Freedom Swim July 4, 2025

TIME: This year’s Freedom Swim will start at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4, 2025. Discussion with swimmers before the start will occur at 2:50 p.m.

ROUTE: The 2025 Freedom Swim will start from Live Oak Point. Swimmers are to gather in the water offshore of the public beach and Riverwalk boardwalk at the northwest side of the north end of the northbound U. S. 41 Bridge. Swimmers will paddle, swim, or float to the channel and across the Peace River towards the landing site at Welcome Beach, Gilchrist Park, exiting the water at Welcome Beach, next to the now-empty site formerly occupied by Hurricane Charley’s . The crossing is estimated to take 40 minutes to 3 hours.

There will be no Trolley Service; there will be no land access to the starting point As always this is intended to be a happening rather than a race. Although there will be numerous vessels escorting the swimmers across the river, each swimmer is responsible for their own safety and their own support team. Swim with a buddy, it’s safer and more fun.

Various governmental agencies will be on the water. Vessels will be required to operate at idle speed in the Peace River Channel from the U. S. 41 Bridge to Marker Number 2 while swimmers are in the Channel. Boating safety is not an accident.