ORANGE PARK – Moosehaven and the Town of Orange Park hosted its Fourth of July celebration Monday night, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 6 p.m. crowds streamed into the riverfront property as event-goers sought food, live music to listen to and spots to place their chairs.

Moosehaven Executive Director Helen Taylor called the event the heart of the community, where the organization partnered with Orange Park, Gordon Chevrolet and other sponsors. Organizers had several chapters of Moose International in town through a previous event and that helped to set up a larger seating area with tents.

“For the last two years we couldn’t do it because of COVID-19,” Taylor said. “This year, we expected it to be big because people were ready for it.”

Fireworks ceremonies aren’t hard only because of the pandemic, but of the incredible rise in prices, she said. The cost of fireworks increased by about $20,000. A company brought a barge from Jacksonville and shot off their fireworks around 9 p.m.

“That was a challenge,” Taylor said. “The 18-minute fireworks show is the same, we didn’t back up from what we did before.”

Samantha Taylor, no relation, came from near Callahan.

“(The event) is family-oriented for younger people. I like it,” she said. “We’re trying to get off our phones.”

Moosehaven resident S.D. Broder Sr. and his daughter S.D. Broder Jr. said the elder lived at Moosehaven for just more than a year. He said Moosehaven events are high quality and spotless.

He said people should be proud of where they’re from.

“We believe in the constitution. We believe in the flag,” Broder Sr. said. “Everyone should have rights and the federal government should not be allowed to take rights away. … Nobody in my family ever said I should put something in front of my name, like ‘I am blah-blah-dash American.’ I was always told I was an American.”

Broder Jr. emphasized the chance to honor what she called the greatest country in the world.

“I love it, this is the U.S.A. We’re No. 1,” Broder Jr. said.

Corinthia Thoms sat on a blanket with her family. Local to Orange Park, this was her first time at Moosehaven for the July 4th celebration, she said. The event was something she didn’t have to travel far to Duval or St. Johns counties.

“You don’t have to go downtown,” Thoms said. “It’s a nice family atmosphere.”

Sheryl Hunter and Shelley Finn were waiting in line. It was Hunter’s first Moosehaven-related July 4, she said. They enjoyed the breeze by the water and the band.

“It’s about veterans, it’s about the holiday,” Hunter said. “I used to live on the water and would watch it from home. It’s nice.”