Take a look at a few events and 4th of July recipes Akers Ellis recommends to make your holiday a success. We hope you have a safe and memorable 4th of July!
KIAWAH AND CHARLESTON EVENTS
Independence Day is a time to come together, celebrate, and enjoy the summer sun! From breathtaking fireworks to family-friendly parades, here's a sneak peek at the festivities happening on Kiawah Island and the Charleston Area.
Annual Patriotic Bike Parade, Kiawah Island
Join in on the fun by bike or foot at Night Heron Park on Kiawah Island! The event starts with parade decorating at 5:00 PM and the ride/walk starts at exactly 5:45 PM.
Led by the Kiawah Island Recreation Department, participants will be joined by iconic figures such as Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, and Captain America.
Independence Day Festival & Fireworks, Kiawah Island
Get ready for an evening of festive fun and family-friendly activities. The celebration kicks off at 5 PM with a classic cookout, followed by live music, games, and crafts starting at 6 PM. At 7 PM, the annual watermelon eating contest takes center stage, bringing plenty of laughs and friendly competition. At 7:30 PM, enjoy a high-energy breakdancing performance by Kyle K’Otic. The night wraps up with a spectacular fireworks show at 9:15 PM on the Night Heron Park soccer field.
4th of July Blast, Patriots Point
Celebrate Independence Day with one of Charleston’s most memorable traditions. The annual 4th of July Blast takes place aboard the historic USS Yorktown at Patriots Point, offering an evening of live music, local food and drink vendors, family-friendly fun, and a panoramic fireworks show over Charleston Harbor.
Your ticket includes access to the USS Yorktown, entertainment throughout the night, and unbeatable views of the 20-minute fireworks display. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from top local vendors such as Fed Up Truck, King of Pops, JMACS Cheesesteaks, Holy City Popcorn, and more.
Whether you're a local or visiting for the holiday, this event offers a one-of-a-kind setting to celebrate America’s birthday aboard a true piece of history.
Event Details
Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
40 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Join us for a memorable 4th of July filled with fun, community, and celebration. Whether you're a resident or a visitor, there's something for everyone to enjoy on Kiawah Island and nearby Charleston. Happy Independence Day!
4TH OF JULY RECIPES
We believe that one of the best parts of the 4th of July is the food! Impress your friends and family with some patriotic recipes. Here are a few fool-proof ideas that are sure to be a hit:
Berry Trifle
Ingredients for the blueberry trifle:
17 oz angel food cake, cut into 1″ cubes (I used 1 1/2 blocks)
1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 lb fresh blueberries
Ingredients for the lemon syrup:
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 medium lemon)
Ingredients for the frosting:
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened at room temp
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
How to make lemon syrup:
In a measuring cup, combine 1/4 cup water, 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp lemon juice and stir until sugar is dissolved. Set aside until needed.
How to make the trifle cream:
Beat together 1 lb cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar (with the whisk attachment) on medium speed until creamy and smooth, scraping the bowl a couple times. With the mixer on, pour in 2 cups heavy cream then turn mixer to medium/high and continue beating until the consistency is of whipped cream. Add 1/2 tsp vanilla and beat until incorporated.
Assemble the patriotic blueberry trifle:
Place 1/3 of your sliced angel food cake into the bottom of your trifle dish and brush with 1/3 of your syrup. Add 1/3 of your cream and loosely spread it over cake pieces. Add 1/2 of the sliced strawberries. Repeat with remaining ingredients (adding 1/2 of the blueberries for the second fruit layer). Frost the top with last 1/3 of cream and decorate with remaining fruit.
Red, White & Blue Sangria
Ingredients for the sangria:
1 bottle dry white wine
2 cups (1 pint) fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup apple juice (or white grape juice)
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 bottle champagne (or any variety of sparkling white wine)
3-4 Granny Smith apples
ice
How to make the sangria:
Stir together white wine, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and apple juice together in a large pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for 1-4 hours, so that the flavors can meld.
When you’re ready to serve the sangria, gradually stir in the champagne and apples and ice. Serve immediately.
Firecracker Dogs
Ingredients for the firecracker dogs:
1 can refrigerated breadstick dough
2 packages of hot dogs
16 slices of colby cheese
16 skewers
Directions for the firecracker dogs:
Take your skewers and stick them all the way through your hot dogs leaving about an inch and a half exposed out of the top of each hot dog. Then take a piece of breadstick dough and carefully wrap it around the hot dog until you get to the top. Place the wrapped dogs on a parchment paper and bake according to the package directions for the breadstick dough. It took us about 20 minutes at 350.
While the hot dogs are cooking take out your cheese slices, the key to this step is to go to your grocer's deli counter and ask for them to slice you pieces of cheese that are 1/4"-3/8" thick. Then using a small star cookie cutter cut out your stars. Depending on how big or small your cookie cutter is will determine how many stars you get out of each slice of cheese. We could only get one star out of each slice.
After your dogs have cooled for 2-3 minutes stick the star through the skewer at the top.
If you're spending the holiday at one of our properties, be sure to tag us on Facebook or Instagram in your 4th of July photos!
