Saturday’s Independence Day marks a large milestone as America’s 250th birthday, and its most populous state, California, will feature major celebrations and events all around the state.
For Golden State residents or tourists still deciding where to spend their Fourth or holiday weekend, here are some of the largest events statewide.
Northern California
South Lake Tahoe is holding two events—the first is a parade from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that shuts down Highway 50 in the morning and features floats, music, and displays “that reflect America’s story.” Beginning at 9:45 p.m., a large fireworks display called the “Lights on the Lake Fireworks” is set to light up the south shore.
San Francisco will hold its annual fireworks display at 9:30 p.m., launching barges from Pier 39 and Aquatic Park, and—for only the third time in the Golden Gate Bridge’s 90-year history—a separate fireworks display will be launched directly from the bridge.
Santa Clara’s California’s Great America, which is facing a potential shutdown in the near future, will light up Silicon Valley’s sky with a fireworks show on Friday and Saturday at 9:40 p.m., accompanied by a special barbecue menu.
Morgan Hill is hosting its annual freedom fest that features a variety of events throughout the day—a parade, a patriotic sing by veterans and a children’s choir, a family music fest, a five-kilometer “freedom run,” a fireworks show, and an essay contest for young students.
Southern California
Los Angeles’s famous Hollywood Bowl amphitheater will host a three-day event from Thursday to Saturday featuring performances by The Beach Boys and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, as well as a display of fireworks.
Marina Del Rey, the small harbor community, will hold a 20-minute fireworks display over the water beginning at 9 p.m., which will be shot from near the main channel in the marina.
Catalina Island hosted a celebration on Friday at Two Harbors featuring a children’s festival at Buffalo Park from 10 a.m. to noon, a parade at Isthmus Cove Pier from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and a fireworks display at Isthmus Cove at 9 p.m. On Saturday, Avalon will host the events—a golf cart parade on Crescent Ave at 1 p.m. and a Dinghy Parade around Avalon Bay at 3:30 p.m., as well as a USC Trojan marching band concert at Catalina Casino at 7:30 p.m. and a cruise and fireworks show at Avalon Harbor at 9 p.m.
Huntington Beach will host its annual parade, which it calls the biggest Fourth of July parade west of the Mississippi River, beginning at 10 a.m. The parade starts from Pacific Coast Highway, goes past the Huntington Beach Pier, and onto Main Street. The city, known as Surf City USA, will also have different 5-kilometer runs in the morning and fireworks shot off over the ocean at 9 p.m.
Newport Beach’s “Fireworks Extravaganza,” co-hosted by the city, will begin at 9 p.m. at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina. Mariners Park will host a family bike parade from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the American Legion Yacht Club will host its Old Glory Boat Parade from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Newport Beach Harbor. Balboa Peninsula will also have its own bike parade and festival in the morning.
San Diego will have its Big Bay Boom fireworks show, which it calls the largest in the state, displayed from four barges in San Diego Bay at 9:15 p.m. The best locations to watch include Shelter Island, Harbor Island, and Coronado Ferry Landing.
