It's beginning to look very patriotic around here

Have you noticed the US flags going up all over town? Today is Flag Day, but it's for 4th of July. As you know, Coconut Grove's 4th of July is an old-fashioned day with plenty to do from morning to night.

It starts with the old-fashioned picnic at The Barnacle from 11 am to 4 pm and then moves along the village. There's the yearly Hot Dog Eating Contest at CocoWalk and then we have the Coconut Hunt, where painted coconuts are hidden around town and prizes are given to those who can find them.

The Chamber takes over late in the afternoon at Peacock Park where the day ends with spectacular fireworks and this year there is something new -- food trucks! The theme is Fireworks and Food Trucks. Included so far are CheeseMe Mobile, Dim Ssam a Gogo, Gastropod, Latin Burger and The Fish Box.

Live music will take over the stage with performances by The Ramblers Band, Pit Bull of Blues and Joel Zoss. There is a kids fun zone and the beer for the day is Samuel Adams -- very patriotic!

And there will be the Buskers and Fire Show and Cirque du Grove the two days before. A full weekend is planned!

Last year, we had Lucie and Desi Arnaz show up, who knows what will happen this year.

The 4th of July in Coconut Grove is the day that our tropical little village turns into a New England village for the day.