A hometown tradition, kept alive by neighbors.
Light Up Amelia exists for one reason — to make sure the sky over the Amelia River fills with light every Fourth of July, free for every family on the island.
Every July 4th, thousands of locals and visitors spread blankets along South Front Street, gather at the marina, and tilt their heads back as the first shell streaks into the sky. For a few minutes, the entire island looks up together.
That moment doesn't happen by accident. Pyrotechnics, permits, barge rental, safety crews, music, and insurance all cost money — and Fernandina Beach has chosen, year after year, to fund it ourselves rather than let the tradition disappear.
What we do
Light Up Amelia is a small, all-volunteer nonprofit that:
- · Raises the funds for the annual riverfront fireworks display
- · Coordinates the pyrotechnics crew, barge, and Coast Guard permitting
- · Partners with the City of Fernandina Beach on safety and logistics
- · Keeps the show free and open to everyone
Where the money goes
Roughly 90 cents of every dollar goes directly to the show itself — shells, fuses, the launch barge, licensed pyrotechnic operators, and the safety perimeter on the river. The rest covers insurance, permits, and the tiny overhead of running an all-volunteer organization.
Three ways to keep the lights on.
- Donate. Any amount — a few dollars or a few hundred — goes straight to the show.
- Sponsor. Businesses can underwrite a portion of the display and be recognized as a Hometown sponsor.
- Volunteer. We always need hands the week of the show and at fundraisers throughout the year.