Celebrate the ‘Rockets’ Red Glare’ at SoCal’s Top July 4th Events

Families watch the Huntington Beach Independence Day Parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., on July 4, 2014. (Eric Zhang/The Epoch Times)

Los Angeles

Marina Del Rey

Marina Del Rey  is one of the best places to watch fireworks over the water. This 20-minute fireworks show will be visible from the Venice Pier, Playa Vista, and Dockweiler Beach. There will be synchronized music at nearby Burton Chace Park and Fisherman’s Village. Celebrations begin at 9 p.m.

Downtown

Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles will host its annual Fourth of July block party from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring art activities, games, live music, and food trucks. This celebration is free and all ages are welcome.

Orange County

Huntington Beach 

Huntington Beach’s 120th annual July Fourth parade, one of the largest celebrations in the country and the largest west of Mississippi, is expected to draw more than 500,000 people, according to the event website.

Huntington Beach Fire Department appears in the 119th Fourth of July Parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., on July 4, 2023. (Alex Lee/The Epoch Times)

Doris Zavala, a 104-year-old World War II veteran, appears in the 119th Fourth of July Parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., on July 4, 2023. (Sophie Li/The Epoch Times)

The parade, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon, will begin at Pacific Coast Highway and 8th Street, go past the Huntington Beach Pier, and proceed on Main Street and end near Clay Avenue. It will also be live-streamed on ABC7. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.

Also in Huntington Beach, the Pier Plaza Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. the entire week leading up to July 4 on Thursday. There will be music and live entertainment, carnival rides and crafts, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden.

San Diego County

Coronado

Coronado Island’s 75th annual Independence Day Parade is one of the most celebrated in San Diego County. It’s a full day of fun with the parade beginning at 10 a.m. at Orange Avenue. Public concerts at Spreckels Park will follow, with fireworks concluding the celebration at 9 p.m. The parade will also be live-streamed on YouTube.

2022 Independence Day parade in Coronado, San Diego County. (NTD Television)

San Diego Bay

San Diego’s Big Bay Boom is one of the most popular and largest Independence Day fireworks displays on the West Coast, with Yelp ranking it the second-best place to watch fireworks in the country. It’s expected to draw 500,000 spectators to the Bay Area. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. and can be seen anywhere along central San Diego’s bay including Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Embarcadero district, and Coronado Landing.