Celebrate this year’s Fourth of July with a bang at one of the many celebrations planned for around the Bay Area. From firework and drone shows to parades and family-friendly festivals, there are a myriad of options for how to celebrate on Friday.
South Bay:
Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival: San Jose, July 4, 9:45 a.m. The 18th annual parade and festival will feature a car cruise, a parade and a festival with performances and Lucha Libre matches. Miss Sweet Nothing will be the parade emcee. Free.
Shoreline Lake Fireworks Show: Mountain View, July 4. The lake will be putting on a fireworks show at the lake that can be viewed from boats on the lake in a special extension of boating hours. The Boathouse and American Bistro at Shoreline Lake are offering patrons the ability to rent pedalboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards to watch the fireworks on the water. The on-the-water viewing reservations, which can be made online, will be complete with a BBQ dinner served from 6 – 8 p.m.
Star-Spangled Nights at Six Flags and Great America: July 3-4. Both theme parks are offering festive Fourth of July celebrations to light up the night sky. At 9:15 p.m., Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will feature a drone show with 200 drones synced to music. California’s Great America is partnering with Santa Clara to launch a red, white and blue fireworks show at 9:40 p.m. each night.
4th of July Celebration at Mission College: Santa Clara, July 4, 5 – 10 p.m. The Great America fireworks show can also be viewed from Mission College at 3000 Mission College Blvd. The event will be complete with food trucks, family-friendly lawn games and live entertainment.
Morgan Hill Freedom Fest Parade and Fireworks on the Green: July 4. Morgan Hill will host its annual 4th of July parade celebrating 150 years beginning at 10 a.m. The parade will be followed by an evening fireworks show at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center. Entry to the fireworks show will end at 9 p.m.
Gilroy’s Annual Fireworks Show: July 4, 9:30 p.m. Gilroy will be launching fireworks from Gilroy High School which can be viewed at Christmas Hill Park and other surrounding neighborhoods.
Scotts Valley Fourth of July Parade: July 4, 11 a.m. The City of Scotts Valley will host its annual Fourth of July parade. The parade will move down Scotts Valley Drive from Carbonero Way to El Pueblo Road then back to Civic Center Drive.
East Bay:
Pleasant Hill Fun Run and Parade: Pleasant Hill, July 4. The events will begin at 7:45 a.m. with a Firecracker 5k and kids 100 yard fun run in Pleasant Hill’s Downtown, followed by a parade downtown and party at Pleasant Hill Park. Events will pick up again in the evening with a fireworks viewing party at College Park High School featuring food trucks and music.
Danville 4th of July Parade: July 4, 9 a.m. The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley and Town of Danville are hosting the 50th annual parade, which often features more than 125 parade entries and 40,000 viewers. This year’s theme will be “Celebrating 50 years of Community Service,” and the parade Grand Marshal will be representatives from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. The parade begins at San Ramon Valley High School and goes along Hartz Avenue to Town and Country Drive.
Martinez Fourth of July Fireworks: July 4, 9:30 p.m. Martinez is hosting a fireworks show at Radke Martinez Shoreline where fireworks will be launched over the city’s waterfront. Free parking for the fireworks will be available downtown.
Concord 4th of July Celebration: July 4. Concord will be hosting events all day to celebrate Independence Day, starting with a Stars & Stripes Kids Fun Run and Rotary Pancake Breakfast at 8 a.m. at Todos Santos Plaza. The Independence Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Events pick up again in the evening with a festival at Mt. Diablo High School at 4 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.
Run San Ramon Independence Day: San Ramon, July 4, 7:30 a.m. The 40th annual San Ramon Fastest Mile and 5K/10K will begin at the San Ramon Community Center. Runners will receive a t-shirt, bib and participation medal and be met with free refreshments after the race.
San Ramon Independence Day Celebration Concert: San Ramon, July 4, 5 p.m. This concert celebration at Central Park Amphitheater will feature performer Billy Nation, a Billy Joel concert experience.
Moraga Fourth of July Celebration: July 4. Beginning with a dog parade at 11 a.m. and featuring community booths, inflatable jumpies and family-friendly games and activities, the day of celebration will also feature a fireworks spectacular at 9:30 p.m.
Antioch Fourth of July Celebration: July 4, 4 p.m. Waldie Plaza will feature live entertainment and food vendors, and a game zone will be set up next to City Hall ahead of the fireworks show after dusk.
San Pablo 4th of July Multicultural Celebration: July 4, 5 p.m. The city of San Pablo is putting on this event featuring carnival games, live entertainment, food, a drone show and more at the San Pablo Community Center.
Alameda 4th of July Parade: July 4, The Alameda Parade, which is the longest in the country with a length of 3.3 miles, will begin at 10 a.m. and feature 2,500 participants and 60,000 spectators. The parade will include everything from floats and antique cars to marching bands and dance groups.
Richmond Rosie the Riveter Trust Fireworks: July 3, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., The Rosie the Riveter Trust will present fireworks at the Richmond Waterfront in support of national parks.
Peninsula:
Half Moon Bay’s Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade: July 4. The parade will be hosting its 54th year on Main Street, complete with a pancake breakfast at City Hall, a Fourth of July Festival featuring live music and vendors and a parade of floats, marching bands and hoseback riders. The parade begins at 12 p.m., but other festivities start earlier in the morning.
Redwood City Fourth of July Celebration: July 4. Redwood City will host a parade and festival to celebrate Independence Day. This year’s parade will follow the theme of “Celebrate California.” The festival will be complete with arts and crafts and food stalls.
Foster City Fourth of July Celebration: July 4, 8:30 a.m. Hosted at Leo Ryan Park, this year’s celebration will feature a parade of families and dogs, food and games. This year’s event will not have a fireworks show.
Originally Published: