Hey it's the Fourth of July in Punta Gorda Let's All Jump in the River

Hey it's Punta Gorda on the 4th of July -- and what do Punta Gordans do -- jump in the river?  Or not. Or maybe float across.  Or maybe  just watch from the bridge or Fishville as hundreds cross the Peace River in the annual Freedom Swim.   The trick I'm told by many oldtimers -- who used to do it -- is to cross the river close to the bridge and then let the tide carry you to Fishermen's.  Inaugurated in 1991 by a group of locals, Michael Haymans, Frank Desquin et al, who were emulating a ritual that Frank's father and friends engaged in every year, the Swim has become a 4th of July tradition.  

If you go, the swim starts at 11 a.m. on the north side of the southbound U.S. 41 bridge and ends at Harpoon Harry's at Fisherman's Village.  Parking is available at the east side of the northbound bridge.  Go under the bridge to cross to the starting point.  The Green Hibiscus Trolley provides transport between the Village and the starting point between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.  If you prefer to watch, you can do so from the southbound bridge or better still get to Harpoon's early and greet the swimmers as they climb out of the Peace.

On the Fourth It's Time to Jump in the Peace River

It's the 4th of July, time for us to jump in the Peace River, or not.  This is what many Charlotte County folks and others, who come from close and afar to join them, do on the Fourth of July and have been doing for over 20 years.

Michael Haymans, a local attorney, and friends started this annual quirky event, the "Freedom Swim", in 1991 and participants have been bobbing, floating, paddling, and doing what it takes to stay a float on the 4th in the Peace River ever since. Haymans, Frank Desquin and the late Sandy MacGibbon are credited with the notion of swimming the river based on the rite of passage for local youth.  Desquin's father, Victor, is said to have sparked the idea by his stories about swimming the river in the 40s.  Haymans has even written a song about it, which he sometimes croons on a Guitar Army Thursday at Gilchrist Park.

The swim, always loosely organized, has been described by its founder as a "happening." Each year hundreds brave the waters, some swimming, some floating, some paddling, many clinking to noodles or rafts carrying signs. Not intended as a contest of who makes their way across the river from Charlotte Harbor to Fishermen's Village (approximately 1.5 miles ) first, but more a leisurely fun swim or float to celebrate the day. Participants don red, white and blue suits, or not, wear patriotic hats.

While the annual jump into the river can be a fun event, many have voiced concerns about safety. Even though boats from local public safety agencies and privately owned chase boats cross the river with the medley of aquatic adventurers carrying water and ready to drag fatigued swimmers from the waterway, it's still swim or float at your own risk.  Organizers do strongly recommend making the crossing with a buddy.  Swimmers should also slab on the sunscreen, and keep drinking water to avoid dehydration.

This year's  "Freedom Swim" is set to start at  2:00 pm at the beach near Gilchrist Bridge in Charlotte Harbor (north end of the southbound U.S. 41 bridge),. It is recommended participants be at the starting point no later than 1:30 p.m. The Green Hibiscus Trolley will provide transportation between Fishermen’s Village and the Swim starting point beginning at 12 Noon.   Personally, I'll be either at Harry's cheering more valiant souls on.

But to quote a verse from Mr. Hayman's song:

"If you’re ready for some freedom
Come the Fourth of July
Charlotte Harbor to Punta Gorda
We’re swimming on the tide."

Fourth of July Starts with a Splash In Punta Gorda

As people lined up on both shores of the Peace River in Punta Gorda this Fourth of July, the river came alive with swimmers, boats, paddlers, kayaks, surf boats, rafts and just about anything that would float and help get the determined crossers from Charlotte Harbor to Fishermen's Village  for the 19th Annual Freedom Swim.

Here's a slideshow of some of the highlights:

Let's all Jump in the Peace River -- Hey it's Punta Gorda and it's the Fourth of July

Hey, it's the 4th of July, let's all jump in the Peace River, or not. Well, that is what many Charlotte County folks and others, who come from close and afar to join them, do on the Fourth of July and have been doing for almost 20 years.

Michael Haymans, a Punta Gorda attorney, and friends started this Annual quirky event, the "Freedom Swim", in 1991 and participants have been bobbing, floating, paddling, and doing what it takes to stay a float on the 4th in the Peace River ever since. Haymans, Frank Desquin and Sandy MacGibbon are credited with the notion of swimming the river based on the rite of passage for local youth. Desquin's father, Victor, is said to have sparked the idea by descriptions of swimming the river in the 40s. Now in it's 19th year, Haymans has even written a song about it, which he recently crooned on a Guitar Army Thursday at Gilchrist Park. (Lyrics can be found at www.tarponalumni.com/PoetryMusic/FreedomSwim.htm.)


The swim, always loosely organized, has been described by its founder as a "happening." Last year, it was estimated that almost 500 braved the waters, about 200 swimming, some floating, some paddling, many clinking to noodles or rafts carrying signs. Not intended as a contest of who makes their way across the river from Charlotte Harbor to Fishermen's Village (approximately 1.5 miles ) first, but more a leisurely fun swim or float to celebrate the day. Participants don red, white and blue suits, or not, wear patriotic hats

While the annual jump into the river can be a fun event, many have voiced concerns about safety. Even though boats from local public safety agencies and privately owned chase boats cross the river with the medley of aquatic adventurers carrying water and ready to drag fatigued swimmers from the waterway, it's still swim or float at your own risk. Reports from local police agencies indicate that over 100 swimmers had to be pulled from the river last year. Organizers do strongly recommend making the crossing with a buddy, as well as a chase boat noting also that safety is the responsibility of each swimmer. Swimmers should also slab on the sunscreen, and keep drinking water to avoid dehydration.

This year's 19th "Freedom Swim" is set to start at 11 a.m at the beach near Gilchrist Bridge in Charlotte Harbor (north end of the southbound U.S. 41 bridge, call 941-661-5622 for more information). I'm afraid I chose not to dive in, I'll be either at Harry's or somewhere near shore cheering more valiant souls on.

But to quote a verse from Mr. Hayman's song:

"If you’re ready for some freedom
Come the Fourth of July
Charlotte Harbor to Punta Gorda
We’re swimming on the tide."