Fourth of July events of all kinds are lighting the 2021 skies this month.
Laguna Niguel’s July 4th Week of Festivities
https://ca-lagunaniguel4.civicplus.com
Take a musical “road-trip” across America at this patriotic drive-thru event held at Laguna Niguel’s City Hall July 2-3 (7:30 pm-9:30 pm). Then, on the Fourth, you can view six acrobatic airplanes soar through the skies over the Crown Valley Parkway at 6 pm while a digital celebration, featuring inspiring music, a fireworks display and a patriotic video montage, will happen on the city’s Facebook page at 7 pm.
Huntington Beach 4th of July Celebration
Described as the largest Independence Day event west of the Mississippi, Huntington Beach’s celebration begins with the Pier Plaza Festival (July 2-4) that offers carnival rides, live entertainment, food, prizes and other amusements. The Fourth features the 117th annual neighborhood car parade (8 am) that has a “Surf City Dreamin’” theme. At 9 pm, the fabulous fireworks show will light up the sky over the Pacific Ocean. Reserved seating tickets are available online.
4th of July Tustin Meadows Parade
www.facebook.com/events/tustin-meadows-community/4th-of-july
For the 53rd year, the Tustin Meadows Community hosts this holiday parade. The parade procession starts at 11 am and lasts for around an hour. If you want to be a cosplayer in the parade, please visit https://kidscancosplay.org. After the parade, there will be a small carnival happening in the west clubhouse area of Centennial Park, and there will be games, entertainment and food for families to enjoy.
Firecracker 5K/10K Run To Fireworks Show
Anaheim Hills will be alive with July 4 activities. The day kicks off early (7 am) at Canyon High School with the Firecracker 5K/10K (register online). Stick around because at 9 am, there’s the adorable Yankee Doodle Dog Show. At 1 pm, the colorful Patriotic Parade departs the high school for Eucalyptus Park. At 3 pm, live entertainment begins in Peralta Park, with fireworks ending the night there at 9 pm.
4th of July Porch Parade
Discover what the creative folks in La Palma have come up to display their red-white-and-blue spirit on their houses (lawns, sidewalks and other viewable areas of their property). While technically not a parade, folks can drive around and see the patriotic decorations, just as the judges will. You can come up with your own award winners, although your choices won’t be officially honored like the judges’ selections will.
San Clemente’s July 4th Fireworks Display
This fireworks extravaganza will begin exploding in the sky above the pier at 9 pm on the Fourth — and continue for approximately a half hour. Early birds can catch some additional aerial action: a flyover by the Condor Squadron (aka four AT-6 aircraft World War II trainers) will occur over San Clemente around 5:55 pm-6 pm. The whole pier (except The Fisherman’s Restaurant) will be closed on the Fourth by the way.
Drive-Up 4th of July
The cities of Los Alamitos and Seal Beach invite families to their watch-from-your-vehicle fireworks spectacular. This event, which starts at 9 pm, will be held at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base. Please be patient entering the base at either the Lexington Gate or Orangewood Gate due to the high number of vehicles coming in. Gates open at 4 pm. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Registration is required to attend.
Independence Day on the Back Bay
July 4th festivities are back at Newport Dunes’ Back Bay! The day-long fun includes water sports (10 am-6 pm), a food truck feast (12 pm-7 pm), live music from performers such as David Rosales, DJ Pries and Safety Orange (2 pm-6 pm) and lawn games like Giant Jenga and Bean Bag Toss (3 pm-7 pm). And then there’s the fireworks finale commencing at 9 pm.
Laguna Beach Fireworks Show
Monument Point at Heisler Park is the spot where Laguna Beach’s July 4th fireworks spectacular will be located and 9 pm is the time that the excitement will start. However, you might want to get there early to find a good place to view the show but the city will have Monument Point closed all day and areas around Heisler Park will close at 5 pm. Free trolley service is going to be available too.
Yorba Linda 4th of July Spectacular
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a free holiday party at Veterans Park from 5 pm-9:30 pm on the Fourth. Live music, family activities and food vendors are all part of the evening’s attractions. The main event, of course, will be the pyrotechnic spectacular, which will cap off the holiday action in technicolor splendor.
Drive-In Salute to America Celebration at Cypress College
Get an early start to your holiday weekend on July 2. From 6:30 pm-9:30 pm, you can enjoy classic rock hits from the classic rock tribute group Electric Vinyl as well as a rockin’ fireworks show. Only pre-registered cars will be allowed in and guests are assigned parking spots. There will be no concessions, so pack a picnic (although no alcohol or smoking will be permitted).
Dana Point’s 4th of July Fireworks
Traditionally, Dana Point’s fireworks show has been one of the most popular, and most memorable, July 4th events. And you can expect this year’s one will be too. The fireworks, shot from a barge located off Doheny State Beach’s coastline, make for a truly majestic sight. The show starts at 9 pm, but get there early and enjoy some beach time and perhaps the 4th of July Condor Squadron flyover (5:50 pm-5:55 pm).
Lake Forest’s Fourth of July Firework Show
There will be plenty of excitement at the city’s Sports Park & Recreation Center but it won’t be the typical games. The tribute band Yaughty by Nature will entertain the crowd from 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm. Then at 9 pm it’ll be the fireworks’ turn to get folks cheering. Burning Buns, Kona Ice, White Rabbit and KCK Kettle Corn are the evening’s scheduled food trucks. Check its Facebook page for event rules.
3rd of July in Orange
Celebrate our great nation at this holiday event, which will take place in the City of Orange’s Grijalva Park. Starting at 4 pm, there will be music, children’s activities, games and food trucks (no pets, alcohol, cooking or BBQ please). Around 8 pm, folks can enjoy a special performance of patriotic tunes from the Orange Community Master Chorale, which will be followed at 8:45 pm with a sensational display of fireworks.
Mission Viejo’s 4th of July Spectacular:
The city will be presenting a display of Independence Day fireworks, which will be launched at Marty Russo Youth Athletic Park at 9 pm. The park, however, will be closed to the public. The fireworks can be seen from various locations surrounding the area, including parks and high elevations along Marguerite, Melinda, Alicia and Olympiad. Although the fireworks show is happening, Mission Viejo has cancelled its annual Street Fair for this year.
San Juan Capistrano 4th of July Celebration & Summer Carnival
Taking advantage of the three-day holiday weekend, the city is having a three-day summer carnival that will take place in its Sport Park. The carnival, which offers live music, family-friendly picnic games, exhibits and food, will be held 4 pm-8 pm July 2; 12 pm-10 pm July 3 and 12 pm-10:30 pm July 4. It all culminates with a potent July 4th pyrotechnics presentation.
Pretend City Celebrates the 4th of July
The museum invites children and adults to pretend its July 4 on July 3. Throughout the day, kids can have a colorful, creative time making pretend “fireworks” in the Arts Studio. At 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, youngsters can get limber by participating in “Lady Liberty Says,” a patriotic, socially-distanced dance party that helps develop little ones’ gross motor skills. Pretend City will be closed on July 4.
USO Four on the 4th Virtual Race
This second annual USO event promotes physical fitness along with raising funds to support the service men, women and their families. Taking place July 1-5, this virtual event lets you do your running, walking, swimming, jogging and biking wherever you want to. Register online. K-Earth’s 19th annual Bob Hope USO Radiothon launches the event on July 1 from 6 am-10 am.
Brea’s 41st St. Annual Country Fair
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Enjoy some good, old-fashioned fun in Brea’s City Hall Park on July 3 from 9 am-3 pm. The day will offer games, rides, live entertainment and food. Plus, there will be some very special attractions that make this Country Fair quite unique. The Most Beautiful Bow Wow contest happens at 10:15 am-10:30 am, followed by the Kiddie Parade (10:30 am-10:45 am). And don’t forget the 40th annual Beautiful Baby Contest!
Red, White & Boom!
The “Boom” returns to Legoland! During the day, the park’s annual July 4th spectacular will have all types of all-American family-geared picnic games and star-spangled building activities that park-goers of all ages can enjoy. Once evening arrives, guests can experience the one-of-a-kind pyrotechnic display that melds patriotic music with amazing fireworks. Red, White and Boom! is included in the cost of the park’s regular admission.
By Michael Berick
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