The Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade is taking on a new look this year as organizers relocate the annual celebration to the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds.

Construction and road closures along the parade’s traditional route made it impossible to safely host the event on Brandon roadways. Rather than cancel the celebration, organizers developed a new concept that combines the community’s patriotic parade with a family-friendly FunFest.

The event will commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary with the parade followed by a full day of activities designed for all ages.

Guests can enjoy live music, a variety of food vendors, local businesses and community organizations, as well as a beer station for adults. Competitive events throughout the day will include a watermelon eating contest, chili cookoff and cherry pie eating contest, with prizes awarded to winners.

Families with children will also find plenty of activities, including a petting zoo, horse rides, dunk tanks and face painting.

Organizers say the new venue offers an opportunity to expand the celebration while providing a safe, centralized location despite ongoing construction affecting the area’s roadways. The Fairgrounds also allow attendees to spend the day enjoying entertainment and community activities after the parade concludes.

While longtime residents may miss the traditional parade route through Brandon, organizers hope the expanded festival atmosphere will create a new Independence Day tradition that brings together residents from across the Greater Brandon community.

Additional event details, including the parade schedule and participating vendors, are expected to be announced by organizers leading up to the celebration.