Find out where to see the biggest and best 4th of July fireworks shows, no matter where you are in L.A.
Whether you intend to or not, you’re going to see some 4th of July fireworks—or at the very least hear them, thanks to Angelenos’ summer-long affair with very-much-illegal amateur pyro. But Independence Day itself brings about a whole other tier of patriotically loud, colorful explosions in the night sky at a bunch of professionally staged 4th of July fireworks shows. After spending a day at one of the best beaches in L.A., cooling off with the city’s best ice cream and grilling with friends and family, cap things off with a bang. From the Long Beach waterfront to Hollywood, here’s where to see 4th of July fireworks this year.
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The Hollywood Bowl hosts a fireworks-filled summer bash each year, and this time around the Beach Boys and John Stamos will have the honor of tackling the show. Bring a bottle of wine and sit through the concert, then stick around for the post-show pyro, held after all three dates: July 2, 3 and 4.
Psst: Looking for more fireworks at the Bowl? You can also catch them after the Tchaikovsky Spectacular (July 31, Aug 1) and the season’s Fireworks Finale: OneRepublic (Sept 11, 12).
Roll out a blanket, crack open some beers, listen to some tunes and pose in the photo booth during a night of fireworks over Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Cinespia is back with two fireworks-filled screenings: Shrek on July 3 and Jurassic Park on July 4.
Dodger Stadium hosts fireworks (or drones) on Friday nights throughout the season, but they do it up extra on the Fourth of July. Buy tickets to see the team take on the San Diego Padres on the Fourth, and then stick around for a Budweiser-presented fireworks show you can see from your seat; line up on the field level near the end of the game and you can even watch from the outfield grass. The game starts at 7:10pm; you can expect the fireworks show after the game ends. And pick up an America250 commemorative coin to mark the occasion.
The storied movie studio and theme park fires off a 4th of July pyro extravaganza with fireworks synchronized to both Universal-themed music and patriotic standards. Expect other holiday touches along the way, including themed décor and a fife and drum band. You’ll be able to view the 9pm fireworks from two locations, typically the Universal Plaza in the upper lot as well as near the Transformers ride on the lower lot (if you were thinking of getting away with watching for free from CityWalk, though, you should expect limited to no visibility from the shopping district).
There’s something about watching fireworks over the ocean. Every year in Marina del Rey, fireworks explode over the marina channel, and spectators gather all over to watch: at Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village, as well as from Marina “Mother’s” Beach, waterfront hotels and restaurants, and on boats (you can even see them as far away as Venice). Fireworks shoot off from the south jetty starting at 9pm and usually last for about 20 minutes. Arrive early to the area’s county lots.
This Fourth of July in Long Beach, you’ll find pyro over Queensway Bay around 9pm that’s easily viewable for free from most of the Long Beach waterfront’s attractions, including Lions Lighthouse in Shoreline Aquatic Park, Shoreline Village, Rainbow Harbor and Marina Green. If you’d rather watch from the water, you can also set sail with Harbor Breeze Cruises, which departs from Rainbow Harbor on the Fourth. And the Queen Mary is once again partaking in the festivities with a decades-spanning assortment of music and food on board ($69). For some early fireworks action, there’s also “Big Bang on the Bay,” a block party and fireworks show on the eastern edge of the city over Alamitos Bay on July 3 (5pm, fireworks 8:30pm, tickets $85).
Roller coasters, fireworks and Coca-Cola—talk about a patriotic trio. Six Flags will shoot off fireworks over three straight nights at its Valencia park. As far as the carbonated sponsorship goes, expect to be able to slurp down some festive concoctions while you’re there. Look out for the fireworks over the Full Throttle Plaza, DC Universe and Main Gate Plaza around 9:15pm.
Disneyland shoots off fireworks practically every night of the year, but you can see “Celebrate America!,” a patriotic red-white-and-blue display, especially for the Fourth. Just a heads-up that you currently need a reservation to visit Disneyland (though the fireworks are visible sans patriotic music from pretty much anywhere near the park—look to the sky around 9:30pm).
The South Bay city shoots off fireworks from the Torrance Civic Center—the best viewing spots are from the LA Galaxy Sports Complex (555 Maple Ave) and the courthouse west parking lot (825 Maple Ave). The local DJ Ozzie will start spinning at 7pm. Show up early for a good spot, order from the on-site food trucks and settle in for the pyrotechnics, which kick off around 8:45pm.
What’s more American than spending your Fourth of July listening to the roar of revving engines and loud booms? That’s the idea behind Kaboom!, an annual celebration at the Fairplex that features motocross and monster trucks, as well as an ’80s dance party, followed by a fireworks spectactular at 9:15pm. Watch the display as you feast on funnel cakes, nachos and cotton candy for the full fairground experience.
Make your Fourth of July an all-day blowout by heading down to this legendary, long-running (121 years!) fest at the Huntington Beach Pier, which is billed as “the largest Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi.” The festivities kick off with the 5K Surf City Run at 7am. Follow the 2.5-mile parade route to the beach, then put on your Uncle Sam hat for the Pier Plaza festival, where you’ll find live entertainment on Friday and Sunday. (The Main Street Block Party will host concerts on Saturday.) Scope out a spot or grab a VIP seat for the fireworks display at 9pm, which ends in an epic finale.
Big Bear fires off some impressive pyro, though given the distance for most Angelenos, this might be the only entry our list that you should consider pairing with an overnight stay. (The traffic getting into and out of the mountain resort can be a challenge over any long weekend, so tossing in the fireworks certainly complicates any single-day visits.)
If you’re looking to book a cabin with a vista or simply staking out a viewing spot, you’ll find the best visibility for the show (which starts between 8:45 and 9:15pm and runs for over a half-hour) on the eastern half of the lake, with mostly clear views from the north shore (there’s also a mountaintop party at Snow Summit; $105).
Oh, and though the winding mountain road through Running Springs is the main route folks use to drive into the area, it’s not the only way in and out; it may add some extra mileage, but the desert route through Lucerne Valley minimizes the mountain driving, which should hopefully make for a much more easygoing journey (aside from potential traffic on the 15 through the Cajon Pass).
Though it’s shot off fireworks in the past, this year Grand Park is again hosting a block party with a drone show—but due to the recent Downtown unrest, the event is being rescheduled for a TBA date later this summer.
The same goes for the Rose Bowl, Burbank and Pacific Palisades festivities—though these three are still hosting celebrations on the Fourth itself, all have once again swapped out fireworks for drones this year.
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