4th of July Fireworks Guide | 2012

Get ready to celebrate Fourth of July 2012 in the Bay Area!

Here’s a list of over 140 different Fourth of July events (including 63 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 and a few fun road trips.

(List updated 7/3/12)

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

Major City Celebrations & Fireworks Shows in SF Bay Area | 2012

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 | 2012

Novato Vintage WWII Tank Parade	Lafayette Buddhist Veggie 4th of July Party	Saratoga Costumed Old-Fashioned 4th of July	Martinez Parade & Waterfront Fireworks	San Francisco Hot Dog Drawing Contest	Russian River Water Carnival & Fireworks

List of 141 July 4th Events & Fireworks Shows | 2012

Fireworks, fairs, festivals, parades, concerts and more. All events take place on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 unless otherwise noted. Fireworks shows denoted in blue.

San Francisco | 2012

• Fisherman’s Wharf | San Francisco 4th of July  FIREWORKS Celebration – 2012 – FREE
• –– Pier 45 | FIREWORKS viewing party aboard historic WWII Liberty Ship – 2012 – FREE – $25
• — Pier 39 | Pre-fireworks live music & festivities – 2012- FREE
• — Ghirardelli Square | 4th of July Family Festival – 2012 – FREE
• — Aquatic Park | U2 Tribute with Zoo Station – 2012 – FREE
  
• — The Cannery | no events scheduled for 2012
• Angel Island | FIREWORKS viewing party – 2012 – $22
• Castro | GLBT Free Museum Day – 2012 – FREE
• Embarcadero | 4th of July FIREWORKS Roller Disco Party – 2012 – FREE
• Dolores Park | SF Mime Troupe Opening Weekend Performance (July 4, 7, 8) – 2012 -FREE
• Golden Gate Park | 4th of July Roller Skate Party & BBQ – 2012 – FREE
• Golden Gate Park | 50 Piece “Oompah” Band Patriotic Concert in the Park (July 1) – 2012 – FREE (food for purchase)
• Golden Gate Park | Patriotic 4th of July Symphony Concert – 2012 – FREE
• Hayes Valley | Interdependence Day at Hayes Valley Farm – 2012 – FREE
• Inner Richmond | Free Hot Dog Day & Hot Dog Drawing Contest (July 4) – 2012 – FREE
• Marina | Free Museum Day at Exploratorium – 2012 – FREE
• Mission District | The Bay Bridged’s Big Time Freedom Music Festival – 2012 – $8
• Mission District | Red Hots Burlesque Show – 2012 – $5
• Mission Terrace | Annual Neighborhood 4th of July Parade & BBQ – 2012 – FREE
• Polk Gulch | Independence Day FREE BBQ Block Party – 2012 – FREE
• Potrero Hill | “Safe and Sane” Mini DIY Street FIREWORKS Show – 2012 – FREE
• San Francisco | 8 Different San Francisco Guided Walking Tours in One Day – 2012 – FREE
• SoMa | FIREWORKS Cruise with Open Bar – 2012 – 40% Off Tickets
• Union Square | Free Swing Concert in the Park (Noon) – 2012 – FREE
• Union Square | Tango in the Square (6pm) – 2012 – FREE
• West Portal | Red, White & Bluegrass | no free concert for 2012
• All Over Bay Area | Free Fishing Day (No fishing license required) July 7 – 2012 – FREE
• All Over Bay Area | AAA “Tipsy Tow” Free Car Tow Home Program – 2012 -FREE
• San Francisco | 4th of July 2012 Parking Rules: How not to get a parking ticket

East Bay | 2012

• Alameda | Mayor’s 4th of July Parade & Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee Park Festival -2012- FREE
• Alameda | Reds, Whites and Blues: Wine & Live Blues – canceled for 2012
• Alameda | John Lee Hooker Jr. Outdoor Concert – 2012 – FREE
• Albany | Beard & Mustache Competition & July 4th Celebration -2012- FREE
• Antioch | Riverfront FIREWORKS & Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Benicia | “Freedom Festival” Torchlight Parade (July 3) – 2012- FREE
• Benicia | Picnic in the Park & Waterfront FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Berkeley | 4th of July FIREWORKS & All Day Festival -2012- FREE
  
• Berkeley | Off the Grid Food Truck Party – 2012 – FREE
• Brentwood | 4th of July at the Streets Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Clayton | 4th of July Parade and Kiddieland – 2012-FREE
• Concord | 4th of July Jubilee & Parade– 2012- FREE
• Concord |  “The Flag” Variety Show & FIREWORKS (July 2, 3, 4)– 2012- FREE
• Danville | July 4th Parade -2012- FREE
• El Cerrito | World Music & Circus Festival -2012- FREE
• Fremont | 4th of July Parade -2012- FREE
• Fremont | Ardenwood Historic Farm Family Festival-2012- $8
• Hayward | 4th of July Family Festival & Picnic -2012- FREE
• Hercules | fireworks canceled for 2012
• Lafayette | Buddhist 4th of July Veggie Potluck -2012- FREE
• Livermore | 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks–  2012- $5
• Martinez | Hometown Celebration, Parade  & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Moraga | Dog Parade, Classic Car Show & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Oakland | “F*ck the Fourth” Anarchist Book Sale (July 8th) – 2012 – FREE
• Oakland | 1912 Old-Timey Patriotic Picnic – 2012 – $15
• Oakland | Lake Merritt Music Festival & BBQ – canceled for 2012
• Oakland | Jack London Square July 4th Festival – 2012 – FREE – No fireworks for 2012
• Oakley | Cityhood Celebration & FIREWORKS (July 7) – 2012 – FREE
• Orinda | 4th of July Parade & Celebration in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Piedmont | Small Town Dog Parade & Picnic in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Port Costa | Evening July 4th Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Pleasant Hill | July 4th Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Pleasanton | Fourth of July Patriotic Concert & Picnic – 2012 – FREE
• Pleasanton | Alameda County Fair FIREWORKS Show (July 6) – 2012 –  $10
• Richmond | FIREWORKS & Symphony Concert (July 3) – 2012 – FREE
• Richmond | Waterfront Family Festival & FIREWORKS (July 3) – 2012 -FREE
• San Pablo | Rolling Stones Tribute & FIREWORKS show – 2012 -FREE
• San Ramon | Celebrate America Festival in the Park – 2012 – FREE –  no fireworks for 2012

North Bay | 2012

• American Canyon | 4th of July Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012- FREE
• Bolinas | Bolinas vs. Stinson Beach Tug-of-War Battle – 2012 – FREE
• Bodega Bay | 1st of July FIREWORKS over the Bay (July 1) – 2012- FREE
• Calistoga | Silverado 4th of July Parade  – 2012- FREE
  
• Calistoga | Napa County Fair & FIREWORKS (July 1-4) – 2012- $10
• Cloverdale | Fourth of July FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Corte Madera / Larkspur | 4th of July Parade & Celebration – 2012- FREE
• Fairfield | 4th of July Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Glen Ellen | Sonoma Winery Charity Car Classic (July 1) – 2012- FREE
• Healdsburg | Rotary Club FIREWORKS Show -2012- FREE
  
• Homestead Valley | 4th of July Picnic & Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Inverness | 4th of July Foot Races & Festivities -2012- FREE 
• Kenwood | Old-Fashioned Hometown Parade -2012- FREE
• Napa | Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Novato | Vintage Military & WWII Sherman Tank Parade –  2012- FREE
• Oakville | Mondavi Winery FIREWORKS Show (June 30) -2012- FREE (from outside grounds)
• Petaluma | Annual Bell Ringing Ceremony – 2012 FREE
  
• Petaluma | Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds FIREWORKS Festival – 2012- FREE
  
• Ross | July 4th Parade & Picnic -2012- FREE
• Rhonert Park | 4th of July in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Russian River | Water Carnival & FIREWORKS (June 30 & July 1) – 2012- FREE
  
• Russian River | Monte Rio’s “Big Rocky Games“ (June 30 & July 1) -2012- FREE
• Russian River | Guerneville Independence Day Block Party & FIREWORKS (July 1) -2012- FREE
  
• San Rafael | Marin County Fair FIREWORKS – (June 30-July 4) – 2012- $16
  
• Santa Rosa | Red, White & Boom FIREWORKS -2012- $7
• Sausalito | 4th of July Parade & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
• Sebastopol | 3rd of July FIREWORKS Extravaganza Festival (July 3) -2012- $8
• Sleepy Hollow | 4th of July Parade – 2012 – FREE
  
• Sonoma | July 4th Parade and Plaza Celebration – 2012- FREE
  
• Sonoma | General Vallejo’s Birthday & 4th of July FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
  
• Suisun City | Solano County Waterfront FIREWORKS & Celebration -2012- FREE
• St. Helena | Louis M. Martini Winery FIREWORKS –  2012- FREE (from outside grounds)
• Vacaville | Journey Tribute & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Vallejo | Great Vallejo Ducky Derby – canceled for 2012
• Vallejo | Six Flags FIREWORKS & Concert– 2012 – $37.99
• Vallejo | Parade, Symphony Celebration & FIREWORKS -2012- FREE
  
• Windsor | Pre-4th of July FIREWORKS Festival (July 3) – 2012- $3
• Woodacre | 4th of July Parade & Sack Races – 2012 – FREE
• Yountville | Street Fair, Concert & FIREWORKS – 2012- FREE

Peninsula | 2012

• Foster City | Dog Show, Parade & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Half Moon Bay | Food Trucks on the Fourth – canceled for 2012
• Half Moon Bay | Waterfront Small Town 4th of July Parade – 2012 FREE – no fireworks for 2012
• Menlo Park | 4th of July Parade and Celebration – 2012 – FREE
• Los Altos | Glorious 4th of July Park Party – 2012 – FREE
• Los Altos Hills | 4th July Scooter & Skateboard Parade – 2012 – FREE
• Pacifica | 38th Annual Fourth of July Celebration –  2012 – FREE
• Palo Alto | SJ Earthquakes MLS Soccer & FIREWORKS (June 30) – 2012 – $15
• Palo Alto | Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off Festival – 2012 – FREE
• Redwood City | Independence Day Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012 -FREE
• Redwood City | Old Fashioned Fourth & Ice Cream Making Party – 2012 – $2.50
  
• San Mateo | no 4th of july events for 2012
  

South Bay & Santa Cruz County | 2012

• Aptos | World’s Shortest Parade – 2012 – FREE / Donation
• Cupertino | Children’s Parade & Concert in the Park – 2012 – FREE
• Cupertino | Blackberry Farms Free Swimming Day – 2012 – FREE
• Cupertino | Fourth of July FIREWORKS Show – 2012 – FREE
• Felton/Roaring Camp | Sock Hop and 50’s family 4th of July – 2012 – FREE
• Gilroy | 4th of July High School FIREWORKS show – 2012 -FREE
• Hollister | Kiddie Parade & FIREWORKS show – 2012 – FREE
• Los Gatos | 4th of July Hometown Games & Picnic – 2012 – FREE
• Milpitas | Red White and Blue Pool Party – 2012 – $2
• Milpitas | Red White & Boom FIREWORKS Festival – 2012 –  $3
• Morgan Hill | Patriotic Sing & Music Fest  (July 3) – 2012 – FREE
• Morgan Hill | Silicon Valley Parade & FIREWORKS –  2012 – FREE
• Mountain View | FIREWORKS Show with the San Francisco Symphony – 2012 –  $19.25
• Mountain View | “Celebrate America” Music Festival & FIREWORKS (June 30) – 2012 – FREE
• San Jose | San Jose Giants Baseball & Post-Game FIREWORKS (July 4 & 5) – 2012 – $10
• San Jose | San Jose Giants FIREWORKS Show – 2012 – FREE to watch outside stadium
• San Jose | Alameda Rose, White and Blue Parade & Street Festival – 2012 -FREE
• San Jose | Santana Row Summer Block Party – 2012 – FREE
• Santa Clara | All City Picnic – 2012 – FREE (Fireworks canceled for 2012)
• Santa Clara | Great America FIREWORKS show (June 30, July 1,7) – $47
  
• Santa Cruz / Wilder Ranch | Old Fashioned Independence Day 1912 Celebration – 2012 – FREE
• Saratoga | Costumed Festival & Free Popsicles – 2012 – FREE
• Scotts Valley | Festival, Parade & FIREWORKS – 2012 – $6/$8
• Sunnyvale | “State of the City” Celebration in the Park – takes place August 26, 2012 – FREE
• Watsonville | Spirit of Watsonville Parade & Downtown Festival – 2012 – FREE

Road Trip!!! | 2012

• Big Bear Lake | Rotary FIREWORKS on the Lake – 2012 – FREE
  
• Carmichael | 54th Annual Parade & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Dixon | Rotary Club FIREWORKS at Hall Park (no festival for 2012, but there are fireworks) – FREE
  
• Elk Grove | Red White & Blue Picnic & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Fort Bragg | FIREWORKS on the bluffs (July 7) 2012 – FREE
• Mendocino | Kooky Hometown July 4th Parade & Festival – 2012 – FREE
• Point Arena | Street Fair & FIREWORKS (July 7) – 2012 – FREE
• North Lake Tahoe | Kings Beach FIREWORKS and Deck Party – (July 3) FREE to $12
• South Lake Tahoe | Lights on the Lake FIREWORKS –  2012 – FREE
• Rancho Cordova | Parade, Carnival, Concert & FIREWORKS – (July 3 &4) 2012 – FREE
• Roseville | Parade, Pops Concert & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
• Sacramento | Independence Day Celebration & FIREWORKS – 2012 – FREE
  
• Willits | Willits Frontier Days & Parade (July 1, 3, 4) – 2012 – FREE / $12
• Yosemite | Mairposa Fairgrounds Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012 – $6
• Stockton | MLB Baseball Clinic, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2012 -$5
• Stockton Delta | Hilton July FIREWORKS On the Water (July 3) – 2012 – FREE

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!