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Bay Area Celebrates July 4 With Events, Fireworks

(CBS 5) It's the number one question every Fourth of July: Where will you watch the fireworks this year? Now is the time to find that perfect place to watch the sky light up -- whether you find a spot in the park or on your roof -- there are several fireworks shows in the Bay Area this holiday.

Be sure to check out CBS 5's full list of Independence Day activities, including parades, concerts, barbecues, and official fireworks displays. Plus, a reminder about what's closed on the holiday and special transit schedules.

Quick Links

• Fireworks, Parades, Celebrations
  
• Cities Where Fireworks Are Legal
  
• Transit Schedules
  
• What's Open, What's Closed
  

Fireworks, Parades, Celebrations

Alameda:
Friday, July 4, Parade at 10am. The Alameda 4th of July Parade is the second longest Independence Day parade in the nation. With over 170 floats that travel a three mile route.
Info: www.alamedaparade.com.

Antioch:
Antioch's 10th Annual 4th of July Celebration, Friday July 4, 2 PM to 10 PM, Antioch Downtown Waterfront. Children's activities, live entertainment, a parade, classic car show, great food and fireworks.
Info: http://www.sresproductions.com/antioch_4th_of_july.html

Benicia:
Torchlight Parade & Dance, Thursday July 3, 6:30 p.m., along First Street. Picnic in the Park & Fireworks, July 4, noon to 7 p.m.; picnic takes place at Benicia City Park, with fireworks at First Street Green at the waterfront.
Info: http://www.beniciamainstreet.org/events.php

Berkeley:
Fourth of July at Berkeley Marina. July 4, noon-9:30pm, live entertainment, arts & crafts, boat rides. Fireworks at 9:30pm off the end of the Berkeley Pier.
Info: www.ci.berkeley.ca.us.

Concord:
July 4th Parade and Festival. Friday July 4, Parade at Noon from Willow Pass Rd. to Grant St. to Salvio St. Festival from 8am-2pm at Todos Santos Plaza in Downtown Concord.
Info: www.concordfirst.org.

Cupertino:
Friday July 4, Children's Parade & Fireworks Display. Children's parade at 10am starting from the Memorial Park ball field. Fireworks at dusk at Creekside Park.
Info: http://sf.funcheap.com/2008/06/18/cupertino-4th-of-july-childrens-parade-fireworks-festival-2008/

Danville:
March For The Fourth, Danville's 4th of July Parade, Friday July 4, 9am - 12:30pm on Hartz Avenue.
Info: http://www.kiwanis-srv.org/parade.asp

Foster City:
Fourth of July Celebration, Friday July 4, 8am to 10pm at Leo J. Park, 650 Shell Blvd. Daylong celebration including live music, food and more. Fireworks at 9:30 pm.
Info: www.fostercity.org.

Fremont:
Friday July 4, Fremont 4th of July Parade in Centerville District, starting at 10am.
Info: http://www.fremont4thofjulyparade.org/index.html.

Half Moon Bay:
Friday July 4, Fourth of July Parade on Main Street at Noon. Fireworks at sundown at Princeton Harbor.
Info: http://americanlegioncoastsidefireworks.com/.

Healdsburg:
Friday July 4, 18th Annual Old Fashioned 4th of July Fireworks Display. Presented by the American Legion - Sotoyome Post 111, at Healdsburg High School Athletic Field at 9:30 p.m.
Info: http://sf.funcheap.com/2008/06/17/18th-annual-old-fashioned-4th-of-july-fireworks-display-healdsburg/.

Hercules/Pinole:
Fourth of July Celebration. Friday July 4, parade at 10:30am down Redwood Road to Sycamore Avenue. Fireworks at 9pm at waterfront.
Info: www.herculeschamber.com.

Livermore:
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, Friday July 4, 4pm to 10pm in Robertson Park. Entrance fee is $15 per carload, $3 per walk-in. Games, food, contests and plenty of music. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Info: www.larpd.dst.ca.us.

Martinez:
July 4th Fireworks begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. at Waterfront Park. Sponsored by the City of Martinez in cooperation with East Bay Regional Parks.
Info: www.cityofmartinez.org.

Milpitas:
Milpitas Independence Day Festivities. Friday July 4, 1 to 5 p.m. Water activities at Milpitas Sports Center Pool with music, games, BBQ lunch. Concert & Fireworks at 9:30pm at Milpitas Sports Center Milpitas Sports Center Football Field. Music by the Silicon Valley Houserockers.
Info: www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov.

Moraga:
Friday July 4 in Moraga Commons Park. Events including 5k and 2k runs, parade, food, music starting at 8am. Fireworks at 9pm.
Info: ci.moraga.ca.us.

Morgan Hill:
4th of July Celebrations. Friday July 4, Award-winning parade in downtown at 10am. Fireworks at dark at Morgan Hill Community Park.
Info: www.mhidi.com.

Mountain View:
Friday July 4, Fireworks Spectacular featuring San Francisco Symphony at Shoreline Ampitheatre at 8 pm. This year's theme is "A Salute to Heroes."
Info: www.mountainview.gov.

Napa:
Friday July 4, Fourth of July Celebration at dusk at Napa's Veterans Memorial Park.
Info: www.napavalley.com.

Novato:
Fourth of July Parade. Friday July 4, beginning at 10am at Grant and Reichert Avenues. The 100 entrants in this patriotic procession feature marching bands, classic cars, Irish pipers, horses, dance troups, basset hounds, and the largest assemblage of restored military vehicles in the Bay Area.
Info: www.novatoparade.com/.

Oakland:
Friday July 4, starting at 6 p.m. Annual East Bay BBQ Competition followed at dusk by Oakland's free community fireworks display in Jack London Square.
Info: www.jacklondonsquare.com.

Pittsburg:
July 4, 5pm to 9pm at Pittsburg Marina. Fireworks at dusk over the Marina and Live music featuring the PHDs!
Info: www.pittsburgca.net.

Pleasant Hill:
Friday July 4, Fourth of July Celebration in Downtown and Pleasant Hill Park. 5k run, parade, fun and games - all starting at 8am. Fireworks at 9:10pm.
Info: http://www.phjuly4.com/.

Redwood City:
Friday July 4, Downtown and Port of Redwood City. Festival starts at 9am, Parade at 10am, followed by fireworks at 9:30pm.
Info: www.parade.org.

Richmond:
Thursday July 3, Red, White & Boom! Family Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with Fireworks at 9 p.m. at Richmond Marina Bay Park, Regatta Blvd & Melville Square.
Info: www.ci.richmond.ca.us.

San Francisco:
Friday July 4, Waterfront Festival; Pier 39. Free admission. Live music from 1pm-9:30 pm. Fireworks at 9:30 pm.
Info: www.pier39.com.

San Jose:
Friday July 4, American Festival for Independance. Free admission. Musical entertainment, food and arts and crafts. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Info: http://www.americafestival.com/.

San Rafael:
Marin County Fair at Fairgrounds. Friday July 4, 11am to 11pm. Admission $12-$14. Carnival rides, exhibits, music. Fireworks at 9:30pm.
Info: www.marinfair.org.

San Ramon:
Friday July 4, Star-Spangled Spectacular, San Ramon Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. 5 to 10 p.m., Live bands and fireworks after sunset.
Info: www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us.

Santa Clara:
**Friday July 4, All-City Picnic & Fireworks Extravaganza from 8am-10pm at Central Park, 909 Kiely Boulevard. Pancake Breakfast at 8 am, followed by games and entertainment throughout the day. Fireworks at approximately 9:30pm.
Info: www.santaclaraca.gov.

Santa Rosa:
Thursday July 3, Sonoma County's Red, White, and Boom at Sonoma County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds open at 5 pm. Early evening festivities include a Giant Slide and Ferris wheel, and an all new kid's area. The Fireworks Sky Concert begins at 9:30 pm.
Info: www.sonomacounty4th.com.

Sausalito:
Friday July 4, Fourth Celebration from 10am to 11pm. Parade starts on South Bridgeway at 10 am and meanders through downtown Sausalito to Caledonia Street and into Dunphy Park where an afternoon of live music, food and fun for the whole family awaits. Followed by a memorable firework display.
Info: www.ci.sausalito.ca.us.

Scotts Valley:
Friday July 4, Parade and Family Fun Day. Parade will begin around 1:00 p.m. down Scotts Valley Drive. Activities for family will be held at Sky Park Soccer Field. There will be bounce houses, Bocci tournament, live entertainment and food. No fireworks due to fire hazard.

Stanford:
Thursday July 3, 7:30 pm, Stanford Lively Arts presents its annual pre-Independence Day concert and picnic in beautiful Frost Amphitheater, featuring the sounds of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.
Info: livelyarts.stanford.edu.

Suisun City:
Friday July 4, Fourth Celebration, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. at Main & Solano Streets Waterfront district. Unique arts and crafts, pony rides, giant slide, rock climbing, food, and live entertainment. Fireworks at 9:20pm.
Info: www.ci.suisun-city.ca.us.

Vacaville:
Friday July 4, 6:30- 9:30 p.m., Old Fashioned Fourth of July Free Concert in Andrews Park. Fireworks at approximately 9pm.
Info: www.ci.vacaville.ca.us.

Vallejo:
Friday July 4, Fireworks Extravaganza at 9:30 p.m. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Info: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/FireworksExtravaganza.aspx.



Cities Where Fireworks Are Legal

The following communities in the Bay Area permit the sale and use of state-approved fireworks each Fourth of July, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. For the full updated list of California cities permitting fireworks, click here.

What are State-Approved Fireworks? More info at www.ca-fireworks.com.

* Indicates unicorporated areas

Alameda County:
Dublin
Newark
Union City

Amador County
Ione
Jackson
Sutter Creek

Lake County:
Lakeport

Monterey County:
Gonzalez
Greenfield
Marina
Seaside
Soledad

Napa County:
St. Helena

San Benito County:
Hollister
San Juan Bautista*

San Mateo County:
Pacifica
San Bruno

Santa Clara County:
Gilroy

Santa Cruz County:
None

Solano County:
Rio Vista

Sonoma County:
Cloverdale
Petaluma
Rohnert Park
Sebastopol



Transit Schedules

Friday, July 4

AC Transit: Sunday schedule
BART: Holiday schedule
Caltrain: Sunday schedule
Golden Gate Ferry: Holiday schedule
Golden Gate Transit: Holiday schedule
Muni: Holiday/Sunday schedule
SamTrans: Holiday schedule
VTA Bus: Sunday/Holiday schedule
VTA Light Rail: Special Holiday schedule

No Service:
ACE
Benicia Breeze
County Connection
EmeryGoRound
Fairfield Transit
Harbor Bay Ferry
Union City
VTA Dumbarton Express
VTA Light Rail Shuttles (IBM/Hitachi, Dash, River Oaks, Kaiser)



What's Open, What's Closed

Friday, July 4

Government offices closed
Banks, post offices, schools closed
Some stores open

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)