4th of July Fireworks Guide

Get ready to celebrate Fourth of July 2011 in the Bay Area!

Here’s a list of over 100 different Fourth of July events (including 47 different places to watch fireworks) with listings for the major fireworks shows in San Francisco, Berkeley, Mountain View and San Jose, plus tons of smaller hometown festivals, fairs and fireworks shows throughout the Bay Area.

(List updated 7/2/11)

>>Did we miss an event? please let us know!

Major City Celebrations & Fireworks Shows in SF Bay Area | 2011

San Francisco Waterfront Fireworks	Berkeley Marina Fireworks	San Jose Fireworks Show	Mountain View Symphony & Fireworks	Richmond Symphony & Fireworks	Concord “The Flag” Variety Show & Fireworks

Fun “Small Town” Festivals & Events | 2011

Novato Vintage WWII Tank Parade	Half Moon Bay Food Trucks & Fireworks	Saratoga Costumed Old-Fashioned 4th of July	Martinez Parade & Waterfront Fireworks	Benicia Torchlight Parade & Kazoo Band	Russian River Water Carnival & Fireworks

List of 116 July 4th Events & Fireworks Shows | 2011

Fireworks, fairs, festivals, parades, concerts and more. All events take place on Monday, July 4, 2011 unless otherwise noted. Fireworks shows denoted in blue.

San Francisco | 2011

• Fisherman’s Wharf | San Francisco 4th of July Waterfront FIREWORKS Celebration – FREE
• -- Pier 45 | FIREWORKS viewing party aboard historic WWII Liberty Ship – $20
• – Pier 39 | Pre-fireworks live music & festivities – FREE
• – Ghirardelli Square | 4th of July Family Festival - FREE
• – The Cannery | no events scheduled for 2011
• Fisherman’s Wharf | 6 Hours of DJs, Free BBQ with view of FIREWORKS – FREE
• Dolores Park | SF Mime Troupe Opening Weekend Performance (July 2, 3, 4) – FREE
• Golden Gate Park | 50 Piece “Oompah” Band Patriotic Concert in the Park (July 3)- FREE (food for purchase)
• Golden Gate Park | Patriotic 4th of July Symphony Concert - FREE
• Inner Richmond | Free Hot Dog Day & Hot Dog Drawing Contest (July 3) – FREE
• Mission District | The Bay Bridged’s Big Time Freedom Music Festival – $8
• Potrero Hill | “Safe and Sane” Mini DIY Street FIREWORKS Show – FREE
• San Francisco | 7 Different San Francisco Guided Walking Tours in One Day - FREE
• Stern Grove | Indie Independence Day with Neko Case (July 3) – FREE
• Tendynob | Beatles Karaoke Night – FREE
  
• West Portal | Red, White & Bluegrass (July 2) – FREE
• All Over Bay Area | Free Fishing Day (No fishing license required) July 2 – FREE
• All Over Bay Area | AAA “Tipsy Tow” Free Car Tow Home Program – FREE

East Bay | 2011

• Alameda | Mayor’s 4th of July Parade & Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee Park Festival – FREE
• Alameda | Reds, Whites and Blues: Wine & Live Blues – FREE
• Albany | Green, Red White & Blue Celebration – FREE
• Antioch | 4th of July Parade – FREE (no fireworks for 2011)
  
• Benicia | Freedom Festival Torchlight Parade (July 3) – FREE
• Benicia | Picnic in the Park & 4th of July FIREWORKS – FREE
• Berkeley | 4th of July FIREWORKS & All Day Festival w/ free sailboat & dragon boat rides (1-6pm) – FREE
  
• Clayton | 4th of July Parade and Kiddieland – FREE
• Concord | 4th of July Jubilee, Festival & Parade traditionally with classic car show – FREE
• Concord | 23rd Annual “The Flag” Variety Show & FIREWORKS all three nights (July 2, 3, 4) FREE
• Danville | Kiwanis July 4th Parade – FREE
• El Cerrito | 14th Annual WorldOne Festival Live Music & Circus Acts – FREE
• Fremont | 4th of July Parade and Festival - FREE
• Fremont | Ardenwood Historic Farm Family Festival $8 adults/$5 kids
• Hayward | 4th of July Family Festival & Picnic – FREE
• Hercules | waterfront fireworks canceled for 2011 [details]
• Lafayette | A serene Buddhist 4th of July & Veggie Potluck – FREE
• Livermore | fireworks and festival in the park canceled for 2011 [details]
• Martinez | Hometown Celebration, Parade and Waterfront FIREWORKS – FREE
• Moraga | Dog Parade, Classic Car Show & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Oakland | “F*ck the Fourth” Anarchist Book Sale (July 8th) – FREE
• Oakland | 1911 Pardee Patriotic Picnic & Stereopticon Ice Cream Social - $15
• Oakland | Lake Merritt Music Festival & BBQ – FREE
• Oakland | Family Fun Festival in Jack London Square - FREE No fireworks for 2011
• Oakley | 12th Annual Cityhood Celebration & FIREWORKS (July 2) – FREE
• Orinda | 4th of July Parade & Celebration in the Park – FREE
• Piedmont | Small Town Dog Parade & Picnic in the Park – FREE
• Pleasant Hill | July 4th Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Pleasanton | Fourth of July Patriotic Concert & Picnic – FREE
• Pleasanton | Alameda County Fair FIREWORKS Show (July 1) - $10
• Richmond | FIREWORKS & Symphony Concert (July 3) – FREE
• Richmond | Waterfront Family Festival & FIREWORKS (July 3) – FREE
• San Pablo | Family Celebration & FIREWORKS show- FREE
• San Ramon | Red White & Blue Picnic & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Vacaville | Live Music & FIREWORKS – FREE

North Bay | 2011

• American Canyon | 4th of July Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Bodega Bay | 2nd of July FIREWORKS over the Bay (July 2) – FREE
• Calistoga | Silverado 4th of July Parade – FREE
  
• Calistoga | Napa County Fair & FIREWORKS – $10
  
• Cloverdale | Fourth of July FIREWORKS – FREE
  
• Corte Madera / Larkspur | 4th of July Parade & Celebration – FREE
• Glen Ellen | B.R. Cohn Winery Charity Car Classic (July 3) – FREE
• Healdsburg | American Legion FIREWORKS show – FREE
  
• Inverness | 104th Annual Foot Race & Family Fun – FREE (source: marinmommies)
• Kenwood | Old-Fashioned Hometown Parade – FREE
• Napa | Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Novato | Vintage Military & WWII Sherman Tank Parade – FREE
• Oakville | Mondavi Winery FIREWORKS Show – FREE (from outside grounds)
• Petaluma | Annual Bell Ringing Ceremony – FREE
  
• Petaluma | Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds FIREWORKS Festival – FREE
  
• Ross | July 4th Parade & Park Picnic – FREE
• Russian River | Water Carnival Boat Parade & FIREWORKS (July 2) – FREE
  
• Russian River | Monte Rio’s “Big Rocky Games” (July 2, 3) – FREE
  
• Russian River | Free Root Beer Float Day & Free Wine Tasting – FREE
• Russian River | Guerneville FIREWORKS show (July 3) – FREE
  
• San Rafael | Marin County Fair FIREWORKS – (June 30-July 4) – $17 Fair admission
  
• Santa Rosa | Red, White & Boom FIREWORKS – $7
• Sausalito | 4th of July Parade and FIREWORKS celebration – FREE
• Sebastopol | 3rd of July FIREWORKS Extravaganza Festival (July 3) – FREE
• Sleepy Hollow | Parade, Swimming & BBQ canceled for 2011
  
• Sonoma | July 4th Parade and Plaza Celebration - FREE
  
• Sonoma | General Vallejo’s Birthday & 4th of July FIREWORKS – FREE
  
• Suisun City | Solano County Waterfront FIREWORKS & Festival – FREE
• St. Helena | Louis M. Martini Winery FIREWORKS – FREE (from outside grounds)
• Vallejo | Great Vallejo Ducky Derby - FREE to watch ($5 to “adopt” a ducky)
• Vallejo | Six Flags FIREWORKS & All-you-can-eat Picnic (July 3, 4) – $52
• Vallejo | Parade, Symphony Celebration & FIREWORKS – FREE
  
• Windsor | Pre-4th of July FIREWORKS Festival (July 3) – FREE
• Woodacre | Independence Day Parade, Festival & Flea Market – FREE
• Yountville | Street Fair, Beatles Tribute & FIREWORKS - FREE

Peninsula | 2011

• Foster City | Dog Show, Parade & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Half Moon Bay | Food Trucks on the Fourth – (July 3, 4) – FREE
• Half Moon Bay | Waterfront FIREWORKS & Small Town 4th of July Parade – FREE
• Menlo Park | 4th of July Parade and Celebration – FREE
• Los Altos | 4th July Parade & Yankee Doodle Dancing - FREE
• Pacifica | 37th Annual Fourth of July Celebration – FREE
• Palo Alto | SJ Earthquakes MLS Soccer & FIREWORKS (July 2) $15
• Palo Alto | Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off Festival – FREE
• Redwood City | Annual Independence Day Parade & Festival – FREE
• Redwood City | Old Fashioned Fourth & Ice Cream Making Party – $2.50
  
• San Mateo | no 4th of july events for 2011
  

South Bay & Santa Cruz County | 2011

• Aptos | “The World’s Shortest Parade” & 4th of July Festival – FREE / Donation
• Cupertino | Children’s Parade & Concert in the Park – FREE
• Cupertino | Blackberry Farms Free Swimming Day & Free BBQ - FREE
• Cupertino | Fourth of July FIREWORKS Show – FREE
• Felton/Roaring Camp | Sock Hop and 50′s family 4th of July – FREE
• Gilroy | 4th of July High School FIREWORKS show – FREE
• Hollister | Kiddie Parade & FIREWORKS show – FREE
• Los Gatos | 4th of July Hometown Games & Picnic – FREE
• Milpitas | Red White and Blue Pool Party – $2
• Milpitas | Red White & Boom FIREWORKS Festival – $2
• Morgan Hill | Patriotic Sing & FreedomFest Street Dance (July 3) – FREE
• Morgan Hill | Silicon Valley Parade & FIREWORKS – FREE
• Mountain View | FIREWORKS Show with the San Francisco Symphony - $19.25
• Mountain View | “Celebrate America” Music Festival & FIREWORKS (July 3) – FREE
• San Jose | San Jose Giants Baseball & Post-Game FIREWORKS (July 4 & 5) – $10
• San Jose | San Jose Giants FIREWORKS Show – FREE to watch outside stadium
• San Jose | Alameda Rose, White and Blue Parade & Street Festival – FREE
• Santa Clara | All City Picnic - FREE (Fireworks canceled for 2011)
• Santa Clara | Great America FIREWORKS show (July 2, 3) – $36
  
• Santa Cruz | Old Fashioned Independence Day 1911 Celebration – FREE
• Saratoga | Costumed Festival & Free Popsicles – FREE
• Scotts Valley | Festival, Parade & FIREWORKS – $6/$8
• Sunnyvale | “State of the City” Celebration in the Park – FREE
• Watsonville | Spirit of Watsonville Parade & Downtown Festival - FREE

Road Trip!!! | 2011

• Big Bear Lake | Rotary FIREWORKS on the Lake – FREE
  
• Dixon | Old Fashioned July 4th Festival & FIREWORKS – FREE (source abc7)
  
• Fort Bragg | FIREWORKS on the bluffs (July 2) – FREE
• Mendocino | Kooky Hometown July 4th Parade & Festival – FREE
• Point Arena | Street Fair & FIREWORKS (July 3) – FREE
• North Lake Tahoe | Kings Beach FIREWORKS and Deck Party – (July 3) FREE to $10
• South Lake Tahoe | Lights on the Lake FIREWORKS – FREE
• Sacramento | Sacramento Independence Day Celebration & FIREWORKS- FREE
  
• Willits | Willits Frontier Days – Rodeo & Parade (July 2, 3, 4) – FREE
• Yosemite | Mairposa Fairgrounds Festival & FIREWORKS – $6

Our Disclaimer: We have done our best to confirm the details of each of the above events with at least one source (either the city itself, a newspaper, chamber of commerce, or a trusty website). But because there is always a rare chance that we have been given incorrect information, we do recommend you contact the city directly to confirm details before you head out to any event.

Did we miss an event? please let us know!