Hillsborough County Fair 4th of July Festival and Parade
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sat, 07/04/2026
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
After more than six decades of marching through central Brandon, the Greater Brandon Action Network made the call to relocate the parade to the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover. The reason comes down to two things: water line construction along the traditional route pushed the completion deadline dangerously close to July 4, and updated Homeland Security and Hillsborough County security requirements made the old setup increasingly difficult to execute. Rather than gamble on a last-minute cancellation, organizers locked in a self-contained venue with wide open space, free parking, and room for the entire community.
This is not a new event that suddenly appeared on the calendar. The Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade has been a cornerstone of south and east Hillsborough County life for over 60 years. It started on Brandon Boulevard back when State Road 60 was still a two-lane road, and it has grown alongside the community ever since. The nonprofit group that ran it for years eventually disbanded, and former board members formed the Greater Brandon Action Network specifically to make sure the tradition did not die with the organization.
What to Bring
Before you head to the Brandon Fourth of July Parade 2026, pack this the night before.
Folding lawn chairs or a blanket. The fairgrounds have permanent bleacher seating available, but the good spots go fast. Bring your own setup and plant it where you want.
Sunscreen. SPF 50 or higher. Bring enough for the full day and plan to reapply because you will be sweating it off within the first hour.
Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Open fairground pathways have very little natural shade. A hat is non-negotiable in Florida in July.
Multiple water bottles per person. Cold if you can manage it. Kids especially need consistent reminders to drink.
Cash and a card. Admission is free but the rides, food vendors, and local booths are not. Not every vendor takes cards.
A portable phone charger. GPS getting in, photos throughout the day, keeping kids occupied on the drive home.
A wagon or stroller for young kids. A full morning of parade plus an afternoon festival covers a lot of ground
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.