Celebrate Independence Day San Diego Style

 

Whether you’re traveling with friends or family, San Diego is everyone’s first choice for 4th of July celebrations. Even locals can’t think of anything better than relaxing with loved ones on a long stretch of sand and watching an extraordinary show of lights in the sky. Below is a list of our favorite stretches of sand, spectacular fireworks shows around and places to watch the fireworks in San Diego.

Please note, firework displays and events are subject to change and cancellation.

SAN DIEGO

ANNUAL BIG BAY BOOM JULY 4 FIREWORKS SHOW

Location: Multiple Locations along San Diego Bay
Time: 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Take in the largest display in the county. With fireworks launched from four barges strategically placed around North San Diego Bay, they can be seen from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero area and Seaport Village/Coronado Landing, and the score is simulcast live on THE MIGHTY 1090 AM and MAX FM 105.7. Just find a place along the bay and you will not be disappointed.

SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS

Location: SeaWorld San Diego – 500 SeaWorld Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Time: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
SeaWorld will celebrate Independence Day with a 15-minute display of fireworks set to a musical soundtrack, starting at 9:40 PM on July 4

OCEAN BEACH JULY 4TH CELEBRATION

Location: Ocean Beach Pier at the end of Newport Ave.
Time: 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Spend the day picnicking, swimming in the ocean, walking and playing in the sand and shopping along Newport Ave. Then bundle up as the sun sets and pull up a blanket for a really spectacular fireworks show launched from the OB Pier.

OLD TOWN 4TH OF JULY

Location: Old Town State Historic Park
Time: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Fireworks: No
Parade, crafts and activities of early San Diego recreate an old-fashioned Independence Day celebrated on the frontier. You can also compete in contests, such as cherry pit spitting or the egg toss, for handmade ribbons.

CORONADO

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN CORONADO

Location: Various Locations on Coronado
Time: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Celebrate the 4th of July in the Crown City including a parade down Orange Avenue at 10:00 AM, a concert in Spreckels Park at 4:00 PM and fireworks over Glorietta Bay at 9:00 PM.

CROWN CITY CLASSIC 4TH OF JULY RACE

Location: Coronado Tidelands Park
Time: 7:00 to 10:00 AM
Fireworks: No
Kickoff your Independence Day celebration with the 44th annual run through the historic town of Coronado. The Crown City Classic features a 12K and 5K distance. Why a 12K distance? Because nothing is more patriotic than running 7.4 miles on 7/4, in one of America’s most patriotic cities!

NORTH COASTAL

SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds – 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014
Time: Starts at 10:00 AM, Fireworks at 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Independence Day is one of the best days to come to the Fair, because they pull out all the stops with food, fireworks at 9:00 PM, entertainment and more.

RED, WHITE AND BOOM!

Location: LEGOLAND California – One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Time: 1:00 to 9:00 PM, Fireworks at 8:30 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Take the whole family and spend the day enjoying over 60 rides, shows and attractions along with some all-American picnic games like burlap races and water-balloon tosses and then top it off with an awe-inspiring fireworks display set to patriotic music.

RANCHO SANTA FE’S ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY PARADE & PICNIC

Location: 16948 Avenida de Acacias, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Fireworks: No
Pack a few blankets and chairs for Rancho Santa Fe’s Annual 4th of July Parade & Picnic with live music, food, fun and more.

OCEANSIDE’S INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

Location: North on South Coast Hwy 101 from Wisconsin Ave to Pier View Way (just before City Hall)
Date: June 30, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM
Fireworks: No
Come see floats, bands, walking groups, cool cars and much more.

OCEANSIDE FIREWORKS SHOW

Location: El Corazon Site at Rancho Del Oro Drive
Date: July 3, 2018
Time: 6:00 to 10:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Start off your Independence Day celebration a day early by bringing a beach chair and the whole family to enjoy the Oceanside Fireworks Show.

NORTH INLAND

ESCONDIDO INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVAL & FIREWORKS

Location: California Center for the Arts, Escondido – 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025
Time: Starts at 4:00 PM, Fireworks at 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Join 20,000 patriotic festival-goers for the 55th Annual Independence Day Festival & Fireworks with music, fabulous food vendors, and a wealth of children’s activities and games for everyone to enjoy.

MIRA MESA FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Location: Mira Mesa Community Park, Mira Mesa Boulevard and New Salem Street, Mira Mesa
Time: Starts at 7:00 AM, Fireworks at 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Come early for the pancake breakfast, parade and family friendly activities and stay late for the fireworks.

AN OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH OF JULY & FIREWORKS IN POWAY

Location: Poway High School Stadium – 15500 Espola Road, Poway, CA 92064
Time: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Fireworks at 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Following the Old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration at Old Poway Park (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM), head to Poway High School (gates open at 6:00 PM) for music, more food, glow sticks and fireworks.

RANCHO BERNARDO’S THE SPIRIT OF THE FOURTH

Location: Webb Park – Avena Pl And Bernardo Center Dr, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128
Time: 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM, Fireworks at 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
It’s a whole day of fun at Webb Park in Rancho Bernardo with a Community Fair featuring food, music, Patriotic Pet Contest, classic cars, games and a parade (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). End the evening with fireworks at Bernardo Heights Middle School.

SAN MARCOS 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Location: Bradley Park – 465 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078
Time: 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Carnival games, jumpers, food and fireworks!

SCRIPPS RANCH 4TH OF JULY RUN & RIDE

Location: Red Cedar Dr & Aviary Dr, San Diego, CA 92131
Time: 6:00 to 10:00 AM
Fireworks: No
Join the Scripps Ranch Old Pros on the 4th of July for the annual 10K Race & Fun Run and bike rides that all end at the Scripps Ranch Fourth of July Parade!

SCRIPPS RANCH 4TH OF JULY PARADE

Location: Scripps Ranch Hoyt Park – 10800 Canyon Lake Dr, San Diego, CA 92131
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Fireworks: No
As a spectator you can cheer on everyone who is in the parade. But, why not dress up as well and join in the fun?

VISTA INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Location: Moonlight Amphitheatre – 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista, CA 92084
Time: 5:00 to 10:00 PM, Fireworks at 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Celebrate the 4th of July in Vista at the Moonlight Amphitheatre with live music, an honorary ceremony, family fun and fireworks!

EAST COUNTY

EL CAJON 4TH OF JULY PICNIC AND FIREWORKS

Location: Kennedy Park – 1675 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92019
Time: 2:00 to 9:30 PM
Fireworks: Yes
The July 4th event starts at 2:00 PM with food, games, prizes, kiddie train rides and more! Live musical entertainment begins at 3:00 PM with a spectacular fireworks show at 9:00 PM.

JULIAN 4TH OF JULY PARADE

Location: Main Street, Julian, CA 92036
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Fireworks: No
Julian presents a homegrown event that celebrates the town’s gold rush era history, the dedication of veterans and active duty military who serve our country, and local residents who cherish the special qualities of the little town tucked into the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego.

SANTEE SALUTES – FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Location: Town Center Community Park East – 550 Park Center Drive, Santee, CA 92071
Time: 2:30 to 10:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Rock out with live music, a patriotic ceremony, kid’s fun zone and a spectacular fireworks display at Santee Salutes!

ALPINE 4TH OF JULY PARADE AND CARNIVAL

Location: Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA 91901
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Fireworks: No
Alpine’s old fashioned parade will feature a wide variety of patriotic entries from antique cars and motorcycles to decorated children and everything in between. The parade will terminate at the Alpine Community Center Park, home of the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor, where we will enjoy live music, a Deep Pit BBQ, a carnival with lots of activities for children and much more.

SOUTH BAY

CHULA VISTA 4TH FEST

Location: 2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91915
Time: 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
The Chula Vista 4th Fest fireworks will be set off from the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center with patriotic music simulcast on 91X, Magic 92.5, and Z90.3.

INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS IN IMPERIAL BEACH

Location: Imperial Beach Pier – 10 Evergreen Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Time: 4:00 to 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
The City of Imperial Beach will be hosting a fireworks show off the Imperial Beach Pier choreographed to KYXY 96.5 along with eight other shows across San Diego County.

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT THE BORDER & FIREWORKS

Location: Larsen Field – Cesar Chavez Park – 4061 Camino de la Plaza, San Ysidro, CA 92173
Date: July 1, 2018
Time: 3:00 to 9:00 PM
Fireworks: Yes
Come and enjoy an Independence Day Celebration in San Ysidro complete with children’s inflated city, mechanical bulls, live music all day on multiple stages, drinks, food and fireworks!