birthday is 47 days away, and Vero Beach is ready to celebrate in style!

Dubbed USA All Day: Pioneers to Paradise, the City of Vero Beach has organized a rich lineup of America 250 festivities in partnership with their sponsors: Cleveland Clinic, Piper, Dyer Auto, MidFlorida Credit Union, the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce, Vero Heritage, Jackie Robinson Training Complex, Overlay Pros, Fabulous Co. Finery Events, Breeze, and George E. Warren LLC, FPL, with support from Indian River County.

The real programming begins June 27 with the USA 4K race out of Pocahontas Park. Then July 3 brings a time capsule burial at The Heritage Center to be sealed until 2076, followed that evening by the 1776 Colonial Costume Ball. Founding Fathers, Colonial Belles, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and a challenge: find the British spy hiding in the crowd.

Tickets: $25 at veroheritage.org.

July 4th runs dawn to dusk. The Independence Day Parade rolls down 14th Avenue at 10 a.m., followed by an antique car display at the Vero Beach Railroad Station and Exhibit Center, and a special birthday cake being served at the Community Center. By late afternoon, Riverside Park takes over with food trucks, vendors, a bounce house, a Veterans Ceremony at 4:30, Riptide on stage at 6, pie eating and hot dog contests, and fireworks at 9.

Full details at covb.org. Much more to come, so stay tuned.