Small Town 4th of July

Sure there’s the big fireworks shows in Berkeley, San Francisco and San Jose, but what if you want something a bit more hometown?

We’ve dug up a bunch of really fun small town or quirky ways to celebrate Fourth of July 2013 all over the Bay Area – from a Hot Dog Drawing contest in Sf to a beard and mustache contest in Albany, to riverfront fireworks in Antioch, and a town vs. town tug of war battle between Bolinas and Stinson Beach, her’es our picks for the must fun small town experiences for 2013

(List updated 7/3/13)

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

Fun “Small Town” Festivals & Events | 2013

Novato Vintage WWII Tank Parade	SF Waterfront Roller Disco to Fireworks	Albany Beard & Mustache Contest	San Pablo Wacky Elvis Tribute &  Fireworks	Concord “The Flag” Show & Fireworks	Russian River Water Carnival & Fireworks

List of 60+ Neighborhood or Small Town July 4th Events & Fireworks Shows | 2013

Fireworks, fairs, festivals, parades, concerts and more. All events take place on Thursday, July 4, 2013 unless otherwise noted. Fireworks shows denoted in blue.

San Francisco | 2013

• Golden Gate Park | Patriotic 4th of July Symphony Concert – 2013 – FREE
• Inner Richmond | Free Hot Dog Day & Hot Dog Drawing Contest  – 2013 – FREE
• Mission Terrace | Annual Neighborhood 4th of July Parade & BBQ – 2013 – FREE
• Polk Gulch | Independence Day FREE BBQ Block Party – 2012 – $5
• Potrero Hill | “Safe and Sane” Mini DIY Street FIREWORKS Show – 2013 – FREE

East Bay | 2013

• Alameda | Mayor’s 4th of July Parade – 2013- FREE
• Alameda | Reds, Whites and Blues: Wine & Live Blues – (July 5) – 2013 – $5
• Alameda | Mustache Harbor “Yacht Rock” Outdoor Concert – 2013 – FREE
• Albany | Beard & Mustache Competition & July 4th Celebration -2013- FREE
• Antioch | Riverfront FIREWORKS & Parade – 2013 – FREE
• Benicia | “Freedom Festival” Torchlight Parade (July 3) – 2013- FREE
• Benicia | Picnic in the Park & Waterfront FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
• Clayton | 4th of July Parade and Kiddieland – 2013 -FREE
• Concord | 4th of July Jubilee & Parade– 2013  FREE
• Concord |  “The Flag” Variety Show & FIREWORKS (July 2, 3, 4)– 2013- FREE
• Danville | July 4th Parade -2013- FREE
• El Cerrito | World Music & Circus Festival (July 3, 4) – 2013- FREE
• Emeryville | 4th of July Summer Concert – 2013 – FREE
• Fremont | 4th of July Parade -2013- FREE
• Fremont | Ardenwood Historic Farm Family Festival-2013- $8
• Hayward | 4th of July Family Festival & Picnic -2013- FREE
• Lafayette | Buddhist 4th of July Veggie Potluck -2013- FREE
• Livermore | 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks–  2013- $5
• Martinez | Hometown Celebration, Parade  & FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
• Moraga | Dog Parade, Classic Car Show & FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
• Oakland | 1913 Old-Timey Patriotic Picnic & Ice Cream Social – 2013 – $15
• Oakley | Cityhood Celebration & FIREWORKS (July 6) – 2013 – FREE
• Orinda | 4th of July Parade & Celebration in the Park – 2013 – FREE
• Piedmont | Small Town Dog Parade & Picnic in the Park – 2013 – FREE
• Pleasant Hill | July 4th Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
• Pleasanton | Fourth of July Patriotic Concert & Picnic – 2013 – FREE
• Pleasanton | Alameda County Fair FIREWORKS Show (July 5) – 2013 –  $10
• San Pablo | Elvis Tribute & FIREWORKS show – 2013 -FREE
• San Ramon | Celebrate America Festival & ’80s Dance Party in the Park – 2013- FREE 

North Bay | 2013

• American Canyon | 4th of July Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2013- FREE
• Bolinas | Bolinas vs. Stinson Beach Tug-of-War Battle – 2013 – FREE
• Bodega Bay | 1st of July FIREWORKS over the Bay (July 5) – 2013- FREE
• Calistoga | Silverado 4th of July Parade  – 2013- FREE
  
• Calistoga | Napa County Fair Ice Cream Churn-a-ment & FIREWORKS – 2013 – $10
• Cloverdale | Fourth of July FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
• Corte Madera / Larkspur | 4th of July Parade & Celebration – 2013- FREE
• Fairfield | 4th of July Parade – 2013 – FREE
• Glen Ellen | Sonoma Winery Charity Car Classic (July 7) – 2013- FREE
• Healdsburg | American Legion FIREWORKS Show -2013- FREE
• Inverness | 4th of July Foot Races & Festivities -2013- FREE 
• Kenwood | Old-Fashioned Hometown Parade & Jazz at the Park -2013- FREE
• Mill Valley | 4th of July Picnic & Parade – 2013 – FREE
• Napa | Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
• Novato | Vintage Military & WWII Sherman Tank Parade –  2013 – FREE
• Oakville | Mondavi Winery FIREWORKS Show (June 29) -2013- FREE (from outside grounds)
• Petaluma | Annual Bell Ringing Ceremony – 2013 FREE
  
• Petaluma | Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds FIREWORKS Festival – 2013- $2
  
• Ross | July 4th Parade & Picnic -2013- FREE
• Rohnert Park | 4th of July FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE from outside venue
• Russian River | Water Carnival & FIREWORKS (July 6) – 2013- FREE
  
• Russian River | Monte Rio’s “Big Rocky Games“ (July 6, 7) -2013- FREE
• Russian River | Guerneville Independence Day Block Party & FIREWORKS (July 7) –2013- FREE
  
• San Rafael | Marin County Fair FIREWORKS  (July 3-7) – 2013- $16
  
• Santa Rosa | Red, White & Boom FIREWORKS -2013- $10
• Sausalito | 4th of July Parade & FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
• Sausalito | Yacht Club 4th of July BBQ & Music Festival – 2013 – $5
• Sebastopol | 3rd of July FIREWORKS Extravaganza Festival (July 3) -2013- $8
• Sleepy Hollow | 4th of July Parade & Poolside Party – 2013 – FREE
  
• Sonoma | July 4th Parade and Plaza Celebration – 2013- FREE
  
• Sonoma | General Vallejo’s Birthday & 4th of July FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
  
• Suisun City | Solano County Waterfront FIREWORKS & Celebration -2013- FREE
• St. Helena | Louis M. Martini Winery FIREWORKS –  2013- FREE (from outside grounds)
• Vacaville | 4th of July  FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
• Vallejo | Six Flags FIREWORKS & Concert– 2013 – $51.99
• Vallejo | Parade & FIREWORKS -2013- FREE
  
• Windsor | Pre-4th of July FIREWORKS Festival (July 3) – 2013- $3
• Woodacre | 4th of July Parade & Flea Market – 2013 – FREE
• Yountville | Street Fair, Concert & FIREWORKS – 2013- FREE

Peninsula | 2013

• Foster City | Dog Show, Parade & FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
• Half Moon Bay | Waterfront Small Town 4th of July Parade – 2013 FREE – no fireworks for 2013
• Menlo Park | 4th of July Parade and Celebration – 2013 – FREE
• Los Altos | Glorious 4th of July Park Party – 2013 – FREE
• Los Altos Hills | 4th July Scooter & Skateboard Parade – 2013 – FREE
• Pacifica | 38th Annual Fourth of July Celebration –  2013 – FREE
• Palo Alto | SJ Earthquakes MLS Soccer & FIREWORKS (June 29) – 2013 – $15
• Palo Alto | Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off Festival – 2013 – FREE
• Redwood City | Independence Day Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS – 2013 -FREE
• Redwood City | Old Fashioned Fourth & Ice Cream Making Party – 2013 – $2.50
  
• San Mateo | 3rd of July Highlands FIREWORKS Show (July 3) – 2013 – FREE
  
• San Mateo | July 4th in the Park – 2013 – FREE
• San Mateo | July 4th Parade & Celebration – 2013 – FREE

South Bay & Santa Cruz County | 2013

• Aptos | World’s Shortest Parade – 2013 – FREE / Donation
• Boulder Creek | July 4th Parade & Lumber Jack Days (July 6,7) – 2013 – FREE
• Cupertino | Children’s Parade & Concert in the Park – 2013 – FREE
• Cupertino | Blackberry Farms Free Swimming Day – 2013 – FREE
• Cupertino | Fourth of July FIREWORKS Show – 2013 – FREE
• Felton/Roaring Camp | Sock Hop and 50’s family 4th of July – 2013 – FREE
• Gilroy | 4th of July High School FIREWORKS show – 2013 -FREE
• Hollister | Kiddie Parade & FIREWORKS show – 2013 – FREE
• Los Gatos | 4th of July Hometown Game, Symphony & Picnic – 2013 – FREE
• Milpitas | Red White and Blue Pool Party – 2013 – $2
• Milpitas | Red White & Boom FIREWORKS Festival – 2013 –  $3
• Morgan Hill | Patriotic Sing & Music Fest  (July 3) – 2013 – FREE
• Morgan Hill | Silicon Valley Parade & FIREWORKS –  2013 – FREE
• San Jose | Alameda Rose, White and Blue Parade & Street Festival – 2013 -FREE
• San Jose | Santana Row Summer Block Party – 2013 – FREE 
• Santa Clara | FIREWORKS Extravaganza – 2013 – FREE 
• Santa Cruz / Wilder Ranch | Old Fashioned Independence Day 1913 Celebration – 2013 – FREE
• Saratoga | Costumed Festival & Free Popsicles – 2013 – FREE
• Scotts Valley | Festival, Parade & FIREWORKS – 2013 – $6/$8
• Watsonville | Spirit of Watsonville Parade & Downtown Festival – 2013 – FREE

Road Trip!!! | 2013

• Big Bear Lake | Rotary FIREWORKS on the Lake – 2013 – FREE
  
• Carmichael | 55th Annual Parade & FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
• Dixon | Rotary Club FIREWORKS at Hall Park  – 2013 –  FREE
  
• Elk Grove | Red White & Blue Picnic & FIREWORKS – 20132 – FREE
• Mendocino | Kooky Hometown July 4th Parade & Festival – 2013 – FREE
• Point Arena | Street Fair & FIREWORKS (July 6) – 2013 – FREE
• North Lake Tahoe | Kings Beach FIREWORKS and Beach Party – (July 3) – 2013 – FREE
• South Lake Tahoe | Lights on the Lake FIREWORKS –  2013 – FREE
• Rancho Cordova | Parade, Carnival, Concert & FIREWORKS – (July 3 &4) 2013 – FREE before 6pm / $2 after 6pm
• Roseville | Parade, Pops Concert & FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
• Sacramento | Independence Day Celebration & FIREWORKS – 2013 – FREE
  
• Willits | Willits Frontier Days & Parade  – 2013 – FREE / $12
• Yosemite | Mairposa Fairgrounds Festival & FIREWORKS – 2013 – $7 adults / Free for kids under 10 
• Stockton | Minor League Baseball & FIREWORKS – 2013 -FREE / $20
• Stockton Delta | Hilton July FIREWORKS On the Water (July 4) – 2013 – 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!