7 Unusual Ways To Celebrate July 4th in the Bay Area | 2010

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Fourth of July fireworks spectaculars set to patriotic music? yawn…  Annual small town parades with children waving flags? booooring… America turns 234 this year and her age is starting to show with the same July 4th events every year and in every town. So why not celebrate a little differently? Unsurprisingly, the San Francisco Bay Area has tons of strange, interesting and unique ways to celebrate our nation’s birthday in 2010.

A Michael Jackson Tribute to America | San Pablo
Wacko might be dearly departed, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still live on and do weird things. A totally serious Micheal Jackson impersonator named “ICON” will put on an hour-long tribute concert in San Pablo sandwiched between a rock group made up of 12 year old girls and a small-town fireworks show.
– Sunday, July 4 – 3:00 pm | Cost: FREE | El Portal Soccer Field, San Pablo

4th annual Hot Dog Drawing Contest & Free Hot Dog Day | Inner Richmond
A quirky shoebox-sized art gallery in the Inner Richmond hosts its 4th annual Hot Dog Drawing Contest for both kids and adults . At the same time it’s Beef vs. Veggie in the  “Free Hot Dog Day” giveaway showdown.  –  Sunday, July 4 – 1:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Frankenart Mart, Inner Richmond, SF

“Safe and Sane” Mini Fireworks Street Show | Potrero Hill
An informal July 4th Fireworks show in the street (sparklers, cones, whistlers, flowers, etc…)  accompanied by patriotic John Philip Sousa music from speakers awkwardly hung out of Farley’s windows.
– Sunday, July 4 – 9:00 pm | Cost: FREE | 18th Street (btwn Missouri & Texas) Potrero Hill

Party like it’s 1910 | Oakland
This IS your grandmother’s picnic. This historic Pardee Home Museum in downtown Oakland hosts a 1910-themed costumed patriotic picnic and stereopticon Ice Cream social. Ragtime music, huge fancy hats and make your own ice cream.
– Sunday, July 4 – 12:00 pm | Cost: $10 in fancy dress, $12 in 2010 clothes | Pardee Home Museum, Oakland

Catch Radioactive Fish Without a License | SF Bay Area
Who knows what kind of toxic sludge is floating in the Bay, and today you test out your rarely used geiger counter and cheaply find out what it will do to your intestines as the California Dept. of Fish and Game gives you a one-day free pass so you can fish any freshwater lake without a fishing license.  Fish off  Pier 7, Fort Baker Pier, in Lake Merced, Alameda and dozens of other locations all over the Bay Area.
– Sunday, July 4 – All Day | Cost: FREE

Get Drunk and Have Someone Tow You Home FREE | SF Bay Area
If you drink a bit too much on July 4th you can call AAA to take part of their “Tipsy Tow” program. From 6pm July 4, 2010 to 6am the next morning anyone can call AAA (members and non-members) and get a courtesy tow back to your home, as long as it’s within five miles.
– Sunday, July 4 – 6:00 pm to 6:00am | Cost: FREE | Northern California, Nevada, Utah

See a World War II Invasion of a Small Marin County Town| NovatoEvery parade has festive floats, bands and kids waving flags, but how many have an actual working Sherman Tank from World War II tearing up the streets? Novato’s annual July 4th parade features an assortment of  vintage military vehicles on parade on loan from the nearby World War II Military Vehicle Museum.
– Sunday, July 4 – 11:00 am | Cost: FREE | Old Town District of Novato

What’s your favorite odd way to celebrate? Leave a comment below!

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.