CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- Cape Coral Parkway was buzzing with people in preparation for Cape Coral's Independence Day celebration -- Red White and Boom, Monday.
The street was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of fried dough and barbecue, as vendors set up down Cape Coral Parkway after the bridge. Kids were excited about the fireworks, while parents were more interested in the food. "We have pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, biscuits, turkey legs," said Tiffany Likness, owner of Hogstastic Barbecue.
The event provides an economic boom for businesses who are slow in the summer months. "They're guessing around 30,000 [people], so that would be nice," said Likness.
"All the vending we do, all our supplies, we buy everything locally here," said Joe Almallah, who has been attending the event for the last 20 years. "It helps tremendously, especially in the summer time when everything else is slow."
As excited as the vendors were to set up shop, weather was a concern. "We do well. It's always a variable on what the weather does," said Almallah. "If it holds out or rains at the right time, we do good. We've had times where it rained and it ruined the event."
Even with the rain, business owners say everyone will come out to enjoy. "It definitely rains every year, but then everybody seems to come out afterwards," said Likness.
